The WhatsOnStage Podcast

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  208. The Best Plays of the Century Part Nine: the years 2016/2017 01.10.2026 55分

  Sarah and Alex continue their journey through the finest new plays of the 21st century. This episode, Harry Potter hits the stage,climate change becomes a major theme and James Graham has an exceptionally busy year. Plus new plays by Lucy Kirkwood, Caryl Churchill, Mike Bartlett and a romance from David Eldridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  206. Bonus episode: Wicked's Head of Wigs Heather-Jay Ross on hair that defies gravity 27.09.2026 21分

  Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, brought to you by the West End production of Wicked. Last night, Wicked celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Apollo Victoria in the West End with a special celebration. While a certifiably joyous, hair-raising spectacle, the work being done on hair backstage is much, much more complicated – and pulled off with equal aplomb. We sit down with Wicked's head of wigs Heather-Jay Ross to reflect on the technical expertise happening behind the scenes, some of the incredible moments working on the show and some misconceptions about the world of wigs in theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  205. Special interview: Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade 24.09.2026 31分

  Ahead of the RSC’s all male As You Like It, Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade discuss the similarities between Shakespeare and musicals, their best theatre experiences, the importance of Ian Charleson and the fun of dressing up in very glamorous frocks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  204. Bonus episode: Designer Tom Scutt on having three musical revivals in the West End 23.09.2026 35分

  What do Into the Woods, Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar all have in common? That's right, this year they're all being mounted in the West End, and they're all being designed by the same man: the Tony Award-winning Tom Scutt. We sit down with Scutt to discuss his design process, getting into the reeds of Into the Woods and where his artistic drive comes from. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  203. Josh O'Connor is a hit, Ava Pickett does it again and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George 17.09.2026 38分

  Recapping after a very busy series of trips and outings, Sarah and Alex run through the biggest openings and stories of the week: new warnings about the threat of AI to the creative industries, a gloriously knockout performance from Josh O'Connor at the Almeida, reactions to the National's new season and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  202. Bonus episode: Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Annabel Mutale Reed on the new Martin Guerre 16.09.2026 36分

  Martin Guerre has a devoted following amongst musical theatre fans, originally penned by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the two creators of that little-known musical Les Misérables (whatever happened to that one?). Now, they're returning to passion project Martin Guerre to give the musical a new lease of life at the Old Vic, staged in the round alongside rising star co-lyricist Annabel Mutale Reed. They join Alex Wood to discuss the project from their rehearsal room in south London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  201. Bonus episode: National Theatre’s 2027 season with Indhu Rubasingham  09.09.2026 24分

  In our bonus episode, the intrepid Tom Millward is at the National Theatre’s launch to run through their bumper 18-show 2027 season, chatting with the wonderful artistic director Indhu Rubasingham. Then, Alex Wood and David Gordon (plus squeaky chair) chew through the shows in question, with the season featuring West Side Story, a new Punchdrunk immersive production, Tracy Letts and Paul Mescal in Death of a Salesman and so much more…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  200. The best revivals to see out the year (Autumn preview part 2) 06.09.2026 39分

  It’s our 200th episode! Where has the time gone! Sarah and Alex reflect on the rollercoaster ride of podcasting their way through more than two years of theatre. But there’s important business at hand: as part of this second part of the autumn preview, they check in on musical classics in Manchester, multiple glitzy revivals about warring couples in the West End and even a stay in northern Scotland with Alan Cumming as Henry Higgins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  199. The best new work about to make a splash on UK stages (Autumn preview part 1) 03.09.2026 35分

  September has rolled around, bringing with it overcast skies, school terms and, as you might expect, a whole lot of exciting theatre! Sarah and Alex team up for part one of our bumper autumn preview, spotlighting some of the brand new work ready to wow on stages across the UK. From Bristol to Pitlochry, there's everything from Ceilidh musicals to plays about John Maynard Keynes to look forwards to... featuring some of the most exciting writers of the time including Ava Pickett, Ryan Calais Cameron and James Graham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  198. Bonus episode: Tim Minchin on 15 years of Matilda and plans for new musicals 02.09.2026 21分

  We're joined on this week's bonus episode by Tim Minchin, composer and lyricist of the treasured, international sensation, the RSC's Matilda the Musical. Minchin is celebrating 15 years of the multi-award-winning musical's success across the globe, with the West End productions and tour still going strong. He also teases four new shows he's working on over the next few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  197. The Best Plays of the Century Part Eight: the years 2014/2015 27.08.2026 53分

  Sarah and Alex hit the mid 2010s as they continue their foray into the finest theatre works of the 21st century. This time around, a wave of well-received American plays make a big splash on both sides of the Atlantic – with the likes of Annie Baker, Lynn Nottage and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins all wowing with new work. There's also a strong current of work coming from Scotland, with the Edinburgh Festivals proving a hotbed for exciting voices. Plus Mike Bartlett writes a future history play with King Charles III, proving theatre's unwavering prescience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  196. Bonus episode: Pride musical finds a new London home! 25.08.2026 23分

