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

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

We have a multiple Olivier Award nominated actor on Call To Stage today... and, even better, she is form one of Amber's favourite shows currently on in the West End. Clare Foster started her professional career in Germany, as an understudy in Saturday Night Fever. Ever since then, she has shot to the top of London's theatre royalty. With roles in We Will Rock You, Avenue Q (where she received her first Olivier nomination), Crazy For You (where she received her first WhatsOnStage Award nomination), Merrily We Roll Along, Travesties and, most recently, in Consent at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Clare has performed around the world - from Boston to Bolton, and currently stars in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Clare talk about making her West End debut in We Will Rock You, the crazy ride that was Avenue Q and working on TV shows such as The Bill and Casualty. They reflect on the importance of learning from failures, and the joys of working with a reliable cast. 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 have a highly requested guest on this weeks episode of Call To Stage! Hibe Elchikhe graduated from Mountview and quickly made her professional stage debut in the Asia tour of Ghost, followed by her first lead role as Jasmine in the Australian tour of Aladdin. In London, Hiba made her stage debut in Antony & Cleopatra at the National Thatre, and made her West End debut as Pritti Pasha in Everybody's Talking About Jamie. Since then, she has gone on to star in The Time Traveller's Wife and, most recently, Here & Now (the Steps musical) in Birmingham. On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Hiba talk about training at BRIT School and Mountview, her first big break in Asia and her journey to landing the role of Jasmine in Aladdin. They also touch on the impact of Everybody's Talking About Jamie and dreams of working on Broadway... 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

In many ways, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the underdog musical of the year in the West End - a production which started off-West End in 2019 and fought its way to the Ambassadors Theatre thanks to its incredibly passionate fanbase. In John Dagleish, the show has found its star. The winner of Best Actor in a Musical at the 2025 Olivier Awards (for his role as Benjamin Button), Dagleish's history in the West End is storied. He previously won Best Actor in a Musical at the Oliviers in 2014 for his performance as Ray Davies in the original cast of Sunny Afternoon. He's also performed in the West End productions of Harlequinade and The Winters Tale. Outside of theatre, John has been in Justice League, Christopher Robin and the live action The Little Mermaid, among others. On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and John talk about the magic of bringing Benjamin Button to the stage, his synergy between being an actor and a musician, influential acting teachers, his West End debut and Olivier Award wins. He also shares his insights into the differences of performing on stage, and performing in front of the camera. 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

From Six to Mean Girls - and even Legally Blonde along the way - Grace Mouat is one of the most exciting stars on the West End. Having made her West End debut in Six (where she was Dance Captain, Swing and covered all six leads!), her journey has also included stints in & Juliet, the Arlene Phillips directed concert version of Hair, the iconic Legally Blonde at the Regents Park Theatre and the West End transfer of The Great British Bake Off Musical. However, it's Grace's show-steeling performance as Karen in the West End run of Mean Girls that has her name on everybody's lips (and 'everyone' includes WhatsOnStage, who nominated her for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical). On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Grace talk about skincare struggles, her West End debut, the challenges of swinging in a new musical and her journey to Mean Girls. Plus, they talk about SVN, the realities of performing in an Open Air theatre and personal growth onstage. 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