Up Close with Carlos Tseng

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is one of the most acclaimed leading ladies on the West End scene today. After taking the West End by storm in the UK premiere of In The Heights, she has went on to tackle key roles in TheWild Party, Murder Ballad and Cinderella, earning Olivier award nominations for the latter two. Now, she is currently preparing to make her Charing Cross Theatre debut in the UK premiere of Bronco Billy, a musical adaptation of Clint Eastwood's 1980 Western, featuring a book by Dennis Hackin who also  wrote the screenplay. Here, audiences will get to see Victoria take on the role of Constance Lily, the wicked stepmother of Emily Benjamin's Antoinette Lily. Of course, this is not the first time Victoria has played a villain and throughout our interview, we hear her talk about her love for bringing out her naughtier side and how she goes about developing characters like Constance and the Stepmother in Cinderella.

In this brand new interview, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt shares her excitement at reuniting with Tarrin Callender after working together on The Odyssey at the National Theatre last Summer. As a long-time champion of new musicals, she tells us about the joy of getting to create a character and her passion for building comedy in an intimate venue like Charing Cross. We also hear her talk about the challenges of working in such a high pressure industry as she reflects on the juggle of being a West End performer and a mother to two young children. It's a fascinating conversation where we hear about some of the harsher realities of being a West End leading lady as well as the joys that come with the job. Indeed, Victoria happily admits to her love for playing villains and we can't wait to see what she does with Constance Lily in this new show.

Bronco Billy runs at the Charing Cross Theatre from 24 January - 7 April with tickets on sale now!

Ahead of the opening of Exhibitionists at the new King’s Head Theatre, award winning writer Shaun McKenna sat down with us to talk about his brand new show and how it feels to have his work premiere at the theatres brand new home. After successful revival of his musical adaptation of The Lord of the Rings last year too, Shaun seems to be experiencing a new high in his career, working with many other celebrated names in the industry. In our interview, he talks to us about the joy of collaborating with Andrew Sickle on developing this comedy which he hopes will appeal not only to gay audiences but to all audiences who go to see it.

During the course of our conversation, we also hear Shaun McKenna reflect on his career. Having started out as an actor, he tells us why he left acting and pursued writing instead. Since then, he has worked as a playwright, lyricist and screenwriter. He has written both original works and adaptations and gives us a glimpse into his passion for the entertainment industry.

Exhibitionists opens at the Kings Head Theatre on 8 January and runs till 10 February!

Olivier Award winner Elliot Levey was last at the Almeida for Nine Lessons and Carols, and before that in Three Sisters. Now, he has returned to London's top producing house in Cold War: Conor McPherson's adaptation of Pawel Pawlikowski's Oscar-nominated film. Over the course of his career, Elliot has established himself as one of the most recognised actors in British theatre. As Kaczmarek, he helps set up the story of Cold War, setting out the importance of traditional folk music in post-war Poland. Indeed, music plays a very important role in the story of Cold War and audiences are treated to a luscious score by Elvis Costello in this exciting London premiere.

In this brand new interview, Elliot Levey opens up about his career working with the likes of Rupert Goold and Elvis Costello, but he also talks about working with Mike Bartlett on Snowflake and his experience of working on unsuccessful pieces like Take Flight at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He tells us about his love for telling compelling stories and seeing audiences moved after a performance. With one of the most familiar faces on stage and screen, he remains constantly excited by new collaboration opportunities having worked with directors such as Stephen Frears, Rebecca Frecknall and even Madonna. Naturally a curious thinker, audiences continue to be delighted by his performances and it's likely we'll have more intriguing performances from him to look forward to.

Cold War runs at the Almeida Theatre until Saturday 27th January 2024.

After winning the coveted role of Cilla Black in Bill Kenwright's tour of Cilla the Musical, Kara Lily Hayworth quickly became one of the industry's most exciting newcomers. After the tour finished, Kara took on the iconic role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret, working opposite Anita Harris and John Partridge. Over her career, Kara has also taken on the role of Maggie May in a production at Finborough Theatre and was also in Stand and Deliver at the King's Head Theatre. Most recently, she finished filming on Assassin's Guild with Stuart Brennan and is now regularly a feature guest in West End Sings... at The Crazy Coqs.

In this brand new interview, Kara Lily Hayworth looks back on her career highlights and also shares about how motherhood has changed her as a person. She talks fondly of her former co-performers and about the shows she's gotten to do so far. Kara also tells us about her hopes for the future as the industry continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic and we look forward to seeing what else she does next.

After previously starring in the last West End revival of Oliver!, Jenny Fitzpatrick is preparing to return to Dickens' England in Leeds Playhouse's eagerly anticipated revival of the much-loved musical. Now starring as Nancy, Jenny tells us about her journey to the role having previously covered Jodie Prenger at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. This also marks the first time Jenny has returned to Leeds since her outing in Aladdin in 2010. We hear in this interview her excitement at returning to Leeds and getting the opportunity to play the pivotal role of Nancy in James Brining's reimagining of Lionel Bart's classic show.

Over the years, Jenny Fitzpatrick has played some of the most memorable roles in the West End and on tour in shows such as Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and Ghost the Musical. More recently, Jenny took on the role of Fama in the world premiere of Berlusconi the Musical at the newly opened Southwark Playhouse Elephant. In the course of interview, Jenny tells us about her love for playing challenging and complex characters. We hear her talk about the rewards of getting older in the industry - being able to bring new layers of depth to her characters dealing with difficult issues such as abuse and rejection. The upcoming revival of Oliver! will see Jenny also reunite with Chris Bennett who also featured in the West End revival of the show and we hear Jenny talk about the joy of working with the esteemed company and her hopes for what audiences will take away with them from seeing the show.

Oliver! opens at Leeds Playhouse on 24 November and runs to 27 January at Leeds Playhouse with tickets on sale now!

After previously working together and winning an Olivier Award for Passion, David Thaxton has reunited with Jamie Lloyd on his 5* production of Sunset Boulevard. Having been an admirer of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, he tells us in this brand new interview about the joy of getting to now work on Sunset Boulevard having previously worked on Jesus Christ Superstar, Love Never Dies and The Phantom of the Opera. Since starting his career in the mid-2000s, David Thaxton has carved out one of the most varied CVs among his peers, taking on roles in both limited engagements and in the long-running shows. David is also a member of the band Divisions Real and regularly records and performs live with his bandmates when not on the West End. Alongside his partner Nancy Sullivan, David also delivers W1 Workshops, a service aimed towards providing aspiring young performers skills and experience to work on the West End at an affordable price.

In our interview, David Thaxton looks back on his remarkable career from playing Enjolras to Javert in Les Miserables, his experiences working with Jamie Lloyd on Passion and now Sunset Boulevard. He remains humble about his achievements and offers some reflection on how the industry has changed in recent times. He has a lot of praise for his fellow cast in Sunset, remarking on the talent and work ethic of those he's working around. Throughout our interview, he is also brutally honest about the realities of working in musical theatre and the hardships that come along the way. Still, it seems it's unlikely David would ever walk away from musical theatre and we look forward to seeing what the next 20 years will bring him.

Sunset Boulevard runs at Ssvoy Theatre until Saturday 6th January 2024.

After starring in Translations and Othello at the National Theatre, Jack Bardoe is currently touring in Richard Eyre's acclaimed revival of A Voyage Round My Father. The production opened in Theatre Royal, Bath and is currently making its way around the UK, bringing John Mortimer's much loved piece to audiences throughout the country.

