Join us on this captivating journey into the fascinating world of live entertainment. Host Adam Sternberg brings you engaging conversations with remarkable entertainers, from magicians and jugglers to aerial artists and contortionists. Discover the unique stories behind their extraordinary careers, the challenges they have faced, and the motivations that drive them. If you are passionate about live entertainment or simply curious about the lives of extraordinary performers, this podcast is a must-listen.

In this episode, Adam welcomes Reverend Bazil Meade, founder of the London Community Gospel Choir, widely recognised as a pioneering force in British gospel music. Bazil traces his path from a childhood on the Caribbean island of Montserrat to becoming one of the most influential figures in UK choral music. He shares moving and sometimes dramatic stories about migration, racism, faith, early musical mentorship, the formation of LCGC in the early 1980s and its rapid rise to performing on global stages and collaborating with major artists including Paul McCartney, George Martin, Luther Vandross, Foreigner and Madonna. Basil also breaks down the sound, history and emotional heart of gospel, the distinction between spirituals and modern gospel music, and how improvisation, movement and community inform the choir’s world-renowned style. We hear candid reflections on creativity, the transition to handing leadership to his children, unforgettable stage moments and a live lesson in singing that leads Adam to his first gospel duet.

Key Discussion Points

• Origins and Early Life in Montserrat: Born in Montserrat in the Caribbean, raised in a small wooden house and living largely off the land and the sea.
• Migration to the UK and Culture Shock: Travelled alone at age nine on a two week boat journey to Southampton, experiencing seasickness, unfamiliar food and the tight communal conditions typical of early Windrush-era ships.
• Early Musical Influences and Church Community: Grew into music through church life in Hackney and Dalston Lane.
• A Dramatic Escape and New Beginnings: Recounted a frightening confrontation with his stepfather that led him to flee the house, land in Leicester Square and impulsively leave for Germany with a group selling encyclopedias to US bases.
• Founding the London Community Gospel Choir: Co founded LCGC in 1982 with Lawrence Johnson, John Francis and Delroy Powell.
• Weekly Rehearsals and National Influence: Wednesday rehearsals began in the early years and continue to this day.
• Gospel: History, Sound and Soul: Explains the origins of Negro spirituals in slavery, the emotional weight of songs reflecting suffering, longing and coded expressions of hope.
• Improvisation, Movement and Choir Culture: Contrasts gospel with classical choral traditions, emphasising freedom, spontaneity and connection.
• Collaborations with Major Artists: Shares vivid stories from working with Paul McCartney on Give My Regards to Broad Street and with producer George Martin who had Montserrat ties.
• Recounts multiple recording and rehearsal sessions with Madonna, describing her intense focus, high standards and direct creative involvement.
• Reflects on an unforgettable collaboration with Luther Vandross, praising his warmth, respect and genuine connection with the choir.
• Passing the Baton to the Next Generation: Bazil’s children, Leon and Venetta, now lead LCGC. He speaks honestly about the challenge of stepping back after four decades, learning to let go and trusting a new creative vision.
• New Music and British Gospel Identity: Previews tracks from the upcoming LCGC album written by Leon and...

Join us on this captivating journey into the fascinating world of live entertainment. Host Adam Sternberg brings you engaging conversations with remarkable entertainers, from magicians and jugglers to aerial artists and contortionists. Discover the unique stories behind their extraordinary careers, the challenges they’ve faced, and the motivations that drive them. If you’re passionate about live entertainment or simply curious about the lives of these extraordinary performers, this podcast is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, Adam welcomes circus artist, director and producer Katharine Arnold, an aerialist with two decades of experience who has performed with La Clique and Cirque du Soleil and appeared as Mary Poppins in the Olympic opening ceremony. Katharine traces her path from a Brixton childhood and early ballet training to discovering trapeze at university. She explains the decision to leave a sensible office job at Bloomberg for life on tour, the variety of company experiences from collaborative outdoor shows to large scale revue productions, and the creative process behind her own company show Sophie’s Surprise 29th Birthday Party. Katharine shares candid stories about major surgery, recovery and returning to performance, the thrill of live risk, a hilarious rigging mishap involving a cable tie and her hair, and her views on sexualisation, costume and creative freedom. We also hear about training routines, the practical differences between small cabaret shows and huge productions like Cirque du Soleil, the challenges facing the London cabaret scene, and why she believes showmanship, narrative and audience interaction matter.

