90 - Sharlene Hector on Going From Music To Musicals, Hercules & Perseverance

We’re back with another episode of Call To Stage — and this week Amber is joined by the powerhouse vocalist, storyteller and all-round goddess Sharlene Hector! From Basement Jaxx to Hairspray, Dreamgirls, A Strange Loop, Standing at the Sky’s Edge and now Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Sharlene’s journey is one of fearless leaps and undeniable talent. Having started out singing in church and touring the world as a session singer before ever stepping foot on a musical theatre stage, her story proves that trusting your gut can take you exactly where you’re meant to be. In this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Sharlene talk about breaking into theatre without formal training, her life-changing leap from temp work to global tours with Basement Jaxx, and how lockdown unexpectedly opened the door to her first West End role. They dive into the sisterhood of Hercules’ Muses, dealing with burnout on Dreamgirls, standing strong through racism during A Strange Loop and the emotional power of representation. 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're looking for the most exciting names in musical theatre... we've got you sorted on Call To Stage! And that's especially true for this week's guest. Idriss Karbo has emerged as one of the most exciting actors gracing the West End at the moment. Most recently starring in Burlesque in the West End, as well as the West End transfers of Austenland and I Wish You Well - The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical, Idriss is known for his infectious smile and ability to inhabit larger-than-life characters, from Boq in the West End transfer of Wicked to Donkey in the UK Tour of Shrek The Musical at just 18 years old. Idriss also featured in the 2025 remake of Disney’s Snow White as Bingley. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Idriss talk about performing as a child (in productions of The Lion King, Oliver! and more), transferring a show from the Fringe, “the best year of his life” in Wicked and his current experience in Burlesque. Idriss also shares his experience of overcoming his parents skepticism around acting, touring the UK with Shrek and his experiences across film and TV. 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're back with an exciting episode of Call To Stage - as Amber is joined by your next Emily in The Devil Wears Prada... Taila Halford! Taila makes both her Principle and West End debut with the role from this Autumn - having already performed in School of Rock on a tour of Asia, Cats on Royal Caribbean cruises and Shucked at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Taila talk about life between contracts, keeping the faith through rejection and behind the scenes stories from performing on cruise ships! Taila also takes us inside performing in Shucked alongside Ben Joyce and they chat about building resilience and why “being a little bit delusional” might actually be a performer’s superpower. 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’re back with a very special episode of Call To Stage — this time it’s just Amber and her mic, reflecting on a life changing few months! Fresh from wrapping The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum, Amber reflects on why the show was her favourite contract to date, how playing Jordan pushed her as a performer and the lessons she learned from sharing the stage with West End icons like Rachel Tucker, Jamie Muscato and Corbin Bleu. Amber also shares exclusive insight into her experience landing her dream role of Elle Woods in the new UK Tour of Legally Blonde and the process from audition to the announcement. Plus, she takes us inside the whirlwind 24 hours from the announcement of Elle Woods to taking a surprise meeting about joining Strictly Come Dancing... and we all know what happened next! 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're joined by one of Wales' finest on this episode of Call To Stage as Amber sits with the Olivier Award-winning David Thaxton! David’s career spans two decades of West End highlights - from his breakthrough in Les Misérables (playing Enjolras and Javert), to originating Giorgio in Passion at the Donmar Warehouse (winning him the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical) and starring as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. He’s also been seen in Love Never Dies, Candide, Come From Away, Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park, and most recently as Max von Mayerling in Jamie Lloyd’s record-breaking Sunset Boulevard alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis — both in the West End and on Broadway. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and David talk about his path from Wales to the West End, the unexpected audition that led him to Les Mis and and the challenges of balancing family life with an international career. David also shares a masterclass in Jamie Lloyd’s unique “grid” directing style and shares what it’s really like transferring a production to 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