In an exclusive interview, Jack Bardoe opens up about his experiences working with some of our most esteemed directors such as Sir Richard Eyre and Ian Rickson. After leaving RADA, Jack also been seen in shows such as Belgravia as Charles Pope as well as played Toby Phillips in SCREW. Now, Jack stars in a brand new revival of John Mortimer's semi-autobiographical piece opposite award-winning actor Rupert Everett as the Father. Since leaving drama school, Jack has played principal roles in Translations and Othello, both at the National Theatre, a venue he grew up visiting. He talks fondly about the experience stepping out onto the Olivier and Lyttleton stages in 2 landmark productions of great texts. Now, as he continues on tour, he looks back at how theatre continues to be a strong passion and he tells us how this motivates him forward to continue looking for challenging and interesting work.

A Voyage Round My Father is on tour until 18 November.

After garnering an array of accolades for his role in Dear Evan Hansen, Sam Tutty is preparing to make his stage return in Kiln Theatre's Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). Sam was named one of the brightest newcomers to the stage in 2019 and fans have been eagerly anticipating what the young star will do next. In a similar way, theatregoers have been eager for a new musical from Kiln Theatre following the success of Blues in the Night in 2019. Jim Barne and Kit Buchan have become one of the industry's most dynamic writing duos and we hear Sam share his excitement at getting to work on this world premiere. With the show continuing to develop, it was great getting to sit down with Sam to discuss the new show and to look back over some early career highlights too.

In this brand new interview, Sam Tutty opens up about his creative process, now approaching a brand new musical, one year after the closing of Dear Evan Hansen. He reminds us of the importance of separating oneself from their character and shares his thanks to his family and friends for allowing him to switch off from playing heavy parts. As he now approaches the role of Dougal, we hear him talk about the importance of playing characters who are flawed and reflective of the human experience. He continues to be ambitious too - sharing his hope to continue diversifying in his career choices with more screen work as well as to continue starring in more musicals. It's a delightful conversation where we hear how much Sam has matured since his early days as a fresh graduate and we look forward to seeing whatever he does next.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) runs at Kiln Theatre from 9 November - 23 December).

Since arriving into the UK 20 years ago, Damian Humbley has become one of the most eminent figures on the musical theatre scene. After taking over the role of Walter in The Woman in White at the Palace Theatre, Damian has since taken on roles such as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Charley in Merrily We Roll Along and is now appearing in the all-star cast of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends. A lifelong Sondheim aficionado himself, he tells us about his love of Sondheim and how amazing it feels to be working alongside such established talents on Old Friends. 

In this exclusive interview, Damian Humbley looks back over his career, telling us about how the theatre scene has changed and is continuing to evolve. After recently starring in The Great British Bake Off musical, we hear him talk about how it's becoming increasingly challenging creating shows that are as commercially successful as they are critically. After the show premiered in Cheltenham, the show made its way to the Noel Coward Theatre where it had a modest run and gained new fans as well. Old Friends also marks the first time Damian has returned to the Gielgud theatre having previously starred in the acclaimed but short-lived production of Lend Me a Tenor. It's interesting to hear Damian provide his insight and analysis of what is currently happening across the theatre landscape as he looks ahead to the next 20 years of his career. He remains committed to creating high quality pieces of art and shares his hopes of working on more Sondheim pieces going forwards.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends runs at the Gielgud Theatre until 6th January 2024

Since her breakthrough in Mamma Mia! in the West End, Kelly Price has become one of the most respected leading ladies on the West End and UK stages. Most recently, Kelly Price has led key revivals of Stephen Sondheim's Passion and played Lady Bellaston in Leeds Playhouse's production of What's New, Pussycat?  Now, she is preparing to play Lady Dant and Madame Colbert in the London premiere of Flowers For Mrs Harris. After the original production won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike in Sheffield and Chichester, musical theatre fans are eager to see the acclaimed British musical arrive at the Riverside Studios.

