Welcome to the Rock: 25th Anniversary Commemoration Re-release Episode 2

I know we’ve released these for the 20th anniversary, but this is such a monumental time to reflect on the last quarter of a century.  A period where life sometimes doesn’t seem to have got much better. The story of Gander is such a feel-good story. Come From Away is a feel good musical.  Welcome to the Rock is a feel good series So hopefully you’ll leave today’e episode…episode two in the series…in a good mood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I know we’ve released these for the 20th anniversary, but this is such a monumental time to reflect on the last quarter of a century.  A period where life sometimes doesn’t seem to have got better. We’ve had wars, which seem endless.  We’ve had political turmoil across the nation.  We’ve suffered through a global pandemic.  And the threat of radical terrorism across all social and political spheres. What better way to see the best side of humanity than to listen to a community of people who opened their arms and homes to the world and showed us all what the words “love and acceptance” truly mean. So we will be releasing the entirety of the Come From Away series, as I personally believe it is the perfect tonic in these times of turmoil. Thank you and enjoy. . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My fears of suffering by comparison were quashed within the first minute of this highly entertaining, beautifully sung (with musical direction by Tom Scutt) and astonishingly choreographed (kudos to Drew McOnie) production.  The original revival at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2016 was just so good. Fast forward a decade, and JCS is at The Palladium. It’s just a powerhouse of a revival, and I urge fans of the musical…and sceptics of the musical…to see it before it closes.   I sat down with the delightful Desmonda in her dressing room (thankfully air-conditioned in this crazy London heatwave) to talk about her journey from Jakarta to London, her career to date and her taking on the iconic role of Mary at the most iconic stage in London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we have both a returning guest and a returning show…although not what you’d expect. Listeners of this podcast will remember Jonathan Andrew Hume from the original London Cast of the Olivier Award winning best musical “Come From Away” as one of the Kevins. He was brilliant in that show…and when I was offered a chance to speak to the incoming cast for the revival of Guys and Dolls at The Bridge Theatre right near Tower Bridge in London…I jumped at the chance and asked if I could speak to Jonathan. He’s just one of the loveliest guys in the business…pun intended. Guys and Dolls Official Website (and Tickets) Jonathan Andrew Home on Insta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is PART ONE of a TWO-PARTER. Listen to The Wrong Cat Died via the links below for the companion episode to this episode. Mike Abrams is the creator and host of the theatre podcast “The Wrong Cat Died’. Originally conceived as a 10-part mini series, he’s now over 150 episodes in and going strong. We’ve decided to have each other on…well…each other’s podcasts. It’s something neither of us have done, but thought it would be great to share audiences as we know our listeners, if not already listening to the other’s podcast, will totally get them and love them. The Wrong Cat Died is an original podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network...where Mike and I met in 2020 during lockdown. The podcast posits that in the musical Cats, Grizabella, the cast chosen to go to the Heaviside Lair , was actually the wrong choice. Only one cat gets chosen. The cat that is deemed most worthy by Old Deuteronomy. Mike’s theory is that Griz wasn’t the worthiest cat, and 150 episodes and thousand stories told by original cast members from dozens and dozens of productions from around the globe…it’s clear that the answer to the question “was Grizablla the correct choice?” is still unclear. The Wrong Cat Died Official Website Broadway Podcast Network Website Listen on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an attempt to answer the age old theatre questions; “Is it possible to remove expectations and worry over results and create theater that is pure execution? Is there a way to insure that every artist works only from their instinct in creating a play?” Hmm… So what if an evening was created by randomly pairing artists and have them create new plays under a nearly impossible timeline. Would it remove the luxury of thinking and engage their every artistic instinct necessary to pull off creating a show that didn’t exist before 9am that morning? This episode, I speak to Markus Flannagan, creator and producer of Same Day Plays, making their inaugural appearance at The Questors Theatre in Ealing, London. Same Day Plays Official Website The Questors Theatre Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, i chat to Olivier Award nominee Anoushka Lucas - actree, playwright, singer, songwriter, composer...I mean, she's defining multi-hyphenate We first had Anoushka on the podcast in 2016 when she starred in Jesus Christ Superstar at Regents Park Open Air Theatre - a critically acclaimed production which I saw twice, as once wasn't enough. And she's about to be heard again in Part II of a musical that started life in lockdown: U.Me U.Me: The Complete Musical tells the story of Rose and Ryo, two young strangers who meet online and fall in love during the pandemic, resulting in Ryo flying across the world from Japan to London for Rose. In Part Two, we meet Rose and Ryo again – the relationship takes an unexpected turn and Rose has to take on the deepest challenge of her life.  U. Me: The Complete Musical Official Page The Crucible Official Page Anoushka Lucas Official Website @johnschwab on all the socials Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To kick off 2024, and what seems like a year of non-stop elections…USA Presidential elections, General Election here in the UK as well as a Russian Election (if you can actually call it that)...less of that, the better, I watched 1979 at the Finborough Theatre. A scathing satire of the Canadian political landscape, and a snapshot of the 6 month reign of the infuriatingly righteous Prime Minister Joe Clark - who, in an effort to not anger anyone, actually ends up angering everyone! We sit down with producer Sarah Lawrie and actors Samantha Coughlan, Joseph May and Ian Porter on stage at West London's Finborough Theatre. The show runs until the 27th of January 1979 Tickets - Official Website 1979 on Insta 1979 on X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we bring you another dose of cheer in the form of our annual Christmas podcast. In the past, I have asked some of my theatrical friends to read out a classic Christmas story, with past readers such as West End stalwart Siobhan Harrison and The Walking Dead star Eleanor Matsura. This year, we have a special treat.   On the 1st of December, my family was asked to put together a series of readings as part of a Christmas Carol concert for a charity close to our hearts, Allergy UK. It took place in Christ Church Petts Wood, southeast London and it was a great way to kick off the festive season. I thought it would be a great idea to get some of my friends to read parodies of the Clement Clarke Moore poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from Saint Nicholas)”. The three actors I asked (Ed Stoppard, David Bedella & Myanna Buring) said “yes” straight away, and I couldn’t be more pleased. To end the episode, we have Jack Schwab (I know...nepobaby!) singing his Christmas single (co-written with me) "Winter Blue"...available to listen to on all good music streaming platforms. Have a wonderful holiday season and a blessed 2024 Allergy UK Christmas Carol Concert Video Winter Blue on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m chatting with a dear friend of mine Lourdes Faberes. You may have seen Lourdes in Sandman or The Power or No Time to Die or Good Omens or…I could go on!!!! She’s an incredible actor. Lourdes is currently appearing in untitled f**k m*ss s**gon play at The Young Vic in London. Kimber Lee’s hard-hitting, but hilarious play is running now until the 4th of November. The play had its initial run at the Manchester International Festival earlier this year and has garnered great notices since opening last month. It's a play that deals with generational trauma and enforced stereotypes amongst Asian cultures in popular entertainment - from Pucini to Boublil and Schoenberg.   Lourdes Twitter (X) Profile Lourdes Insta Profile www.youngvic.org  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices