MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
Music
About
We are a weekly podcast devoted tobringing you news, views, reviews, interviews and much more content devoted to musical theatre andfilm. We discuss composers, writers, actors, theatres and shows and encourage listeners to join in.Visit our site at musicaltalk.co.uk
Episodes
- Episode 929: The Breadth of Broadway - Part 2
In this episode, Colm and Thos review Broadway musicals Ragtime and Maybe Happy Ending. They also explore evolving perspectives on taste in musical theatre, referencing shows such as Belle, Titanique, and the Titanic story.
- Episode 928: The Breadth of Broadway - Part 1
In this episode of MusicalTalk, Colm and Thos discuss two Broadway shows: the 1964 musical High Spirits and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. They delve into the art of adaptation and how context influences interpretation.
- Episode 927: High School Musical...Talk
Nick Hutson watches High School Musical for the first time with fan Hannah on MusicalTalk. They share reactions, musical observations, and affectionate debate.
- MusicalTalk Mini 73: Revisiting Avenue Q
MusicalTalk Mini 73 revisits the musical Avenue Q twenty years after its debut, noting a shift from shock value to warmth and nostalgia. The episode examines how the show, with updated references and staging, holds up in 2026, discussing i…
- Episode 926: The Final Timeline - Back to the Future Closes
The hosts of MusicalTalk attended the final London performance of Back to the Future: The Musical. They reflect on the show's journey from its Manchester run in 2020, discussing themes of time, change, and second chances as they relate to…
- Episode 925: Mad About the Boys: Novello, Coward and Porter (part 2)
Join Thos for more about Mad About The Boys - A Marvellous Party, Wela Kapela Productions' five star EdFringe Cabaret that tells the tales, and sings the songs, of those three titans of musical theatre in the the first half of the twentiet…
- Episode 924: Mad About the Boys: Novello, Coward and Porter (part 1)
MusicalTalk marks the 75th anniversary of the death of Ivor Novello, one of the greatest British musical theatre writers of the 20th Century in opulant style! Join Thos for the first half of a fascinating conversation with the people behin…
- MusicalTalk Mini 72: David Herzog on OUR TOWN
After many, many years, MusicalTalk Mini returns! In this revived short-form format, David Herzog brings his expert eye to the Welsh National Theatre's touring production of Our Town . With its stripped-back staging, timeless themes, and d…
- Episode 923: Into the Woods, Out to Sea… and Into the Choir: When Musicals Get Lost
In this episode of MusicalTalk , Nick and Hannah take a candid and wide-ranging look at four very different theatrical experiences: Titanique , The Little Mermaid 's ill-fated "Sea Witch", Into the Woods , and The Choir of Man . From the o…
- Episode 922: Countdown to Monte Cristo with Stephen Weiner
In this episode, presenter Michael Gordon Shapiro speaks with multi-award-winning composer Stephen Weiner about his newest musical project: an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo . Stephen discusses the process of transforming Alexandr…
- Episode 921: From Mosh Pit to Orchestra Pit (Feat. SVALBARD's Serena Cherry)
What happens when a screamo guitarist and singer falls down the musical theatre rabbit hole? Nick Hutson is joined by Serena Cherry, whose musical journey has taken her from the intensity of the mosh pit to the drama of the orchestra pit.…
- Episode 920: Shining in Misery - A Stephen King Sized Parody!
Nick is joined by composer (and friend of the podcast) Andy Abrams and director Gary Lloyd to talk all things Shining in Misery, following its UK premiere at The Other Palace as part of MT Fest. They dive deep into the creation of the show…
- Episode 919: Sondheim Was Alive in 2025
Yes, Sondheim was alive and kicking in 2025, at least so far as his works and legacy were concerned because in London alone, you could have seen Road Show, Here We Are, The Frogs and Into the Woods - and MusicalTalk did! So, Colm and Thos…
- Episode 918: They Can't Take That Year Away From Me!
