In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Oluwalonimi Owoyemi is starring as the Poet in the touring production of The Choir of Man.

Featuring a soundtrack of pub classics, rock anthems and feel-good hits, The Choir of Man celebrates friendship, community and the power of music. Set in a pub called The Jungle, the show combines live music, storytelling and plenty of audience interaction. Created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay, the production has toured internationally and enjoyed runs in London.

Nimi’s theatre credits include The Second Woman (Young Vic), The Wind in the Willows (Shakespeare North Playhouse), Slave: A Question of Freedom (Tour) and Beauty & The Beast (Lawrence Batley Theatre).

In this episode, Nimi talks about his journey into theatre after completing a law degree, and how he made the leap into the performing arts. He take a deep dive into his role as the Poet in The Choir of Man and why being in this production is a big moment for him.

The Choir of Man tours until 5th December before returning to London for a run at the Arts Theatre at Marble Arch.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

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Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney are In The Frame!

Eva and Reeve originated the roles of Eurydice and Orpheus in Hadestown. Featuring music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell, the show is directed by Rachel Chavkin and won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. In 2025, Eva, Reeve and original cast members André De Shields, Amber Gray and Patrick Page reunited for a special London season at the Lyric Theatre, with the production filmed live on stage for the cinema.

Hadestown has already been released in cinemas across North America and, later this month, it's released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland.

Eva's theatre credits include Kim in Miss Saigon (West End & Broadway), Éponine in Les Misérables (West End), Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby (Broadway) and Sally Bowles in Cabaret (West End & Broadway).

Reeve's theatre credits include Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (Broadway), the Emcee in Cabaret (West End) and Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby (Broadway). Eva and Reeve are married, and starred opposite each other in The Great Gatsby and Cabaret, in addition to Hadestown.

In this episode, Eva and Reeve reflect on their journey with Hadestown, returning to Orpheus and Eurydice in London and some of their standout moments from the show. They also reflect on how their first jobs in theatre have gone on to inform their careers and what success means to them now.

Hadestown is in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Tuesday 13th October.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eve Shanu-Wilson is playing Blanche in the UK premiere of Jane Eyre The Musical at Southwark Playhouse Elephant.

Based on Charlotte Brontë's classic novel, Jane Eyre The Musical is by John Caird and Paul Gordon. The musical originally premiered in Toronto before transferring to Broadway in 2000, and is now receiving its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse Elephant. This new staging is co-directed by John Caird and Megan McGinnis.

Eve was in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera (His Majesty's Theatre), where she was initially second cover Christine before becoming first cover and subsequently taking over as Alternate Christine. She then starred as Glinda in the international tour of Wicked, which marked the first English-language non-replica production of the musical.

In this episode, Eve discusses joining Jane Eyre The Musical and why she is excited to be part of the production. She takes us behind the scenes of her Wicked journey, including why she almost didn't attend her audition and what it was like performing the show for Stephen Schwartz. Eve also reflects on her time in The Phantom of the Opera, including the challenges she faced while navigating a vocal injury.

Jane Eyre The Musical runs at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 24th October.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily-Mae returns to In The Frame fresh from a two-year run as Angelica in Hamilton, followed by a stint at Kilworth House playing Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.

On Monday 28th September, she is teaming up with Josh St Clair for a special concert, Mates Rates, at Crazy Coqs.

Emily-Mae’s theatre credits include Bulda in Disney’s Frozen (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Kiki Kavelle in Are You As Nervous As I Am (Greenwich Theatre), City of Angels (Garrick Theatre), the title role in Pippi Longstocking (Theatre Royal and Derngate), Paradice in Brooklyn the Musical (Greenwich Theatre), Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors (Storyhouse Chester), Ulla in The Producers (Royal Exchange Manchester) and Dynamite/understudy Motormouth in Hairspray (UK Tour).

Emily-Mae was previously a guest on In The Frame while starring as Nikki and covering Rachel in the UK tour of The Bodyguard. She has also released her own original music and regularly performs in concerts.

In this episode, Emily-Mae takes a deep dive into her two-year run in Hamilton, before discussing the very different experience of stepping into Anything Goes as Reno Sweeney. We chat about her upcoming Mates Rates concert with Josh St Clair, how she views success and her career journey so far. Emily-Mae also reveals how a costume malfunction upstaged her debut as Rachel in The Bodyguard!

You can see Mates Rates at Crazy Coqs on Monday 28th September. For tickets, visit https://app.foresttms.com/TicketListing?event=mates-rates-an-evening-with-josh-st-clair-emily-mae-2026-09-28&restaurant=crazycoqs

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dame Denning is back In The Frame!

Most recently, Lara starred as Caz in Here and Now: The Steps Musical (UK Tour), following her run as Anne in & Juliet. She has been busy with workshops and gigs, and on Monday 2nd November she makes her solo show debut at Crazy Coqs.

Lara was Standby Norma Desmond for Nicole Scherzinger in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Sunset Boulevard (Savoy Theatre), and has also played Mrs Bucket in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), as well as both Miss Honey and Mrs Wormwood in Matilda (Cambridge Theatre), taking over both roles after initially understudying them. Her other West End credits include Doreen/Miss Elf in The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (The Ambassadors & Menier Chocolate Factory) and Louise/Eve in Ruthless The Musical (Arts Theatre).

Lara’s other theatre credits include Lex Logan in Eugenius! (Turbine Theatre), Aunt Fanny in The Famous Five (Theatre Clwyd & Chichester Festival Theatre), Mrs Mullin in Carousel (Kilworth House Theatre), Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (UK Tour), Mrs Cratchit in Scrooge The Musical (Curve Leicester), The Rocky Horror Show(European Tour), Gotta Sing Gotta Dance (UK Tour), All The Fun Of The Fair (UK Tour) and Dirty Dancing In Concert(UK Tour).

In this episode, Lara talks about the demands of playing Caz in Here and Now: The Steps Musical, how she approached performing “That’s The Way It Is” in And Juliet and what we can expect from her debut solo show. She also discusses her career journey, building her confidence and some of the things that can make the theatre industry challenging.

Lara Denning plays Crazy Coqs on Monday 2nd November. For tickets, visit www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs/

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.