  Pride is moving down the Thames after its National Theatre run! We talk to director Matthew Warchus and writer Stephen Beresford about the musical's sell-out success and what the future holds as the production continues its life. Based on the true story depicted in the 2014 film Pride, the musical is set during the 1984 miners' strike. The story follows a group of lesbian and gay activists who form Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), an alliance which sees them support a small mining community in South Wales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  195. Lin Manuel Miranda, The Greatest Showman - and reasons to be excited about radio drama 20.08.2026 35分

  Alex and Sarah get back together to discuss Alex’s trip to D23, Disney’s huge fan event in California where the creator of Hamilton was celebrated and the West End production of The Greatest Showman was unveiled. Plus more highlights from the Edinburgh Festival and a cracking season of radio drama from the BBC to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Royal Court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  194. Bonus episode: The Greatest Showman at Disneyland with Samantha Barks and Oliver Tompsett 16.08.2026 20分

  Surprise! Alex has made the trip to Disneyland to mark the West End launch of The Greatest Showman, coming to Theatre Royal Drury Lane next spring. He sits down with Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks to discuss the gargantuan new musical's London run. What's more, he also caught up with the makers of Secret Cinema's Pirates of the Caribbean, running from February in Greenwich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  193. Bonus episode: Why comedy actors can do anything with Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson 14.08.2026 34分

  We head to the Edinburgh Fringe to talk to Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson, normally known as comedy duo Britney, who are performing in a brand new play, Jitters. The duo, reflecting on a decade at the Fringe, detail what it's like breaking new ground professionally as they tackle a long-form drama as a twosome, and how the Edinburgh Festivals have changed over the last ten years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  192. Game of Thrones: The Mad King reviewed, Cats returns and Edinburgh highlights 09.08.2026 49分

  It's a bumper reviews special! In what might be the biggest theatre opening of the year, the world of Game of Thrones comes to the stage in a gigantic production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. But does it live up to the hype? Alex and Sarah discuss Dominic Cooke and Duncan Macmillan's efforts and what its future life might look like. Elsewhere, Sarah went to Regent's Park for a night under the (fake) moonlight at Cats, while Alex is trekking between theatres at the Edinburgh Festivals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  191. Ariana Grande, Trainspotting's fate and top shows at the Edinburgh Festivals 06.08.2026 46分

  In a busy week Sarah and Alex talk about Ariana Grande’s decision to step back from her projected stage appearance opposite Jonathan Bailey in Sondhem’s Sunday in the Park with George. And as Alex sets off for Edinburgh, they discuss his top picks for the festival, the failure of Trainspotting and the death of Peter Gill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  190. Bonus episode: The cast of Game of Thrones: The Mad King join the WhatsOnStage Podcast for an exclusive chat 03.08.2026 39分

  Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! A few weeks ago, we were lucky enough to take a very exciting trip into the rehearsal room for Game of Thrones: The Mad King, to chat to the lead cast about their time bringing Westeros to the stage. Currently in previews in Stratford-upon-Avon, the new stage play is penned by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke. Joining the podcast are Tanisha Spring (who appears as Ashara Dayne), Elizabeth Ayodele (as Princess Elia Martell), Mariah Gayle (as Queen Rhaella Targaryen), Callum Woodhouse (as Lord Robert Baratheon), Michael Shaeffer (as King Aerys II Targaryen), Harmony Rose-Bremner (as Lyanna Stark), Luke Brady (as Brandon Stark), Noah Ritter (as Prince Rhaegar Targaryen) and Michael Abubakar (as Eddard Stark). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  189. Roger Allam on returning to the Old Vic, Les Misérables and playing a testicle for Alan Ayckbourn 30.07.2026 25分

  With Sarah on foreign shores, Alex heads to the Old Vic rehearsal room to chat to stage and screen legend Roger Allam. Known for his TV and stage appearances in the likes of The Thick of It, Les Misérables and Frank and Percy, Allam is back on stage this summer in How The Other Half Loves at the Old Vic. And, apparently, he played a certain body part in an Ayckbourn radio play. Allam also touches on the topic of amplification and seeing his greats at the Old Vic when he was young. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  188. Bonus episode: Shaking up the West End with Phelim McDermott 27.07.2026 33分

  Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Phelim McDermott has staged everything – gargantuan operas, intimate shows and even forays into the world of Studio Ghibli with My Neighbour Totoro. He now brings his show Tao of Glass to @sohoplace for a West End season – mixing puppetry, the music of Phillip Glass and pseudo-memoir in an experience hoping to redefine what a West End show can be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.