In our interview with Kelly Price, we hear her talk about her excitement at the recent flurry of new British musicals being produced on our shores. Having established herself as one of the most versatile performers, Kelly tells us about the challenges of learning the material for Flowers For Mrs Harris but also how rewarding it feels to work on such a detailed piece of musical theatre. Last year, audiences also saw her return to the Menier Chocolate Factory for The Sex Party, a controversial new play by Terry Johnson and we hear Kelly reflect upon her experience working on the premiere of that play. Throughout our conversation, we hear Kelly remain very humble about her career achievements, playing a huge variation of roles and gaining a reputation for being a truly versatile actress. It will be interesting to see what other roles Kelly will play in the years to come and we look forward to seeing her make her Riverside Studios debut.

Flowers For Mrs Harris runs at Riverside Studios from 30th September - 26th November with tickets on sale now!

One of the most eagerly anticipated productions for Chichester Festival Theatre's current season is Rock Follies, an adaptation of the hit 1970s series. The cast is led by West End star Carly Bawden as Anna, a role that was originated by the late Charlotte Cornwell in the TV series. The role marks Carly's first time performing in the Minerva Theatre having previously performed at the theatre's Concert in the Park 2021 and notably worked with departing Artistic Director Daniel Evans on My Fair Lady at Sheffield Crucible. After a short career break, Rock Follies also marks a return for Carly to the stage and we hear her talk about her experience readjusting to being in a rehearsal space, working with a company to create a show for Chichester audiences.  

In our interview, Carly Bawden sat down to talk about creating the new show with Dominic Cooke and finding ways to honour the original source material whilst keeping the show fresh for a modern audience. We also hear Carly talk about her Somerset roots, growing up in a small town to performing on West End stages. Throughout our conversation, she remains very humble about her success since leaving Somerset and tells us how grateful she is to the local community for supporting her ambitions to perform. Indeed, since leaving school, Carly Bawden has become one of the most sought-after performers, leading landmark revivals of Carousel and Assassins as well as helped open the new Boulevard Theatre with Ghost Quartet back in 2019. Always playing challenging roles, we hear her talk about her love of working on thought-provoking texts and her hopes to continue working with brilliant people within the industry.

Rock Follies runs at the Minerva Theatre until Saturday 26 August.

Although most Musical Theatre fans would associate John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables or the title character in The Phantom of the Opera, John has also performed Shakespeare, Sondheim and regularly performs in concerts around the world. His latest role sees him returning to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 23 years after first performing there in The Pirates of Penzance and Much Ado About Nothing. He will be playing Edward Dindon in the eagerly anticipated revival of Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles. The role will see him playing opposite Carl Mullaney and Billy Carter who take on the leads of Albin and George who must try to persuade his Edward to allow his daughter to marry their son. The production will also be Timothy Sheader's last as Artistic Director following an 18 year stint at the much beloved theatre.

In our interview, John Owen-Jones discusses his love for the venue and his excitement at being able to perform there again in the Broadway classic. Although he admits there's very little for him to relate to in his character, he shares that he now only chooses to work in shows that make him feel good. Perhaps this explains why he took on the role of Phil Hollinghurst in The Great British Bake Off Musical which won the hearts of audiences in Cheltenham and in the West End. In our interview, John also discusses his Welsh roots and why he thinks so many Welsh people end up going into the Arts. As he now prepares to open La Cage aux Folles, he hopes that the show will provide grounds for why it's more important now than ever to show love and empathy to all those around us.

La Cage aux Folles runs at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until16 September with tickets available now!

After graduating from Drama Centre London, Rolan Bell has gone on to wow audiences on stage in shows such as We Will Rock You and The Lion King, and earned an Olivier award nomination for Memphis. On stage, Rolan has also been seen on Eastenders, Pandora and Pretty Red Dress. Now, after a short break from the stage, he has returned to the West End joining the company of the hit comedy: The Play That Goes Wrong. In this interview, we hear him talk about the joy of working with Mischief Comedy as well as with the rest of the new cast. This is also the first time Rolan Bell has performed in the West End since becoming a dad and we also hear him talking about the challenges of balancing life as a parent as well as an actor. With The Play That Goes Wrong now in its tenth year on the West End, it's truly fantastic to hear Rolan be so enthusiastic about the show's ongoing sucesss.

