69 - Simon Lipkin on Oliver, Avenue Q & Cameron Mackintosh

Call To Stage Live 2025 is now on-sale! Final Tickets Now Available: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/call-to-stage-live/fortune-theatre/ We're back with another episode of Call To Stage: Gatsby Edition, old sports! This week we're joined by Joel Montague aka George Wilson in The Great Gatsby on the West End. You may know Joel Montague for his two and a half year run as King George III in Hamilton - which he actually doubled up on to rehearse for Gatsby! Along with this, Joel is a veteran of the UK touring scene, having performed as part of the touring casts of The Producers, Sister Act, Chicago and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Joel has played opposite the likes of Tom Holland and Cynthia Erivo... all whilst founding his own award winning production company, Curtain Call Productions. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Joel discuss training at Guildford, the challenges of playing George Wilson, his relationship with Carrie Hope Fletcher and working opposite Rachel Tucker. Oh... and prepare yourself. There's a LOT of name dropping in this one! For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back, old sports! We’re back with another episode of Call To Stage: Gatsby Edition and this episode was recorded before the cast announcement of The Great Gatsby on the West End – with a very funny moment… John Owen-Jones is one of the West End’s most accomplished actors, having played both The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. In fact, John hasn’t just played those roles once – he was in the Les Mis 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall and has played Jean Valjean in the West End, on Broadway, on tour and in Dubai. As The Phantom, John has performed in the West End, in Tokyo and as part of the 25th Anniversary UK Tour. Outside of those iconic roles, he has tackled everything from La Cage aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Sound of Music at the National Theatre  and Sweeny Todd at Royal Festival Hall. John Owen Jones currently stars as Meyer Wolfsheim in the West End production of The Great Gatsby. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and John talk about entering the industry before social media, the important of self-reliance, being the youngest actor to play Jean Valjean and performing globally. They also share anecdotes from Phantom, Les Mis and Amber reveals to John that they will be in Gatsby together! (We all know this now… but this was recorded before the announcement!) For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's the day, old sports! We have officially entered Call To Stage: Gatsby Edition and for the next two months, Amber is going to be joined by her fellow cast mates from The Great Gatsby on the West End. And we're starting big... Rachel Tucker is a bonafide legend of the West End. With numerous Olivier Award and WhatsOnStage Award nominations, her work includes playing Elphaba inWicked on the West End, Broadway and as part of the London 10th Anniversary Cast, her multi-award nominated run in Come From Away, Norma Desmond in the Jamie Lloyd production of Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre and We Will Rock You at the Dominion. Most recently, Rachel was Persephone in a sell-out run in Hadestown and she currently plays Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Rachel talk about record-breaking runs in Wicked, performing on Broadway, receiving recognition for Come From Away and performing whilst pregnant. They also share behind-the-scenes secrets from working together on Gatsby and Rachel shares her first impressions from when she received the offer to play Myrtle! For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have seen this week's guest flying around on a broomstick recently. Please welcome, the wickedly talented, Emma Kingston! Having broken out originating the role of Vanessa in the London cast of In The Heights, and blowing people away with her performance as Eva Perón on the international tour of Evita, Emma is currently playing Elphaba opposite Zizi Strallen's Glinda in Wicked on the West End. You may have also seen Emma as Heather Chandler in Heathers, Eponine (understudy) in Les Misérables and even in the star-studded cast of Schwartz At 75 alongside the likes of Jamie Muscato, Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman and Rachel Tucker. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Emma discuss all things Wicked, performing at Mighty Hoopla and Amber spills the truth about her experience watching Emma's first show. For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you were lucky enough to catch the recent London premiere of Shucked… then our guest on this episode of Call To Stage is for you! Stevie Webb made his West End debut in the lead role in Oliver! at the London Palladium. Since then, he’s done everything from performing with Michael Jackson at the BRIT Awards to starring in The History Boys in the West End. Most recently, Stevie starred in the West End production of The Book of Mormon, the UK Tour of Here You Come Again, Chatroom (a role Stevie took over from Andrew Garfield) and, of course, the recent Regents Park Open Air Theatre production of Shucked. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Stevie talk about the creative process behind bringing Shucked to London, Stevie’s West End debut in Oliver, pantomimes… and his wild BRIT Awards story! There’s also stories from The History Boys, Midsummer Nights Dream at the Crucible, Book of Mormon and Stevie’s reflection on his training. For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was only right to have the iconic Maddie Grace Jepson on Call To Stage to announce her West End debut as Lorraine Baines in Back To The Future! We can't wait to watch her thrive on that stage. Maddie is an actor and TikTok viral sensation who has over 2.1 million digital followers worldwide. Just four years after Maddie first appeared on TikTok, she quickly established herself as the go-to creator for everything related to womanhood, lifestyle, and beauty by producing hilariously original and relatable content. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Maddie discuss the audition process for Back To The Future, training at drama school, West End dreams, going viral on TikTok and just how wonderful Nicola Coughlan really is.  For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined by an absolute legend on this episode of Call To Stage! Ruthie Henshall is a five-time Olivier Award nominee who has played some of the West End’s biggest roles. She’s been Fantine in Les Misérables, Nancy in Oliver!, Roxie Hart (and Mama Morton) in Chicago in the West End and was in the Original West End casts of Miss Saigon, Children of Eden, Crazy For You and Peggy Sue Got Married. On Broadway, Ruthie was Roxie Hart in the Chicago revival and Ellen in Miss Saigon alongside numerous other credits spanning her nearly 40 year professional career. Ruthie won Best Actress In A Musical at the Olivier Awards in 1995 for her performance in She Loves Me. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ruthie talk about the emotional toll of auditioning, the importance of nurturing young talent in theatre and Ruthie’s experiences on Broadway! Ruthie also shares stories from Miss Saigon, Chicago and making her professional debut in the UK Tour of A Chorus Line. For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best known for originating the role of Catherine of Aragon in the multi award-winning Six The Musical, Reneé Lamb is one of the UK theatre scene’s most exciting stars. From Six to CAKE (where she originated the leading role of Jeanne), Reneé has also starred in the Original Casts of Be More Chill, Malory Towers and Little Shop of Horrors at the Regent Park Open Air Theatre. She’s most recently starred in the new play Radiant Boy at the Southwark Playhouse. Outside of the theatre, Reneé starred in the BBC drama This Town and will be seen in Edgar Wright’s upcoming film The Running Man. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Reneé talk about the impact of Six, performing at Regents Park for Little Shop, transitioning from musicals to plays and the importance of dialect coaching. They also talk about their touring experiences, the rise of theatrical concerts and their predictions for the future of theatre. For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Desmonda Cathabel might now be recognised as one of the country’s most talented performers – but her career started thousands of miles away in Jakarta. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she was awarded the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2022. In 2023, she was a finalist on ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream where she shot to national attention. On stage, Desmonda played Princess Jasmine on the UK & Ireland Tour of Disney’s Aladdin, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends and she currently stars as Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Desmonda talk about sustaining a healthy voice, the challenges of being an alternate and their touring experiences. Desmonda shares her journey from Indonesia to the West End, and shares the stories behind from behind the scenes of I Have A Dream and landing her role in Hadestown. For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon Lipkin is one of the West End’s most accomplished actors. Having originated roles in many of London’s biggest shows (including Avenue Q, Rock of Ages and Elf The Musical). He can’t just sing, act and dance, he’s also an accomplished puppeteer (he was the dog in I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical, and the Lorax in The Lorax at the Old Vic) and a magician, having performed in Derren Brown’s Unbelievable in the West End in 2024. He’s currently starring as Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s 4x Olivier Award nominated revival of Oliver!, for which Simon was nominated as Best Actor in a Musical. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Simon talk about life-changing training experiences, being nominated for an Olivier Award for Oliver!, being mentored by Cameron Mackintosh and the key to having a versatile career in both theatre and television. They also share experiences from Avenue Q… and spill the tea on Simon’s relationship with Georgina Castle! For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Call To Stage Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostagepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@calltostage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices