In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Ann Marcuson and Elliot Mackenzie are playing Mrs Winthrop and Dickon in The Secret Garden at York Theatre Royal.

Marking the first major UK staging the musical in over a decade, John Doyle is directing this actor-musician production and working alongside Catherine Jayes as Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator.

Ann and Elliot are reuniting onstage for this production, having previously performed together in the West End cast of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which won the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Ann's theatre credits include: These Demons (Theatre503), Two Ladies (Bridge Theatre), The Mighty Walzer (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre/Gielgud Theatre), The Family Reunion (Donmar Warehouse), I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls (Watermill Theatre/Tricycle Theatre), Bloodhound, The Glass Slipper (Northern Stage), Little Wolf’s Book of Badness and Hard Love (Hampstead Theatre).

Elliot's theatre credits include: Lord of the Rings, Whistle Down the Wind (Watermill Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK tour), Million Dollar Quartet (UK tour/India tour), The Misadventures Of Pinocchio, Dick Whittington, Aladdin (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Zog (Rose Theatre Kingston/UK tour) and A Christmas Carol (Rose Theatre Kingston).

In this episode, Ann and Elliot discuss what it has been like to work on The Secret Garden, the art of actor-musicianship and their whirlwind journey with Benjamin Button.

The Secret Garden runs at York Theatre Royal until 4th April. Visit www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
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Desmonda Cathabel has just finished her run as Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown.

She’s now in rehearsals to star as Lily Turner in Rosie: A New Musical. The show will be performed as a one-night-only semi-staged gala at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 17th March.

Rosie tells the true story of Miss Rosie Boote, who was raised in a convent in Ireland and dreamt of becoming a star on the West End stage in Edwardian London. The show has book, music and lyrics by Chris Broom.

Desmonda is from Indonesia and came to the UK to train at the Royal Academy of Music. She won the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year in 2022.

Desmonda was a quarter finalist in the ITV casting show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream. Her theatre credits include alternate Kim in Miss Saigon (Sheffield Crucible), Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin (UK & Ireland Tour) and From Here To Eternity (Charing Cross Theatre).

Desmonda performed in Maria Friedman’s solo show at Crazy Coqs and the Menier Chocolate Factory, and was later directed by Maria in the star-studded Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends concert.

Recorded the morning after her final performance in Hadestown, in this episode Desmonda discusses what it was like to say goodbye to the show and what playing Eurydice meant to her.

She also delves into how she came to be involved with Rosie and why she loves new work, plus her path through the industry so far, Asian representation in theatre, reflections on Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream and lots more.

Rosie plays the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 17th March. Visit www.rosiethemusical.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

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

Laura Harrison is playing Mrs Lyons in the touring production of Blood Brothers.

Laura is also the alternate Mrs Johnstone and has history with the show, having previously played Donna Marie and Miss Jones whilst understudying Mrs Lyons. Written by Willy Russell, Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in the West End and has toured extensively.

Laura was Standby Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked, having previously been in the show’s ensemble whilst understudying Elphaba. Laura was in Jamie Lloyd's West End revival of Sunset Boulevard, understudying for Norma Desmond. Her theatre credits also include: Magenta in Rocky Horror, Vivienne in Legally Blonde, Lucille in Parade and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.

In this episode Laura discusses her return to Blood Brothers and what it’s like to be covering one of her dream roles, Mrs Johnstone. She also takes a deep dive into her Elphaba journey and some of the remarkable moments from her time in Oz. Laura also reflects on Sunset Boulevard and how she's navigating her the industry after some major career highs... and lots more pops up along the way.

Blood Brothers tours the UK. Visit www.kenwright.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

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

Broadway star Nick Rashad Burroughs is in London playing Horace in Todrick Hall’s musical Midnight at Sadlers Wells East.

Nick made his Broadway debus as an Angel and Billy Porter’s understudy for Lola in Kinky Boots. He went on to do King Kong on Broadway, before being part of the original Broadway cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, initially in the show’s ensemble before taking over the role of Ike Turner.

Nick's other theatre credits include playing Lautrec in the US tour of Moulin Rouge, Minstrel and cover Shakespeare in the US tour of Something Rotten as well as lots of US regional theatre where he has played roles like Donkey in Shrek, Seaweed in Hairspray, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar and he was also Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls at The Muny. Nick has worked on screen, he has recorded original music and performed on ships all over the world.

Nick has been best friends with Marisha Wallace for years, and last year performed with her at the Adelphi Theatre as part of her big solo show and live album.

In this episode Nick discusses joining the cast of Midnight and collaborating with Todrick Hall and Marisha Wallace once again. He also delves into the path of his career from his Broadway debut to the biggest and proudest moments of his career.

Midnight runs at Sadlers Wells East until 8th March. Visit www.sadlerswells.com for info and tickets.

Follow Nick on Instagram: @nickrburroughs

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

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

Today’s guest is Jon Robyns who is starring as Miss Trunchbull in the West End production of Matilda.

Having premiered in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s musical has been seen by 11 million people across 100 cities worldwide. Written by Dennis Kelly, Matilda has music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and direction by Matthew Warchus.

Jon took over as Miss Trunchbull last year, immediately after his run as Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum.

Jon's West End credits include The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (having previously played Enjolras and Marius), King George in Hamilton, alternate Huey in Memphis, Scrooge & others in Dickens Abridged, Galahad in Spamalot and Princeton & Rod in Avenue Q.

Jon’s other theatre credits include: Adam Nehemiah in Dessa Rose (Trafalgar Studios 2), Robbie in The Wedding Singer (UK & Ireland Tour), Emmet in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve), Eddie in Sister Act (UK & Ireland Tour), Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Greenwich Theatre), Hollis in Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mark in Rent (Frankfurt) and alternate Chris in Miss Saigon (UK & Ireland Tour).

Jon performs in concerts all around the world and, alongside his performing work, is also a writer. Jon and his writing partner Christopher J Orton’s musical Then, Now & Next premiered at the Southwark Playhouse in the summer of 2023, and they continue to collaborate on new writing projects.

In this episode Jon discusses his time in The Great Gatsby, the process of taking over as Miss Trunchbull and his next writing project, plus lots more.

Matilda runs at the Cambridge Theatre. Visit www.uk.matildathemusical.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

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