x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The WhatsOnStage Podcast

Sarah Crompton & Alex Wood

WhatsOnStage managing editor Alex Wood and chief theatre critic Sarah Crompton host a weekly podcast on all things theatrical. News, views, frank exchanges and lists offer an unmissable guide to what’s happening on stage (and in film and on television) now, in the past and in future. From musicals, to plays, to immersive shows, to interviews with the biggest stars, there"s something for everyone! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

38:27

Chris Pine, Keanu Reeves and the effects of star casting

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/24

Sarah and Alex meet up from opposite sides of the Atlantic to discuss the latest hot news in theatre including Chris Pine’s casting in Ivanov at the Bridge Theatre, how Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are landing on Broadway in Jamie Lloyd’s Waiting for Godot and why the new stage production of The Hunger Games found itself in a lose-lose situation with its first preview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

32:12

Bonus episode: Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin have a...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/20

On this special Monday bonus episode, we hopped over to the Garrick Theatre to check in with the stars of The Producers, Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin, who had a very special announcement for the five-star West End production... The duo have been playing the two lead roles in the show since it opened to acclaim at the Menier Chocolate Factory – it now settles in for a stay at the Charing Cross venue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

38:22

The report the theatre world can't ignore: Women's...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/17

Following a high-profile launch for the Women's Health in Theatre report at the Harold Pinter Theatre last week, chief critic Sarah Crompton sat down with the report's pioneer, award-winning producer Emily Vaughan-Barratt, at her offices in London. The report's finding were an uncompromising reminder of the constant hurdles placed in front of women in the theatre industry - with issues around fertility, menopause and childcare all brought into sharp focus. The report didn't just cover those on stage

en

16:39

Bonus episode: How to adapt a classic musical into a...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/15

In this episode, we head to the US where editor David Gordon sits down with director Bill Condon to discuss his new movie version of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Together they explore his approach to adapting the acclaimed story for the stage, the themes of identity and survival, and the creative process behind bringing such an iconic work to life. It’s an insightful look at storytelling, collaboration and the enduring legacy of Kiss of the Spider Woman. David also chats to break-out star Tonatiuh

en

40:48

What is the secret to Les Misérables' success?

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/10

To be or not to be - that is the question... Or is it "Do You Hear The People Sing?" As Les Misérables celebrates 40 years in the West End, Sarah and Alex reflect on the runaway success of the iconic musical that has enchanted audiences for decades. What does it say about the critics that they got it so wrong? Meanwhile, the National Theatre has opened a new production of Hamlet - laden with Easter eggs and references - and a standout performance that wowed Sarah! Hosted on Acast. See

en

28:10

How one venue is bringing Hope to regional theatres

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/08

We’re heading to Manchester to celebrate a remarkable milestone. It’s been ten years since the Hope Mill Theatre first opened its doors, transforming a former textile mill into one of the country’s most respected independent producing houses.With just over 145 seats, it’s an intimate space that’s punched well above its weight — staging acclaimed revivals and brand-new work alike, and helping to launch careers both on and off stage. Its productions have included the award-winning Spring Awakening,

en

33:24

The magic of rain on stage, the greatness of Brendan...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/10/03

Sarah and Alex catch up on the latest in a hectic season of theatre and talk about why The Weir by Conor McPherson really is one of the great plays of the past 50 years. And - actors getting wet is always irresistible, but does it just make you think about drainage? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

22:12

Bonus episode: Rachel Zegler, Lea Michele, Aaron...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/30

In a little midweek episode, we bring you red carpet interviews from London and New York. On Sunday, Rachel Zegler picked up the Best West End Debut Performer award at The Stage Debut Awards in London for her performance leading Evita in the West End, while over in New York, the stars of the forthcoming production of Chess came together to discuss making all the right moves in the upcoming revival of the much-loved show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

42:02

Why Jane Austen finds herself at home in modern Essex

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/26

As Jane Austen celebrates her 250th birthday, Ava Pickett has adapted Emma for the stage. She’s taken a radical approach. She talks to Sarah about why Austen is still the best portrayer of complex women, how hard it is to write comedy, the freedom of writing period drama and why the craft of women writers still isn’t recognised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

24:30

Bonus episode: Rob Madge and Sophie Drake bring a...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/24

How do you bring a play into the present day? That’s the question facing playwright Rob Madge and director Sophie Drake, as they bring Brandon Thomas' 19th century gender-hopping farce into the present day. The show opens at the rustic, beautiful Watermill Theatre, and marks a first collaboration for the award-winning duo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

