Episodes

  • Bonus episode: Producer Kenny Wax on Top Hat dancing back into London, the meteoric rise of Six and the merry success of Mischief

    Bonus episode: Producer Kenny Wax on Top Hat dancing back into London, the meteoric rise of Six and the merry success of Mischief
    Dec 23 2025
    If you haven't heard of Kenny Wax, we are fairly certain you know some of his shows – a mastermind behind building brands from the ground up, he has steered productions like The Play That Goes Wrong and SIX to international acclaim. This Christmas, he has five shows running concurrently in the heart of the capital – on top of the previous two, Top Hat is dazzling at the Southbank Centre, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is a sell-out seasonal sensation and Just For One Day is rockin' all over Shaftesbury Avenue. But what is the secret to his success? The man touches on a multitude of topics in a wide-ranging interview.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 mins
  • What were the best stage shows of 2025?

    What were the best stage shows of 2025?
    Dec 19 2025
    In our final main episode before Christmas, Alex and Sarah discuss their favourite shows of 2025, from Golden Globe winners on Palladium balconies to animatronic bears reducing thousands of punters to tears. With names like Bryan Cranston, Cate Blanchett, Brendan Gleeson, Rosamund Pike and Samira Wiley leading top-tier productions, there's a whole lot to chew on. The pair also pick out their favourite new plays, revivals and names that really made a splash in 2025 – and what it might all mean for the future of theatre.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • Bonus episode: Michael Harrison on ten years of panto at the Palladium

    Bonus episode: Michael Harrison on ten years of panto at the Palladium
    Dec 16 2025
    Few producers are as intrepid as Michael Harrison – steering hits like Evita, Hello, Dolly!, Starlight Express, Gypsy, Titanique and The Bodyguard. But one centrepiece of his producing portfolio is the Palladium pantomime – the crown jewel of the London panto season and renowned for its big sets, big laughs and big innuendo count (courtesy of one Julian Clary). Alex Wood heads to MHE towers to discuss ten years of panto back at the Palladium – and why Michael considers himself the worst usher to have ever worked at Edinburgh Playhouse

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    38 mins
  • Giants and horses and bears – why do puppets cast such a powerful spell?

    Giants and horses and bears – why do puppets cast such a powerful spell?
    Dec 12 2025
    Sarah has ventured into Giant Country (otherwise known as Stratford-upon-Avon) for the opening night of the RSC's stage version of The BFG, sparking a series of thoughts about why puppets have such a profound effect on audiences. This comes mere weeks after the critics raved about the stage production of Paddington. Speaking of the much-loved Bear, the Paddington musical was the runaway smash for the audience-driven WhatsOnStage Awards shortlist – which saw theatregoers across the nation pick their favourite shows and performers. Sarah and Alex comb through the nominated shows to see what it says about the state of UK theatre in 2025.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    40 mins
  • Bonus episode exclusive: Meet agents from the Operation Mincemeat tour!

    Bonus episode exclusive: Meet agents from the Operation Mincemeat tour!
    Dec 8 2025
    In a little casting exclusive, Alex Wood reveals two of the agents tackling the multi-award-winning musical Operation Mincemeat, which kicks off its first ever tour in February 2026. Based on the true story of a plot to con the Nazis during World War Two, it also continues its run in the West End at the Fortune Theatre. So sit back, pour a glass of sangria and see who’s born to lead!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 mins
  • Maria Friedman on the great risk of her Merrily We Roll Along movie and her dear friend Stephen Sondheim

    Maria Friedman on the great risk of her Merrily We Roll Along movie and her dear friend Stephen Sondheim
    Dec 5 2025
    Merrily We Roll Along has landed in cinemas worldwide, providing a unique take on the multi-award-winning Broadway production, first seen in London, with Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez. Friedman maps out her incredible journey with the material and how she transformed the stage show for the big screen. Plus, she explains why changing keys to suit performers should never be discouraged and why you should avoid showing feet when filming on stage!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    48 mins
  • A warm welcome for Paddington

    A warm welcome for Paddington
    Dec 1 2025
    Hopping onto a remote recording at the earliest opportunity, Sarah and Alex discuss the legacy of the late, great Tom Stoppard – following the news of his passing on Saturday night. In an episode of two halves, this is accompanied by a reflection on the glorious response to Paddington The Musical, which received a deluge of glowing reviews following its Sunday night world premiere.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 mins
  • Meeting John Le Carré, writing about death and some advice for young writers

    Meeting John Le Carré, writing about death and some advice for young writers
    Nov 28 2025
    Sarah goes to @sohoplace to talk to writer David Eldridge about his two plays running in London at the moment: End at the National Theatre, the completion of his relationships trilogy, and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, the first adaptation of a John Le Carré novel for the stage.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    42 mins