Key Discussion Points

• Origins and Early Training: Born and raised in Brixton; ballet from age three; school plays and early love of music and movement.
• Discovering Circus at University: Performing arts degree at Middlesex University with a physical theatre focus; Fevered Sleep visit brought circus equipment and a first taste of trapeze.
• Adult Classes and Formal Training: Evening trapeze classes at Circus Space, now the National Centre for Circus Arts; the choice to pursue circus alongside a degree.
• Career Turning Point: Working at Bloomberg briefly for financial security then auditioning for Giffords Circus and choosing the touring, performative life.
• First Companies and Variety of Work: From Giffords to an outdoor rock and roll flying trapeze show with live music, to Berlin’s Friedrichstadt Palast revue show, illustrating the spectrum from collaborative creation to highly directed large-scale productions.
• Working with Major Companies: Reflections on Cirque du Soleil as aspirational and legitimising; differences between being in original creative casts and joining established productions.
• Creating Sophie’s Surprise 29th Birthday Party: The concept of an immersive, comedic ensemble show where one audience member becomes Sophie; influences from Punchdrunk and late 90s, early 2000s pop culture; audience games, karaoke and direct interaction.
• Choreography and Music First Process: Katharine describes how music often drives her choreographic choices and how she builds acts around musicality.
• Act Construction and Subversion: Examples include the plastic surgery parody act that unexpectedly morphs into a moving hoop piece set to a Postmodern Jukebox cover of Creep.
• Injury and Recovery: Open account of major abdominal surgery during the pandemic to remove a tumour and the long rehabilitation that followed, plus the emotional impact of thinking performance might be over.
• Training and Maintenance: The difference between building strength as a beginner and...

Join us on this captivating journey into the fascinating world of live entertainment. Host Adam Sternberg brings you engaging conversations with remarkable entertainers, from magicians and jugglers to aerial artists and contortionists. Discover the unique stories behind their extraordinary careers, the challenges they've faced, and the motivations that drive them. If you're passionate about live entertainment or simply curious about the lives of these extraordinary performers, this podcast is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, Adam welcomes silhouette artist Charles Burns a performer–artist whose entire show fits into a pocket: paper and scissors. From a bruising boarding-school experience to art college and the Covent Garden piazza, Charles charts how drawing led him to live silhouette cutting, why imperfection makes entertainment memorable, and what it felt like to interrupt Queen Elizabeth II (successfully!) to cut Her Majesty’s profile. He explains his mirror-free, one-line cutting technique, the psychology of likeness, why some people “don’t look like themselves” in profile, and how lockdown sparked his global Zoom silhouette studio. We also hear about AI silhouettes, Disney’s influence on the American style, and an 18th-century automaton “artist” with a human under the table.

Key Discussion Points

• Origins & Early Training: Growing up in Somerset; boarding at Ampleforth; bullying; sanctuary in the art room with sculptor-teacher John Bunting; discovering that drawing was the foundation.
• Art Education: Foundation at Exeter; time at the École des Beaux-Arts (Lyon); degree at Wolverhampton; art as communication vs. art-therapy.
• Artist vs Performer: Why most artists perform (and most performers create art); Charles sits “on the cusp,” literally performing portraits in front of an audience.
• Covent Garden Beginnings: Late-1980s street portraitist; a visiting Spanish cutter inspires the switch to silhouettes.
• Technique & Tools: Pocketed papers, white backing sheet, cutting largely in one continuous line; right-profile preference for a right-handed cutter; rotating the paper, not the scissors.
• Work & Temperament: “One of nature’s self-employed”; office life felt like returning to school politics.
• Neurodiversity: Son’s diagnosis led to Charles’s own autism-spectrum diagnosis in his 40s; reframing meticulous preparation as a strength.
• Everyone Can Draw: Fear often comes from bad early teaching; skill = motivation + hard work; drawing as the base of all visual art.
• Royal Encounter: Cutting Queen Elizabeth II at a Ritz Golden Jubilee party—nerves, etiquette, and simply stepping in; other high-profile sitters mentioned by Adam include Nelson Mandela and President Clinton.
• Capturing Likeness: Children who won’t sit still; poor lighting at events; self-image vs. profile reality; audiences often “rescue” a likeness because they see you as others do.
• Entertainment Over Perfection: Some silhouettes are better than others—human variability is part of the show; the joy of imperfection and the retelling (magicians’ lesson).
• Live Demonstration: Charles cuts Adam’s silhouette on-air—narrating chest→chin→nose→glasses→hair; occasional “back-cutting” fixes; speed builds with warm-up.
• Human vs. Machine: Low-tech authenticity matters; guests often expect equipment and are astonished it’s “just scissors.”
• AI & Automation: Experiments with AI-generated silhouettes; yes, a laser could cut them—but the human...

Join us on this captivating journey into the fascinating world of live entertainment. Host Adam Sternberg brings you engaging conversations with remarkable entertainers, from magicians and jugglers to aerial artists and contortionists. Discover the unique stories behind their extraordinary careers, the challenges they've faced, and the motivations that drive them. If you're passionate about live entertainment or simply curious about the lives of these extraordinary performers, this podcast is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, Adam welcomes dancer, choreographer, and creative polymath Anthony Johns. From childhood tap shoes in Portsmouth to BBC studios, West End stages, Pinewood sets, and arena-scale royal spectaculars, Anthony’s life traces six decades of British variety at its most glittering and gritty. He shares priceless lessons from mentors, the power of ballet as the “maths and English” of dance, and the old-school craft of performing to the whole house - not the mirror.

• Origins & Early Training: Growing up with two sisters who danced; a childhood accident, shyness, and finding confidence through classes. Tap at five, jazz soon after, and secretly at first - ballet, the technical foundation he calls essential “poise, posture, and strength.”
• First Stage Sparks: Local festivals, “Hello, Dolly!” solos, and a family who took him to everything from lavish musicals to the Royal Ballet; memories of Nureyev, Antoinette Sibley, and Anthony Dowell.
• West End Breakthrough: Cast at 13 in Gypsy (1973) with Angela Lansbury and Bonnie Langford at the Piccadilly Theatre; the realities of child-performer licenses, nightly commutes from Epsom, and matron Mrs Langford’s mantra: scan the audience and sparkle.
• The Performer’s Gaze: Why mirrors can stunt stagecraft; learning routines faster without them; the difference between today’s mirror-trained focus and the old pros who “bring you in.”
• Film Set Education: Bugsy Malone at Pinewood custard-pie chaos, backstage legends (hello, Chitty’s Child Catcher cage), and candid on-set memories of Jodie Foster and fellow young stars.
• TV & The Young Generation: Joining the BBC’s Young Generation at 16; working on New Year spectaculars with Dame Vera Lynn, Shirley Bassey, Petula Clark, and more; later presenting children’s TV segments and choreographing for BBC training shoots.
• Choreography Philosophy: Let instinct lead often the first idea to music is the truest; concept-driven work and designing the whole picture (movement, costumes, mood).
• “Forbidden Blackpool”: A bold, pre-burlesque, Moulin-Rouge-tinted concept show built around a keyhole motif; role reversal with boys in feathers, girls in suits; Anthony’s own costume designs and nightclub-cabaret vibe inside a large theatre.
• Defining Variety: From comics and dancers to sopranos and specialty acts “educational but entertaining” and how Sunday night Light Entertainment once shaped family rhythm.
• Dougie Squires & 43 Years of Life and Work: Meeting at 18; a partnership that spanned TV series, stage tours, and later the Royal pageants.
• Royal Spectacles: From the Queen’s 40th at Earl’s Court (Cameron-scale stages, thousands of horses, and Salad Days for Her Majesty) to Windsor galas with Helen Mirren and Tom Cruise; priceless Evelyn Laye waving anecdote.
• The Working Life: Why long runs weren’t for him after rapid-turnover TV; keeping the mind alive with new routines; passion over mortgage-logic.
• Advice to Young Performers: Perform from the heart, cultivate generosity, learn every backstage craft you can (even sewing a zipper), and remember your job is to make the star and the audience...

