MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

It's the last episode of our three part look at the role of melodrama in musical theatre, and today Josh joins Thos to talk about the show that explicitly takes the tropes and characters of melodrama and turns them topsy-turvy - Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, and specifically a recent production at London's home of Victorian musicals, Wilton's Music Hall. Your eyes will be fully open...

With the recent acclaimed revival of Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls (subtitled "The Victorian Melodrama") in London's atmospheric Wilton's Music Hall, join Colm and Thos as they continue their exploration of the history of melodrama and how it informs modern musical theatre in a multitude of ways. In this episode they dissect the original Sweeney Todd stage sensation to see how it works and then identify the many musical cannibals who have feasted on its body over the years - from Gilbert and Sullivan to Sondheim. Todd, that's good!

Did melodrama die with Queen Victoria - or has it sneakily survived into 21st century culture? Join Thos and Colm as they look at the unexpectedly wide scope of melodrama in musical theatre both historically and today: concentrating on the recent revival of Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls at the Wiltons Music Hall in London, we take you on a three part journey exploring the he fascinating world of this far-from-dead genre - and tell you the tale of the other 3Bs of music - Balfe, Benedict and Bishop.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical - Hits and Misses Join Nick and Hannah as they delve into the vibrant and glittering world of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. In this episode, our hosts discuss the highs and lows of this stage adaptation, starting with its lavish visual elements and captivating tangos that leave audiences spellbound. However, not everything that glitters is gold—Nick and Hannah critique the show's reliance on a plethora of pop songs, many of which feel outdated and detract from the overall experience. Hannah brings an intriguing comparison to the table, highlighting how the plot of Moulin Rouge!'s first act mirrors that of the film Burlesque, now also making waves on stage. Is this parallel a coincidence or a creative nod? Tune in to hear their thoughts and lively discussion. #MoulinRougeMusical #MusicalTheatre #Podcast #StageReview #MusicalTalk

Thos sits down to talk with award-winning bookwriter, lyricist, composer and playwright, Jenny Stafford, about her poignant one woman musical, Color Inside the Lines, which won Best Solo Show at the Denver Fringe and impressed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2021 and 2022. With songs from the score and in-depth conversation about the creative process and the role of sincerity in narratives, you'll be delighted by Jenny's insights about what may be the only musical ever based around the work of a Scantron multiple-choice marking machine.

In this week's episode, you can enjoy songs from Jingle Street, the five star hit musical from the 2023 EdFringe, and hear insights and observations from its writer, lyricist, producer, director, choreographer, assistant director and one of the lead actors on what it takes to create and develop a show for the Fringe and beyond, particularly as a new theatrical company. And as a special bonus, there's a chance to hear an exclusive recording - a rather brilliant cut song from this wonderful musical show. You'll love it - we "pinky swear" it!

It's songs galore and laughs aplenty as Thos talks to the talented people behind Chordstruck Theatre about their hit shows, On Your Bike (Winner of the Best Musical at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2021) and Jingle Street (Five Stars from MusicalTalk, EdFringe 2023). It's a lovely, insightful and fun filled conversation about the collective creative process of making not just one, but two, musicals! As Felix, one of the characters in On Your Bike, might say "Winner Winner Chicken* Dinner" (*falafel also available)

Join Thos as he talks with Shaye Poulton Richards, the talent behind the EdFringe success, Lies All The Way Down - a New Chamber Musical, a show that uses polyphonic sounds beyond the usual soundscape provided by a quartet to create the intense atmosphere needed for a pyschological thriller exploring the friend we make and the lies we tell. And hear songs and music from the show that help illustrate Shaye's creative process and her favoured combination of modern folk and contemporary classical sounds.

Wicked has been playing in the West End for over 15 years so Nick thought it was about time that Hannah sees the show - so they did. With the film coming out next year it seems the right time to discuss the show, its legacy and - more importantly - what it's like seeing it nowadays with very little knowledge of it! Does it live up to the hype? Is it still wonderful or is it still just popular?

Nick and Hannah discuss a myriad of musicals that they've seen in the last year including The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, Book of Mormon, Aladdin and more!

In 2020 Coronavirus threatened to kill opera! By 2022, only one man could save it - using his one person production of La Serva Padrona - where baroque meets 1970s funk in a new English version of Pergolesi's 1733 comic masterpiece. Thos joins the extremely talented musical academic and performer, David William Hughes, to discuss the third of his historic music trilogy - a joyous and delightful version of La Serva Padrona - served up from "an emergency opera kit" saved over from the Cold War era! It's a funkadelic relic!