30:26

Exclusive: Indhu Rubasingham and Nima Taleghani on...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/19

Nima Taleghani is best known as Mr Farouk in Netflix’s Heartstopper. Now his first play - an adaptation of Euripides’ Bacchae - has become the first debut play in the Olivier theatre. And it opens his director Indhu Rubasingham’s first season as artistic director of the National Theatre. They talk to Sarah about making classics contemporary, rhyming verse and why theatre - like life - is best when it’s a little bit cheeky and a little bit risky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

en

30:11

Children will listen: Kate Fleetwood talks playing...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/16

In a WhatsOnStage Podcast first, we exclusively reveal that Kate Fleetwood will be playing the Witch in Jordan Fein’s upcoming Into the Woods revival, playing at the Bridge Theatre from early December. We want to hear about how it feels for the performer to appear in their first EVER Sondheim production, and what might be in store for audiences when they head over to the Bridge this winter… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

32:38

The best autumn theatre part two

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/12

Sarah and Alex make their top picks for shows towards the end of the year from plays such as End, The Line of Beauty and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo to the great raft of musicals coming our way.Plus, how will Paddington tackle the bear question? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

32:34

Bonus episode: Podcast chaos with Lucie Jones, David...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/10

Another mid-week bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast sees Alex talking to the team behind the world premiere production of 13 Going On 30 The Musical, which opens this September in Manchester. Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith, who penned the original Hollywood classic, are back at the helm of the new stage production, which reunites Lucie Jones and David Hunter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

30:17

Emma Rice starts a new chapter – and wants to solve...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/05

This week, Emma Rice rechristened her company Wise Children with the new name Emma Rice Company, and we took the opportunity to sit down and reflect on her career so far – from touring new work, to enchanting families at Christmas and taking productions across continents. She explains her efforts to try and solve the problems around regional tours, her opinions on her time as artistic director at Shakespeare's Globe, and the magic of working with Ncuti Gatwa. And, controversially, that she thinks

en

31:06

Kyle Soller talks Romans, bringing Albee to Star Wars...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/09/03

In this episode, we sit down with Olivier Award-winning actor Kyle Soller to talk about his latest role in Romans, a novel, Alice Birch’s ambitious new play at the Almeida Theatre. Directed by Sam Pritchard, the piece is a sweeping exploration of masculinity from the nineteenth century to today. Kyle reflects on what drew him to the project, the challenges of embodying such expansive storytelling, and how Romans fits within his acclaimed career spanning stage and screen, from The Inheritance to

en

37:00

The best autumn theatre part one: from Bacchae to...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/08/29

As the nights draw in, Sarah and Alex discuss some of their favourite shows about to hit the stage in the next couple of months including a stage version of The Hunger Games, the return of the Conor McPherson classic The Weir and appearances from Joe Alwyn, Nicola Walker, Letitia Wright, Susan Sarandon and many more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

24:59

Bonus episode: Tony Award winner Laura Benanti...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/08/27

As she wraps up a month at the Edinburgh Fringe, Laura Benanti travels south to present her solo comedy show Nobody Cares. She explains her inspiration for the show, why it isn't like anything else she's done on stage, and how she's found a month of performing at the iconic Scottish arts festival. Oh, and why it's such a scary time for comics in the current climate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

39:12

Is stage door etiquette getting worse?

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/08/22

It's a packed agenda on this week's episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast. First up, Sarah reflects on her latest trip north of the border to talk on a panel about all things criticism, alighting on the subject of critic Arifa Akbar's wonderful series on criticism available on BBC Sounds. From there, Alex and Sarah mull over Sarah's fantastic interview with Alicia Vikander, due to sail onto the London stage this autumn in The Lady from the Sea. Finally, the pair discuss the hot topic of stage door

en

47:04

Bonus episode: What happens when your press night...

The WhatsOnStage Podcast ·

2025/08/20

In this episode, we’re joined by two leading lights of musical theatre who are stepping into one of the most beloved shows in the canon. Phillip Attmore and Lucy St. Louis star as Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont in Top Hat at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer, taking on roles made famous by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.We also discuss how the Harlem Renaissance influenced the original film, what it was like when press night had to be restarted, the importance of representation on stage, and

en

172 results

Similar Podcasts

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

Diaries: From the Housing Projects to Power

Mia Z. Edwards

九霄电台

九霄电台

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

Adam Graham|Old Time Radio Detective Host

The Magnus Archives

Rusty Quill