Join us on this captivating journey into the fascinating world of live entertainment. Host Adam Sternberg brings you engaging conversations with remarkable entertainers, from magicians and jugglers to aerial artists and contortionists. Discover the unique stories behind their extraordinary careers, the challenges they've faced, and the motivations that drive them. If you're passionate about live entertainment or simply curious about the lives of these extraordinary performers, this podcast is a must-listen.

In this episode, Adam Sternberg welcomes Natalie Haverstock, internationally acclaimed balloon artist and performer, better known by her stage name Miss Ballooniverse.

A natural entertainer with roots in acting and comedy, Natalie has transformed the humble balloon into an art form blending creativity, humour, and craftsmanship into something truly extraordinary. From teaching balloon-making to global audiences online, to dazzling celebrity guests at high-end events, her story is as uplifting as her creations.

Adam and Natalie explore her colourful journey from the theatre stage to the balloon stage, the art behind every twist and fold, and the resilience required to reinvent oneself in an ever-changing creative industry.

• A Musical Start: Growing up in North West London, Natalie was surrounded by creativity, her father was a violinist who even appeared in Fiddler on the Roof. Though she trained in classical acting at Rose Bruford College, comedy and improvisation soon became her passion.
• Improvisation & Performance: As the former Artistic Director of London Theatre Sports, Natalie honed her quick wit and stage presence, tools that would later prove essential to her success as a performer.
• Discovering Balloons: A chance introduction to a balloon agency in 2008 sparked her unexpected new career. What began as a side hustle quickly became a full-fledged art form as Natalie discovered the power of balloons to connect, amuse, and amaze audiences.
• From Beginner to Master: Her trip to Belgium’s Millennium Jam convention transformed her skills and inspired her signature style from wearable balloon dresses to Jeff Koons-inspired creations.
• Art Meets Psychology: Natalie shares how balloon modelling, like acting or magic, is all about reading the room and evoking emotion proving that every squeal of delight is part of the performance.
• The Celebrity Connection: From Britain’s Got Talent to private charity galas, Natalie’s balloon caricatures of famous faces have charmed stars like Simon Cowell and delighted crowds around the world.
• Adapting Through Adversity: During the pandemic, Natalie pivoted to virtual workshops, teaching balloon art to teams and families across continents proving that joy is still possible through a screen.
• Balloons Without Borders: From Dubai to London, her craft transcends language and culture. As she puts it, “Laughter is the same in every language and balloons are a universal symbol of fun.”
• The Aztec Connection: Ever the curious creator, Natalie even shares how ancient civilizations inflated animal intestines as early balloon art connecting history, humour, and creativity.
• Performance Over Perfection: While technique matters, Natalie insists her real art lies in the performance: “It’s 60% entertainment, 40% balloons.”

The Balloon Dog Lesson:

Natalie gives Adam a hilarious hands-on crash course in balloon art, guiding him through the twists and turns of crafting the classic balloon dog. The result may not win awards, but it...

Join us on this captivating journey into the fascinating world of live entertainment. Host Adam Sternberg brings you engaging conversations with remarkable entertainers, from magicians and jugglers to aerial artists and contortionists. Discover the unique stories behind their extraordinary careers, the challenges they've faced, and the motivations that drive them. If you're passionate about live entertainment or simply curious about the lives of these extraordinary performers, this podcast is a must-listen.

In this episode, Adam Sternberg welcomes Pete Heat, one of the UK’s most exciting magicians and comedians. Known for his unique blend of sharp wit and astonishing sleight of hand, Pete has performed around the world, from intimate close-up shows to large-scale stage performances. He’s worked behind the scenes in television and even taught magic to Jude Law for his role as Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts films.

Adam and Pete explore how a childhood fascination turned into a global career, the fine balance between art and illusion, and why a good magic trick is as much about psychology as it is about skill. Pete also opens up about the creative process behind developing new tricks, handling unpredictable audiences, and how he accidentally became known as “the rock & roll magician.”

• The Early Spark: Pete recalls his uncle performing a coin trick at Christmas that ignited his lifelong obsession with magic — blending his analytical mind with his love for art and performance.

• From Coventry to the World Stage: How a homemade showreel filmed around East London helped launch Pete’s television career and set him on a path to performing globally.