Nick has a large collection of theatre programmes which acts as a wonderful topic generator! Nick digs through it to discuss, with Hannah, many shows from the past. Shows discussed include Let it Be, Forbidden Planet, Riverdance, Derren Brown, Saturday Night Ever, Mary Poppins, Rock Hamlet, Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd and others!

What is musical theatre? It's a big questions and Thos is asking it. Can a show be a musical without words? Can a show be a musical without music? Is there any point in actually trying to define what makes a musical anyway? And as an illustration of how wide musical theatre can really be, Thos talks to the talented people behind five-star EdFringe show, The Wreck of the Queen Thomasina, which is a verse play with songs and definately plays with the form in a delicious way. Vivat Regina!

Join Nick Hutson as he sits down with composer Alan Menken to discuss Hercule's current production in Hamburg, Germany. Learn about the new songs, direction and history of the show. You can also hear Alan talk about collaborating, processes and the legacy of the late Howard Ashman

In this episode, Thos talks to the multi-talented actor, writer and composer, Asher Muldoon, about his wonderful five star show, Mine - A Solo Ghost Story Musical - a multi-layered masterpiece of musical story telling. How do you make a ghost story also function as a comedy? How do you read an audience to amend your performance? And how do both Sondheim and Dear Evan Hanson repackage songs in different ways? All this and some delightful and evocative music will make Mine forever yours!

With the joyous news of the return of Potty the Plant to the EdFringe in 2024, join Thos as he talks to the three people behind this quirky, subversive and hiliarous musical to discuss all things Potty. Find out about its journey from short film to five-star theatre musical cult and what made it the MusicalTalk's Pick of the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023. With songs and laughter, and a special "sneak peak" of the creative team's latest musical this episode, this is the "potty-cast" for you.

Join hosts Nick Hutson and Hannah Budd on a captivating journey through London's theatrical landscape as they dive into the vibrant worlds of Opening Night at the Gielgud Theatre and Priscilla: The Party at the Outernet Venue. In this episode of MusicalTalk, Nick shares his first impressions of Priscilla, delving into the glitz, glamour, and unexpected surprises of this iconic musical. Opening Night, a new musical starring Sheridan Smith, featuring music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright with a book and direction by Ivan Van Hove, takes center stage in their discussion, as they examine its adaptation from the film by John Cassavetes. Should a musical about a play that makes no sense also make no sense? As they contrast the two productions, Nick and Hannah explore the polarities between the shows, from the classic elegance of Opening Night to the flamboyant extravagance of Priscilla. Nick's fresh perspective on Priscilla sparks an engaging discussion on the unique appeal of the production and its enduring popularity. Amidst the exploration of themes and performances, the hosts ponder the question: Does promenade theatre lend itself to musicals? Drawing from their experiences and observations, they analyze the immersive nature of Priscilla and its impact on audience engagement.

Join host Nick Hutson as he delves into the soul-stirring world of gospel music in musical theatre, in a captivating conversation with renowned YouTuber and gospel enthusiast Jaron M. LeGrair. In this episode of MusicalTalk, they explore the powerful impact of gospel music on various Broadway shows, from the unexpected twists in "Little Shop of Horrors" to the divine energy of "Hercules." Together, they traverse the rich tapestry of musicals like "Showboat," "Ragtime," and "Once on This Island," uncovering how gospel infuses these narratives with depth and resonance. From the high-octane rhythms of "Starlight Express" to the socially conscious themes of "Hairspray" they unravel the threads of gospel's presence, highlighting its role in storytelling and character development. Tune in to this episode of MusicalTalk for a harmonious journey through the spiritual and theatrical realms, as Nick Hutson and Jaron M. LeGrair celebrate the transformative power of gospel music in musicals.

Great name - great show! That's Dead Man's Suitcase, one of the more intriguing musicals from last year's EdFringe, about a bitter obituary writer who fakes his own death. Thos sat down with its writer, Felix Westcott, and its star, Thomas Freeman, to discuss this wonderful musical which deftly lures you in with its light hearted, comic approach before pulling the rug and hitting you with a proper dramatic crisis with real life consequences. A lovely episode about a superb show!

So, here we are with our long awaited conversation about Sondheim's last new musical (probably), appropriately called "Here We Are" and the big question is - is it a success? Thos chats to MusicalTalk's resident Sondheim expert, Colm, who saw the show twice in New York at its off-Broadway venue, the Shed, and who certainly thinks so. But is absurdist theatre now so obscure that it seems pretentious instead of satirical? Is this show the equivalent of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony? And is Sondheim merely pastiching himself in his swansong? Well, it is what it is - but find out if the show really does make for a perfect day in this wonderful episode.