The "LeDorean" is polished, the flux capacitor is fluxing and Thos and Nick are ready to take MusicalTalk somewhere very specific in the timeline — though they're not saying where just yet. In this episode, our hosts travel back to a momen…
- Episode 917: Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody
Thos takes a trip back to the town of Hawkins, Indiana in 1983 where times were simpler, hair was bigger (much bigger) and and unsupervised children were getting snatched by inter-dimensional beings! No, it's not television success story,…
- Episode 916: From Page to Stage: Creating SEA WITCH
This week on MusicalTalk, Nick is joined by Michael David Glover, the book writer of SEA WITCH , playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 1st March. Michael takes us inside the creation of the show — from its origins and developme…
- Episode 915: From Our Canadian Correspondent
Come From Away undoubtedly put Canada on the global musical theatre map, but this fine, independent and creative nation has a long tradition of writing wonderful musicals! Join David and Thos as they look at new Canadian shows like Life Af…
- Episode 914: Singing with Nureyev and Living with Lerner: Liz Robertson Interview.
Nick welcomes the legendary Liz Robertson to MusicalTalk for a wide-ranging and intimate conversation spanning a remarkable life in musical theatre. Marking the 70th anniversary of My Fair Lady , Liz reflects on her experiences with the sh…
- Episode 913: Holding Space for Wicked - Magic or Misdirection?
With the dust now well and truly settled, Nick sits down with Ruby – a self-confessed Wicked obsessive – to take a long look back at the two film adaptations. Together they explore what Wicked has meant to them personally over the last 25…
- Episode 912: One Year More: A MusicalTalk Theatre Year in Review.
Nick and Hannah look back on a theatre-stuffed 2025, chatting through the shows they saw, loved, questioned and are still thinking about. From West End heavyweights to immersive experiments and concert highlights, this episode is a fast, o…
- Episode 911: Merry Quizmas and a Happy New Earful for 2026
It's Christmas again - but didn't we have one twelve months ago? Well, just in case Dame Shirley Bassey is correct and it all just a little bit of history repeating, we might as well mark the fact in the traditional MusicalTalk way - with…
- Episode 910: The Stage in 1925
Travel back one hundred years as MusicalTalk looks at the world of theatre and musical theatre in late 1925 through the prism of the trade press of the period. Josh and Thos thumb through an actor's newspaper from a century ago and uncover…
- Episode 909: Mad for The Queen is Mad
Join Thos as he talks to the cast and writers of the stunning five star show, The Queen is Mad, about the early 16th Century Spanish monarch known to history as Joanna the Mad - but what if her madness was in fact fury? Find out how this m…
- 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! co…
- Episode 907: The Real Housewives of the Zombie Apocalypse
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 Pau…
- Episode 906: Two Soups and a Revival - Acorn Antiques Returns
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 th…
- Episode 905: Five, Six, Seven, Elf!
✨ 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 aroun…
- Episode 904: Songs of the People
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 expe…
- Episode 903: Revisiting Just William: Two Decades On
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, t…
- Episode 902: Lofty Musical Discoveries - Rediscovering the Joy of Old CDs, Tapes and Vinyl.
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…
- Episode 901: EdFringe 2025 - The Final Round-Up
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…
- Episode 900: EdFringe 2025 in Songs - A Musical Celebration!
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! Joi…
- Episode 899: EdFringe 2025 From Top to Bottom
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…
- Episode 898: The Phantom of Tea Opera.
This week, Nick and Hannah lift the silver cloches on a brand-new way to enjoy The Phantom of the Opera — in edible form! They take their seats at the Sofitel London St James's Rose Room to sample the official Phantom of the Opera Afternoo…
- Episode 897: Frozen in Time
Nick and Hannah sit down for a lively discussion spanning three landmark moments in musical theatre history. They celebrate the outrageous brilliance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on its 50th anniversary, reflect on a decade of Hamilton…
- Episode 896: Zach Burns at the EdFringe - A Potted History (part 2)
With all the fun of EdFringe now in full swing, what better way to celebrate the world's biggest arts festival than with another delicious slice of conversation between Thos and Zach Burns, the multitalented perfomer, writer, actor, musici…
- Episode 895: Zach Burns at the EdFringe - A Potted History (part 1)
It's EdFringe 2025 time - and in this week's hilarious episode, Thos sits down with the multitalented and very funny Zach Burns to talk about some of his EdFringe experiences including his roles as actor and musical director for (hardy) pe…
- Episode 894: All That Zeus (Kander and Ebb meet Hercules)
In this illuminating episode of MusicalTalk , Nick Hutson sits down with esteemed theatre scholar Professor Robert Gordon to delve into his fascinating new book, The Theatre of Kander and Ebb . Together, they explore the groundbreaking leg…
- Episode 893: EdFringe Ahoy! When Richard Lewis Met Liberace
With the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe fast approaching, join Thos as he talks to the talented composer and performer, Richard Lewis, about his two hit shows, More Songs for a (Brave) New World and Liberace In His Own Words which are comi…
- Episode 892: Popping Back to Pop Off Michelangelo (Part 2)
As the hit musical, Pop Off Michelangelo, follows its impressive London run with a return to the Edfringe in August 2025, Thos carries on his latest conversation with composer, writer and modern renaissance man, the hugely talented Dylan M…
- Episode 891: Popping Back To Pop Off Michelangelo (Part 1)
Join Thos as he sits down again with Dylan Marcaurele, the talented writer and composter of hit musical, Pop Off Michelangelo! In this illuminating chat, they explore how this wonderful show has changed and developed as it moved from the E…
- Episode 890: Potty the Plant and Fronds (Part 2)
Join Thos as he continues his in-depth conversation about the evergreen cult musical favourite, Potty the Plant which opens at the Wiltons Music Hall in East London this week. With songs from the show and insights into this darkly hilariou…
- Episode 889: Potty The Plant and Fronds (part 1)
Hoorah! Potty The Plant, which was MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe at Edinburgh in 2023, is coming to the legendary Wilton's Music Hall in London in June! So join Thos as he talks to the people behind this cult comedy musical, Baden Jack…
- Episode 888: Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane - The Gospel Truth!
In this week's episode of MusicalTalk , Nick and Hannah share their thoughts hot off the heels of the very first preview of Disney's Hercules, now making its West End debut at the historic Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. From gospel muses to go…
- Episode 887: Charles Strouse Remembered (Part 2) - Put On A Happy Face
MusicalTalk continues its two part tribute to the late Charles Strouse, the legendary composer of Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, I and Albert, All American, Charlotte's Web, All Dogs Go To Heaven, Minsky's, Mayor, Marty, Nick and Nora an…
- Episode 886: Charles Strouse Remembered (Part 1) - By Strouse
MusicalTalk pays a special tribute to the late, great Charles Strouse, who has just died a month shy of his 97th birthday. Charles was one of the giants of the last sixty years of musical theatre and leaves an enormous legacy: with new sho…
- Episode 885: From Super troupers to Stormtroopers
This week on MusicalTalk , Nick and Hannah take a sunny trip down memory lane to explore the legacy of the global phenomenon Mamma Mia! With Nick revisiting the stage show for the first time in 25 years, they discuss how the production has…
- Episode 884: Pop Off Michelangelo!
It's the best possible news - MusicalTalk's Pick of the Fringe 2024 hits London in 2025! Pop Off Michelangelo! took Edinburgh by storm last summer, and now comes to London from May until July - and it's a tasty treat. Thos talks to the sho…
- Episode 883: From Fishnets to Flappers - Rocky Horror Vs The Great Gatsby
This week on MusicalTalk , Nick returns to The Rocky Horror Show for the first time in 25 years and shares his reflections on the cult classic's enduring appeal, high camp, and raucous audience participation. Then, it's off to the London C…
- Episode 882: Top Marx for Animal Crackers - Part 2
In this week's episode, Thos takes a close look at the 1930 Marx Brothers musical comedy film, Animal Crackers, and its place against the backdrop of a number of transitions - the move from stage to screen for the madcap quartet, the loss…