• The Rock & Roll Magician: Pete shares how his look, timing, and presence — combined with the indie energy of mid-2000s London — helped shape his unique identity in the world of magic.

• Behind the Trick: A fascinating breakdown of how magicians create new illusions — from the initial concept (“What if I could push a glass through a table?”) to working out how to make the impossible look possible.

• When Things Go Wrong: Why a magician’s best weapon is improvisation — and how every mistake can be turned into a moment of wonder.

• Cultural Reactions: From prayer beads in Bahrain to raucous applause in New York, Pete reveals how different cultures respond to magic around the world.

• Teaching Dumbledore: The story behind how Pete ended up teaching Jude Law magic for Fantastic Beasts — and how that encounter boosted his career overnight.

• On Fame and Fulfilment: Pete candidly discusses ambition, art, and the delicate balance between creative passion and the desire for wider recognition.

• The Riffle Shuffle Lesson: Pete gives Adam a hands-on masterclass in shuffling cards — with results that might not qualify him for the Magic Circle just yet.

• Signature Trick: Pete performs his classic card routine live on the podcast — a trick that has, quite literally, taken him around the world.

For more on Pete’s performances and live shows, visit:

👉https://www.instagram.com/peteheat

To stay updated on future episodes, follow @VarietyPodcastOfficial on:

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Welcome to episode 1 of the Variety podcast. I have been lucky enough to have worked with some amazing acts over many years. But for me, what has always been fascinating are the stories they have told me before they went on stage - what led them to be a performer, the difficulties they have faced, the hilarious situations they have faced when the act goes badly wrong. I always thought that a peek behind the curtain was as interesting as what went on the stage - that’s why I’ve worked hard to bring this podcast to you today. I hope you enjoy it and let us know your thoughts below.

– Adam Sternberg

Episode Highlights

In this episode, Adam Sternberg sits down with Jolie Papillon, one of the UK's leading burlesque artists. Originally from Rimini, Italy, Jolie shares her journey from training at top theatre and dance schools in Europe to becoming a celebrated burlesque performer in the UK. Adam and Jolie delve into the variety of reactions from audiences, the misconceptions about burlesque, and the significance of embracing authenticity in performance.

Key Discussion Points:

• Early Inspirations: Jolie talks about her upbringing in Rimini, her musical family background, and her early experiences in performance.

• Discovering Burlesque: Learn how Jolie stumbled upon the world of burlesque and cabaret, and how she created her stage persona, Jolie Papillon, for a burlesque competition.

• The Art of Striptease: Jolie discusses the artistry involved in burlesque, from choreography and costume design to the importance of performance and audience interaction.

• Challenges and Triumphs: Hear Jolie's stories of overcoming stage mishaps, dealing with audience reactions, and performing in diverse cultural settings, including in Saudi Arabia.

• Evolving Perceptions: Explore how burlesque is viewed today and the impact of mainstream influences, such as Taylor Swift's "Life of a Showgirl" album.

Interactive Segment:

Glove Peeling 101: Jolie shares a playful demonstration of the art of glove peeling, highlighting the intricacies involved in this classic burlesque move.

Get in touch:

For more insights into Jolie's world visit :

Jolie’s Instagram

Stay updated on future episodes! Find us at @VarietyPodcastOfficial on:

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Join Adam Sternberg next time for another episode of Variety. Thank you for tuning in!

Original title music written by Peter O'Donnell and produced by Chris Burgess.

Welcome to Variety

In this podcast, Adam chats with the people who make live entertainment truly extraordinary – magicians, jugglers, aerial artists, contortionists, and more.

How do you even become a contortionist? What happens when a performance goes wrong? And what makes someone keep chasing the stage instead of a safe nine-to-five?

Variety gives you a front-row seat to their stories, struggles, and the magic behind the scenes.

Coming soon – if you love live entertainment and real stories from remarkable performers, this one’s for you.

Get in touch

Stay updated on future episodes! Find us at @VarietyPodcastOfficial on:

Instagram

YouTube

Tags

live entertainment, performing arts, magicians, jugglers, aerial artists, contortionists, circus arts, performers, backstage stories, creative careers, podcast trailer, arts and culture, storytelling, performance life, behind the curtain

Original title music written by Peter O'Donnell and produced by Chris Burgess.