We're joined by a Broadway-turned-West End star named as Broadway World's Vocalist of the Decade (and one of the tallest men we've ever met) on this episode of Call To Stage! Zachary James has forged a hugely impressive and dynamic career in theatre - most recently as Hades in the West End production of Hadestown, as well as Dom Claude Frollo in the sold out West End concert of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. All amongst that, he starred as Caiaphas in the star-studded Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar. On Broadway, Zachary originated the role of Lurch in The Addams Family, starred in the 2008 revival of South Pacific and has performed in the Encores! productions of The Most Happy Fella and The Pirates of Penzance. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Zachary talk about discovering your voice later in life, Zachary's performance with Stephen Schwartz and sharing the stage with Cynthia Erivo. Zachary also reflects on being part of original productions, the challenges of sustaining long runs, the realities of living between the UK and the US and why saying yes to unexpected opportunities has defined his career. 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

Long time friend of the Davies? Tick. West End favourite? Double tick. Rob Houchen is on Call To Stage this week! Rob Houchen shot to fame as Marius in Les Misérables, a role he played on the West End and in the iconic 30th anniversary concert broadcast to cinemas worldwide. Since then, he’s built a career that blends classic leading man roles with contemporary new writing — from the West End production of City of Angels to Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, the UK Tour of South Pacific and, most recently, the hit Titanique in the Original West End Cast. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Rob reminisce about their nights out and Rob shares stories from breaking out in Les Mis, working with icons like Vanessa Williams and Kristin Chenoweth and working in LA. Rob also shares why he chose to leave Titanique while he still loved it, what it was like being painted grey in a jockstrap every night for City of Angels and the night he sang ABBA on the carpet at Sir Ian’s New Year’s party... 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

Imagine being so naturally talented that your career started as a joke... and now you're in London starring as the King of Pop in front of sold out audiences every night! Jamaal Fields-Green is the West End's MJ in MJ The Musical - currently starring, after initially coming in as an emergency cover. His career started when he landed the role of Seaweed in Hairspray at high school (after his friends signed him up as a joke!) and has since thrived in productions including The Choir Boy and the Chicago production of Hamilton - his first major role straight out of college. Jamaal's story teaches us that anyone can make their dream of performing come true, no matter what time in your life you find theatre (as long as you're insanely talented!). On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Jamaal talk about performing in the UK vs the US, his experience playing MJ, landing his role in Hamilton straight out of college and his uncommon route into the industry... 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're have come to the end of Call To Stage: Gatsby Edition... but we're not finishing before we invite one very special guest on the podcast! Corbin Bleu's theatre credits span from In The Heights on Broadway to Hairspray and Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl. He's also led companies in the Broadway productions of Godspell and Kiss Me, Kate, as well as the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. For the millennials and Gen Z, Corbin is best known as Chad in Disney's High School Musical - a role which catapulted him to household name status and resulted in him being nominated for a Teen Choice Award and NAACP Image Award. On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Corbin talk about being constantly on-stage as Nick in Gatsby in the West End (as well as his interpretation of the role), navigating backlash in his first Broadway role and his roles in shows including Singin' In The Rain. They also talk about the ongoing legacy of High School Musical, the important role the franchise played in the arts and his experiences with fans... 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 nearing the end of Call To Stage: Gatsby Edition… but we are not slowing down! Our guest on this episode is the effortlessly talented (and chilled) Jay Gatsby… sorry, we mean Jamie Muscato, old sport. Jamie Muscato is one of the most bankable leading men in the West End. From his breakout performance as JD in the West End production of Heathers: The Musical to his starring roles in Moulin Rogue!, Les Misérables (on Tour and in the West End), Rock of Ages and, most recently, his Olivier-nominated turn in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812... his CV is just as impressive as his on-stage abilities. Beyond the shows he has been in – Jamie is a star in his own right, and to prove it he is headlining two solo concerts at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in March 2026! On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Jamie talk about building your craft without formal drama school training, the turning point of Heathers propelling Jamie into the spot… and the viral pressure around Jamie’s on-stage death in Gatsby. They also talk about Jamie’s professional debut in Spring Awakening, his Olivier Award nomination for The Great Comet, working with legends like Rachel Tucker, and why saying no can sometimes be the most powerful choice an actor can make. 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