We’re joined by a true star of the stage and screen on this episode of Call To Stage!

Ava Brennan spent the first portion of her career performing in Germany – most notably in The Lion King, a role which brought her to the West End, where she performed as Nala. She has played some of the West End’s most powerful female roles – including Angelica in Hamilton, Fantine in Les Misérables and Ikette in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.

On screen, Ava played series regular Vee in Top Boy on Netflix, alongside roles in the live action remake of Beauty and the Beast and Rocketman.

Ava is currently playing Nancy in the acclaimed West End revival of Oliver!.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ava talk about the first musicals they ever saw, balancing life as a working mother, Ava’s experiences in TV and Film, and the intense audition she had in front of Cameron Mackintosh...

Plus, Ava shares stories from performing in Hamilton whilst 7 months pregnant, making her professional debut in Aida in Germany and going from being an alternative in Oliver! to taking over the role of Nancy full-time.

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We are joined by a true legend of the West End on this episode of Call To Stage, as Amber is joined by the one and only Louise Dearman!

Louise made history as the only actress to have played both Glinda and Elphaba as principal in Wicked (in the West End)! This stacks up against credits including playing Eva Perón in two UK Tours of Evita, the Narrator in the UK Tour of Joseph, Miss Adelaide in the UK Tour of Guys and Dolls (as well as understudying the role in the West End), among others.

Louise has also performed as part of The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall multiple times and is currently touring across the UK and America with Gravity, a concert which she stars in alongside Kerry Ellis and Rachel Tucker.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Louise talk about breaking through nerves before performing, the importance of vocal health and the choices Louise is making to be more present for her family.

Louise also shares stories from Wicked (including whether she is more of an Elphaba or a Glinda!), Evita, Jekyll & Hyde, Guys & Dolls and her new concert tour Gravity, with Kerry Ellis and Rachel Tucker.

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He's on his way to being one of the biggest names in UK theatre - and he's your Emmett in the new UK Tour of Legally Blonde The Musical - George Crawford is on this episode of Call To Stage!

Having initially started performing arts training late, George has already had an illustrious career on the stage. Straight out of COVID, he went into the first international tour of Book of Mormon (covering both Elder Price and Elder Cunningham), before starring as Ogie in the Waitress UK Tour, the alternate Jack Kelly in Newsies in London and, most recently, Mr McKee and cover for Nick Carraway & Jay Gatsby in the Original London Cast of The Great Gatsby.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and George talk about starring in the UK Tour of Legally Blonde together, backstage antics at The Great Gatsby and meeting his wife Amy in Waitress.

They also talk about the importance of boosting morale backstage, his experience in the Olivier Award-winning production of Newsies and the challenges of being in a show on the road...

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We've officially hit 100 Episodes of Call To Stage! What better way to celebrate than with a very special episode with the one and only, Ben Joyce!

Fresh off starring in the acclaimed Regents Park Open Air Theatre production of Shucked this Summer, as well as his renowned performance in the concert production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and his one-night-only return to Back To The Future, Ben Joyce is truly one of theatre's most exciting names.

Whilst Amber is on the road through-out 2026 starring as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Ben is opening the World Premiere of The Greatest Showman as Phillip Carlyle (as played by Zac Efron in the film).

On this special episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ben talk about everything from their new house they bought together to navigating being in the same industry as your partner. They also share insight on managing their careers and their relationship side-by-side and how they'll be staying connected during a busy 2026!

Ben also shares stories from Shucked and Hunchback and his journey to The Greatest Showman, and Amber gives an inside look to how Ben has been supporting her during her Strictly journey.

Up next? Episode 101 and beyond...!

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After the matinee is the evening, and on this episode of Call To Stage, we're taking you to the Fortune Theatre in London's West End for Call To Stage LIVE 2025!

In the evening performance, we were joined by the one-of-a-kind Matt Henry, Grace Hodgett-Young and Jess Folley (plus special appearances from Natalie Paris, Taila Halford and Ben Joyce).

Highlights include Matt's sneaky audition whilst he was at Urdang (and his return to the stage, after nearly quitting, in Kinky Boots), Grace's stories from performing in Sunset Blvd on both Broadway and in the West End, and Jess' unique experience shaping Burlesque.

We're back next week with the very special 100th episode of Call To Stage!

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We assembled an iconic list of very special guests at the Fortune Theatre in London's West End for Call To Stage LIVE 2025... and now we're bringing it to your ears!

In the matinee performance, we were treated to interviews with the incredible Samantha Barks, Zoe Birkett and Holly-Anne Hull (plus special appearances from Natalie Paris, Taila Halford and Ben Joyce).

Highlights include Zoe sharing her intense 4 hour audition to play Tina Turner in TINA, Samantha's experiences playing Elsa in Frozen and playing Eponine in Les Mise´rables on stage in in the film and Holly's experience competing at Eurovision as part of Remember Monday!

We'll be back next week with the not-to-be-missed evening performance of Call To Stage LIVE 2025!

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We're back with another episode of Call To Stage, and Amber is joined by an undisputed icon of stage and storytelling... Melanie La Barrie!

From Hadestown to & Juliet, from Wicked to Les Mis, Melanie has created some of the most memorable characters in modern musical theatre. Making her West End debut in the ensemble of Ragtime, she has gone on to be apart of the original cast of Mary Poppins, the workshop production of Matilda and both the workshop and original Manchester and West End cast of & Juliet.

Alongside these outstanding original roles, Melanie has also starred in the West End productions of Les Misérables (Madame Thenardier), Wicked (Madame Morrible) and Hadestown (Hermes), for which she won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Melanie talk about character building when playing an original role, the truth about auditioning and making her Broadway debut in & Juliet at 48 years old.

Melanie also shares her journey from singing professionally in Trinidad to becoming one of the West End's most beloved performers, as well as stories from her time in Wicked and her auditioning truths!

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We have one of the most highly anticipated guests of the year on this episode of Call To Stage... it's Amber's Strictly Come Dancing partner Nikita Kuzmin!

Hailing from Ukraine, Nikita is joined BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and - two years later - during season 21 in 2023, he placed as runner-up with his partner for the series (and Call To Stage alum), Layton Williams! Nikita has scored a '40' (the highest score on the show) six times and has been scored a '10' (the highest score from an individual judge) a whopping forty-three times!

Outside of Strictly, Nikita is the holder of six Italian Championship titles and was the runner up on the 2024 series of Celebrity Big Brother.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Nikita share behind-the-scenes stories from their time on Strictly, their first impressions of each other and the growth they have experienced whilst on the show.

They also take us inside the rehearsal room to share their most challenging rehearsals - learning a wide variety of dance styles - and Nikita shares his favourite musicals!

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