The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat

West End Frame

Your weekly stagey catchup! Join West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, and industry co-hosts for a round-up of the latest theatre news and reviews. Special guests include West End performers, producers, journalists, creatives and more! read less
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Episodes

S10 Ep10 (ft. Reece Kerridge): Jane McDonald joins Palladium Panto, Ushers, Oliver!, 2:22, Kym Marsh is Cruella + more!
2d ago
S10 Ep10 (ft. Reece Kerridge): Jane McDonald joins Palladium Panto, Ushers, Oliver!, 2:22, Kym Marsh is Cruella + more!
Reece Kerridge (Adam/Felicia in Priscilla The Party) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show! Andrew and Reece discuss Ushers: The Front Of House Musical (The Other Palace Studio) and The Ballad of Hattie and James (Kiln Theatre) as well as the latest news about this year's London Palladium Pantomime starring Jane McDonald and Julian Clary, Oliver! transferring to the West End, 2:22 making a West End return and lots more. Some of Reece's theatre credits include The Book of Mormon (West End), understudy  SpongeBob & Squidward in SpongeBob The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour), Top Hat (The Mill at Sonning), understudy cover Lord Farquaad in Shrek The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour) and Our House (Union Theatre) as well as many pantomimes and cabarets. As a presenter Reece co-hosted the radio show Sit In The Stalls and also performs as his drag persona Gracie Lou. After spending Christmas touring arenas in Peter Pan and Elf The Musical, in which he understudied Buddy, Reece is now starring as Adam/Felicia in Priscilla The Party which has opened at HERE at Outernet.Priscilla the Party is staged by the creative team behind Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical re-directed by original director Simon Phillips and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth. Priscilla the Party is booking at HERE at Outernet until Sunday 29th September 2024. Visit www.priscillatheparty.com for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S10 Ep8 (ft. Jye Frasca): Romeo & Juliet, Red Pitch, Coming Clean, Jessica Vosk, Oklahoma! starring Phil Dunster & Zizi Strallen + more!
09-04-2024
S10 Ep8 (ft. Jye Frasca): Romeo & Juliet, Red Pitch, Coming Clean, Jessica Vosk, Oklahoma! starring Phil Dunster & Zizi Strallen + more!
Jye Frasca (Syncopation / Wicked) co-hosts The West End Frame Show! Andrew and Jye discuss Red Pitch (@SohoPlace), Coming Clean (Turbine Theatre) and Cruel Intentions (The Other Palace) as well as the latest news about Oklahoma!, Jessica Vosk, I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical, Jerry's Girls and more. There's also discussion about the online racial abuse which occurred following Francesca Amewudah-Rivers' casting in The Jamie Lloyd Company's production of Romeo & Juliet. After growing up in Australia, Jye moved to London to attend drama school. Jye was in the original West End casts of Wicked, Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins, with his other UK theatre credits including West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Cats, Anything Goes, Love’s Labour's Lost, We Will Rock You and Thrill Me. After moving to America, Jye took over as Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys before making his Broadway debut as Boq in Wicked for the musical’s 15th anniversary! Jye has worked on screen, most recently appearing in Amazon Freevee’s Leverage: Redemption. Ten years on from moving to America, Jye is back on the London stage, starring in Syncopation at the Bridewell Theatre.  Directed by Karen Jemison, Jye is performing opposite Devon-Elise Johnson in the UK premiere of  Allan Knee's two-hander ballroom-inspired play. Syncopation runs at the Bridewell Theatre until Saturday 13th April 2024. Visit www.syncopation.uk for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S10 Ep6 (ft. Rachel Rawlinson): Wicked Live Vocals, For Black Boys, Babies, Pretty Woman starring Amber Davies, Syncopation + more!
26-03-2024
S10 Ep6 (ft. Rachel Rawlinson): Wicked Live Vocals, For Black Boys, Babies, Pretty Woman starring Amber Davies, Syncopation + more!
Rachel Rawlinson (Six / Heathers) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Rachel discuss For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy (Garrick Theatre), Pretty Woman (Milton Keynes Theatre, UK & Ireland Tour) and Syncopation (Bridewell Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Wicked Movie, Babies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tammy Faye, Ben Platt and lots more.Rachel recently completed a two year run as a Super Swing in the West End production of Six The Musical (Vaudeville Theatre), covering and playing all six queens. As a child, Rachel understudied Jemima Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), played Jane Banks in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre) and Margaret Gormley in Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace Theatre). Some of her other credits include: Wag The Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Rizzo in Grease (Belinda King), Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Norwegian), Christmas Spectacular (Thursford), Daisy in Jack and the Beanstalk (Harlow Playhouse) and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Rachel played Stoner Chick and understudied Ms Fleming & Martha in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket). She's preparing to launch her own business called Rest End.Follow Rachel on instagram: @rachelrawlinsonHosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S10 Ep5 (ft. Jenny Fitzpatrick): Olivier Award nominations, Guys & Dolls, Pippin, The Wizard of Oz, Ghost The Musical + more!
19-03-2024
S10 Ep5 (ft. Jenny Fitzpatrick): Olivier Award nominations, Guys & Dolls, Pippin, The Wizard of Oz, Ghost The Musical + more!
Jenny Fitzpatrick (Nancy in Oliver!) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Jenny discuss Guys & Dolls (Bridge Theatre) and The Wizard of Oz (New Wimbledon Theatre, UK & Ireland Tour) as well as the latest news about the Olivier Award nominations, Pippin In Concert, Dolly Parton's Here You Come Again, West End Does: Country plus lots more. Jenny recently received huge acclaim for her performance as Nancy in Oliver! at the Leeds Playhouse, having previously played the Rose Seller in the West End production. Jenny made her professional debut in Henry IV  Part I, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Camelot at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Her credits also include Nala in Legend Of The Lion King (Disneyland Paris), Ronnette in Little Shop of Horros (Menier Chocolate Factory/West End), Billie in Our House (UK Tour), Louise & understudy Oda Mae Brown in Ghost The Musical (Manchester/West End), Delores in Sister Act (Aberystwyth), A Pacificst’s Guide To The War On Cancer (National Theatre), Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour), Lucius/Centurion in Boudica (Globe), Fish/Sonny’s mum in Wonderboy (Bristol Old Vic), Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol (Old Vic), Fama in Berlusconi (Southwark Playhouse) and multiple runs as Justice in Rock Of Ages (UK Tour).Having played Tina Turner in the 2013 UK tour of the musical Soul Sister, Jenny was the alternate Tina Turner in the original West End cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Jenny recorded an episode of our interviews podcast In The Frame whilst starring in The World Goes Round (Barn Theatre). On screen, she has been seen in The Alienist, Mi High V ‘Patient’ and EastEnders. Follow Jenny on Instagram: @jennytfitzHosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S10 Ep3 (ft. Ryan Carter): Black Out Performances, Slave Play, Standing At The Sky's Edge, Cable Street, Side Show + more!
05-03-2024
S10 Ep3 (ft. Ryan Carter): Black Out Performances, Slave Play, Standing At The Sky's Edge, Cable Street, Side Show + more!
Ryan Carter (Ain't Too Proud / Choir Of Man) returns to The West End Frame Show!Andrew & Ryan have a conversation about the reaction to the Black Out Performances announced for Slave Play. They also discuss Standing At The Sky's Edge (Gillian Lynne Theatre), Cable Street (Southwark Playhouse), Side Show In Concert (London Palladium) and Before After (Southwark Playhouse) as well as the latest news about Cabaret, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Closer To Heaven and lots more. Ryan is an actor and all-round creative. On stage he has been in Motown The Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre), Choir Of Man (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), The Boyfriend (Menier Chocolate Factory) and The World Goes Round (Barn Theatre). Most recently Ryan played Smokey Robinson and covered Eddie Kendricks in the West End production of Ain’t Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre). As the creative producer of RyCa Productions, Ryan produced the acclaimed Refresh concerts as well as a series of shows at Jack Solomons. Ryan was one of the Creative Directors for Turn Up London, he was Creative Director of Digital Projects for The Barn Theatre where he made the interactive concert The Secret Society of Leading Ladies and worked on Now Or Never by Matthew Harvey. He was the Casting Director for The Wiz at the Hope Mill Theatre, has worked with Urdang and is currently working on the Spring Awakening concert (Victoria Palace Theatre). Follow Ryan on Instagram: @ryanjesse95 Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S10 Ep2 (ft. Amy Thornton): Hadestown, Donny Osmond, Hamilton, Todrick Hall, Miriam Margolyes, Jamie Muscato + more!
27-02-2024
S10 Ep2 (ft. Amy Thornton): Hadestown, Donny Osmond, Hamilton, Todrick Hall, Miriam Margolyes, Jamie Muscato + more!
Amy Thornton (Moulin Rouge / Evita) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Amy discuss Hadestown (Lyric Theatre) and Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre) as well as the latest news about Donny Osmond, Wild About You, Claudia Kariuki, Miriam Margolyes and more.Amy recently completed her run as Nini in the West End production of Moulin Rogue (Piccadilly Theatre) and played Tess in the workshop of Burlesque The Musical.Amy’s West End credits include: Palladium Panto (London Palladium), Matilda (Cambridge), Rock of Ages & Flashdance (Shaftesbury), Never Forget (Savoy) and Grease (Piccadilly). Her credits also include: Evita (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre),  Fame (UK Tour & Monte Carlo), Cats (Jersey & Guernsey) and Starlight Express (UK & Scandinavian Tour). Amy was in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Universal). Alongside her performing career, Amy works as an assistant, associate and resident choreographer with the likes of Ellen Kane, Karen Bruce  and Fabian Aloise. She was resident choreographer for the West End production of Matilda, assistant choreographer for the US, Australian, German, Chinese, Paris and UK touring productions of The Bodyguard and associate choreographer for Regent Park’s Evita. Amy was Ellen Kane’s assistant choreographer for the film adaptation of Matilda.Follow Amy on Instagram: @itsamythorntonHosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S10 Ep1 (ft. Blair Gibson): Wicked Trailer, Vanessa Williams, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Just For One Day, Why Am I So Single + more!
20-02-2024
S10 Ep1 (ft. Blair Gibson): Wicked Trailer, Vanessa Williams, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Just For One Day, Why Am I So Single + more!
We're back for a brand new season of The West End Frame Show - join us for your weekly stagey catchup! This week, Blair Gibson (Elder Price in The Book of Mormon) co-hosts The West End Frame Show.Andrew and Blair discuss the Wicked trailer, Everybody's Talking About Jamie (Peacock Theatre) and Just For One Day (The Old Vic) as well as the latest news about The Devil Wears Prada, Oliver!, Why Am I So Single? and more.Blair's early theatre credits include Erik in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (London workshop), Shane in Game Night (Drayton Arms Theatre), The Beast in Beauty & the Beast (Corn Exchange Newbury), Prince Charming in Cinderella (Bristol Hippodrome) and Mike Singer in Zanna, Don’t! (The Edinburgh Festival Fringe). Blair played Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys for Norwegian Cruise Lines before reprising his performance for the musical's UK & Ireland tour during which he appeared on our interviews podcast In The Frame. Last year Blair took over as Elder Price in the West End production of The Book of Mormon at the Prince Of Wales Theatre, becoming the first British actor to debut as the principal Elder Price in London. Follow Blair on Instagram: @blairgibson__The Book of Mormon runs at the Prince Of Wales Theatre. Visit www.thebookofmormonmusical.com for info and tickets. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
The Mean Girls Episode (ft. Jenna Fincken)
23-01-2024
The Mean Girls Episode (ft. Jenna Fincken)
We're back with a totally fetch episode about the brand new Mean Girls movie!Ahead of Mean Girls opening in the West End in June, the stage musical has been adapted into a brand new film. Directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr, Tina Fey has once again written the movie's script. The cast includes Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, Reneé Rapp as Regina George, Auliʻi Cravalho as Janis, Jaquel Spivey as Damian, Avantika as Karen and Bebe Wood as Gretchen. This episode is co-hosted by writer and actor Jenna Fincken.Jenna wrote and starred in her one-person play Ruckus which had a sold-out, highly acclaimed run at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Later that year, the show transferred to London for a run at the Southwark Playhouse. Jenna was nominated for an Offie Award for Best Lead Performance in a Play and Ruckus was nominated for Best Off-West End production at the WhatsOnStage Awards. She’s about return to the show for a tour. In this episode, Andrew and Jenna delve into their thoughts about the new Mean Girls movie and Jenna discusses why she's so excited to take Ruckus on tour. You can see Ruckus at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester 9th - 10th February, North Wall, Oxford 20th - 21st February, Harlow Playhouse 15th March and MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton 19th March. For info and tickets, visit www.jennafincken.com.Mean Girls is in cinemas now. Hosted by Andrew Tomlins@AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
S9 Ep15 (ft. Mitchell Zhangazha): Hamilton Tour, Pacific Overtures, Mamma Mia I Have A Dream, Red Pitch, Very Very Bad Cinderella + more!
12-12-2023
S9 Ep15 (ft. Mitchell Zhangazha): Hamilton Tour, Pacific Overtures, Mamma Mia I Have A Dream, Red Pitch, Very Very Bad Cinderella + more!
Mitchell Zhangazha (Ain't Too Proud / Dear Evan Hansen) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show! Andrew and Mitchell discuss Hamilton (UK Tour, Manchester Palace Theatre), A Very Very Bad Cinderella (The Other Palace Studio) and Pacific Overtures (Menier Chocolate Factory) as well as the latest news about Mamma Mia I Have A Dream, the WhatsOnStage Awards, Here You Come Again, Red Pitch and more. Mitchell was last on The West End Frame Show two years ago whilst he was understudying Evan and Jared in the West End production of Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre), for which he won the Best Understudy or Swing Award at the Black British Theatre Awards. He went on to play Dick & Others in Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol (Southbank Centre) before playing Eddie Kendricks in the West End premiere of Ain’t Too Proud (Prince Edward Theatre). Mitchell's credits also include understudy Goldie Wilson in the world premiere of Back To The Future (Manchester Opera House), Our Lady of Kibeho (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Stevie Wonder & understudy Berry Gordy in Motown The Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre), Little Moe in Five Guys Named Moe (Edinburgh Fringe) and Curly in Peter Pan (West End).  Mitchell worked extensively as a child, playing Young Simba in The Lion King (West End) and Young Michael Jackson in Thriller Live (West End and UK & Europe tours), whilst also appearing in the original West End cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), Caroline Or Change (National Theatre), Porgy and Bess (West End) and Oliver (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Follow Mitchell on Instagram: @mitchzhangazha Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.