Episode 908: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme ABBACADABRA! (The First ABBA Musical)

This week on MusicalTalk, Nick Hutson and Andrew Keating uncover a forgotten gem of musical theatre history as they sit down with the legendary David Wood to discuss the original ABBA jukebox musical: ABBACADBRA. Long before Mamma Mia! conquered the world, there was ABBACADBRA — a fantastical, family-friendly musical created at the Lyric Hammersmith in the early 1980s, featuring ABBA's music reimagined and a brand-new book and story by David Wood. Nick and Andrew dive deep into how the project came to life, the challenges of adapting globally beloved pop songs into a narrative format and why this early experiment in jukebox storytelling has been largely forgotten despite its star-studded origins and irresistible charm.

By Zeus! It's time for MusicalTalks's celebration of our Pick of the Fringe 2025 - the arrestingly titled (and genuinely brilliant) The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse!  Join Thos as he figuratively feasts on the brains of John Paul Liddle and Hugh Moore, the people behind this amazingly funny, clever, literate, satirical and tuneful modern masterpiece of a musical to find out how it came to be created!  Wittily combining craft, zombie lore, reality television and classical myth with a catchy score and top notch lyrics (quadruple rhymes anyone?), this musical is a bona fide modern classic.  With fascinating insights and three amazing songs, don't let life get in the way of your enjoying this bumper episode!

This week on MusicalTalk, Nick and Dom sit down to celebrate one of British musical theatre's most brilliantly bonkers gems: Acorn Antiques. With the recent Hope Mill Theatre production bringing Victoria Wood's cult favourite back into the spotlight, they explore how this new staging honours (and occasionally reimagines) Wood's unmistakable wit, warmth and musical mischief. From the show's origins as a beloved sketch, to its transformation into a full-scale musical bursting with charm, Nick and Dom reflect on why Acorn Antiques continues to resonate with audiences decades later. They discuss standout moments from the Hope Mill production, the enduring brilliance of Wood's writing and the extraordinary legacy she left behind as one of Britain's most cherished comedic voices. 

✨ Pop nostalgia meets festive cheer in this lively, laugh-filled episode of MusicalTalk! ✨ This week, Nick and Andrew take a nostalgic step back to the '90s as they discuss HERE AND NOW — the brand-new Steps musical currently touring around the UK!  Plus, Nick introduces a new voice to the MusicalTalk team — Emily! Emily joins to chat about ELF at the Aldwych Theatre — a festive favourite that she's performed in… but never actually seen until now! Both HERE AND NOW and ELF were star-studded gala performances, and our hosts share their thoughts on the spectacle, the audiences, and the sheer joy of theatre at its most celebratory.  

Join Thos as he revisits a conversation with celebrated songwriter Sue Casson about her seminal musical masterwork, Dreams of Peace and Freedom, currently on a national tour, and learn how this piece has become part of a multiplatform experience entitled Songs of the People.  From Magna Carta to Victorian Scottish land clearances, via the Nuremburg War Trials to Southwark Cathedral in 2025, Songs of the People encompasses international history, philosophy and democracy in a breadth of exciting and thoughtful ways - but always with achingly beautiful music at its core. Songs of the People is an epic entertainment for the generations. Don't miss this bumper episode!

In this reflective episode of MusicalTalk, Nick sits down with Thos to revisit his musical adaptation of Richmal Crompton's classic British short stories: Just William, first written as his examination piece twenty years ago. Together, they explore how two decades of experience — and a world of new technology (along with nearly 20 years of MusicalTalk!) — have transformed Nick's process as a composer and writer. From song ideas that have stayed with him since his student days to the tools that now bring them to life, it's a warm and insightful look at artistic growth and rediscovery. Plus, listeners will get to hear three of Nick's original demo recordings from the show, offering a rare glimpse into his creative evolution.

A digital disaster leads Thos to dig out his old CD collection — and rediscover a world of musicals he'd long forgotten. Nick joins him for a nostalgic spin through the golden age of discs, cassettes and vinyl, celebrating the physical joy of pressing play, turning pages, and uncovering songs that time almost buried. It's a charming conversation about rediscovery, memory, and the music that never really leaves you — they just wait patiently in the loft.

Join Colm and Thos as they again look at some of the shows you could have seen at this year's EdFringe - including the Queen is Mad, Hot Mess, Annie, High School Musical and Sense - A New Musical About Dementia to name but a few.  With two fabulous songs from the brand new original Edinburgh Cast Recording of the five-star musical The Queen is Mad, you'd be mad to miss it!

Well, how about that? MusicalTalk reaches its 900th episode (and it's 19th birthday)!  Not only that but we're Britain's oldest showbusiness podcast!  To celebrate, we've got a special bumper double-length episode of songs, songs, songs!  Join Thos as he looks into the history of British podcasting, and MusicalTalk's suprisingly important place in it, and then lie back and listen to twenty wonderful songs from some of the shows you could have seen at this year's EdFringe!  It's cheers all round!  

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 is dead! Long live the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026! But whilst we're waiting, it's time for MusicalTalk to begin its celebrated coverage of all the best musicals you could have seen this August at the world's largest arts festival.  In this episode, Thos and Colm begin with an in-depth appreciation and analysis of two very different but excellent new musicals - The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse, which is MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe 2025, and Hole!, an epic but impossible musical!  With zombies feasting on brains, and Hole! concentrating on an altogether different and opposite end of the body, this round-up really covers the Fringe from top to bottom!