In this new interview, Rolan Bell also reflects on his character Robert having trained classically himself at Drama Centre London. He talks about the cliches that his character fulfils and why that is so funny to audiences as well as to himself. As he continues his run in The Play That Goes Wrong, he seems very content with how his life is and tells us about the joy he gets from being with his child whilst also getting to perform on a West End stage.

The Play That Goes Wrong is now booking till April 2024 with tickets available now!

 After previously starring in Love Story and Half a Sixpence at Chichester Festival Theatre, Emma Williams has now returned to Chichester to play Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music. After earning 4 Olivier Award nominations, Emma has established herself as one of the most versatile and acclaimed actresses working today. In our interview, she reveals her early connections with The Sound of Music having previously played Elsa and Liesl at Stage 84. Of course since then, she has also expanded onto film and television and more recently, became a mother.  She has recently also revisited roles in Love Story and Zorro in concert, and she tells us about the joy of getting to go back and finish off work that she didn't feel she was done with. Returning to Chichester now, we hear Emma talk about her love for the city and how excited she is to get to spend the Summer there with her family and to share the eagerly anticipated revival with audiences.

In this new interview, Emma Williams talks about the thrill of getting to star in a new production of a family favourite alongside a brilliant cast. During the course of our interview, Emma candidly discusses the importance of bringing classics back to the stage and the need to be brave in updating shows too to make them feel relevant for a modern audience. Approaching Elsa Schraeder now, she also talks about the freedom she feels in being able to play a character that audiences may not necessarily warm to and being able to be unlikeable.  Emma tells us also about the joy of working with Adam Penford one exploring the historical contexts of the piece and getting to investigate the politics and background of each character, as well as of course getting to listen to a 15 piece orchestra play the uplifting score every night. The Sound of Music remains one of the most loved musicals in history and we look forward to being able to see the show played out on the Festival stage.

The Sound of Music runs until 3 September with tickets on sale now!

For many Musical Theatre fans, Emma Kingston is known for her vocal prowess as well as for her ability to perform in a range of shows from Fiddler on the Roof to Heathers to The Band's Visit. Since arriving onto the scene, Emma has also regularly been seen in concerts and cabarets showcasing her wide vocal range. In more recent years, Emma has also established herself as a reliable and popular vocal coach, helping students and singing beginners develop their technique. On stage however, Emma remains a hugely respected performer known to give her to audiences.

In our interview, Emma Kingston reflects on her career - the friends that she's made and her wider network of industry connections. She talks particularly fondly of her friendship with Rob Houchen whom she has collaborated on various projects. In particular, she talks about her experience stepping into Alice Fearn's shoes for Children of Eden at Cadogan Hall after Alice fell ill during the rehearsal period. We hear her talk about how her ability to read music helped her prepare to play Eve and Mama Noah after such a short space of time. Emma also talks about getting to play dream role Julie Jordan in Carousel at Kilworth House last year and how she hopes the show will continue to be staged despite some of the more difficult themes that exist within the show. Reflecting on her own heritage, she also talks to us about getting to play Dina in The Band's Visit last year and talks about the importance of having strong representation in theatre for all people.

After recently turning 40, Laura Pitt-Pulford has returned to the West End in a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's Aspects of Love.  This also marks the first time Laura has played a West End run of a show as a mother. In recent years, Laura has worked on various concert productions of musicals such as Gypsy at Alexandra Palace as Gypsy Rose Lee, The Witches of Eastwick as Jane Smart and also reprised Petra in A Little Night Music at Holland Park. She's been described as one of the most versatile and brilliant performers of her generation - often delivering showstopping numbers whilst also demonstrating a very natural talent for playing compelling characters. In Aspects of Love, she plays Rose, a struggling actress who finds herself in a love triangle with Alex played by Jamie Bogyo and his uncle George, played by West End icon Michael Ball.

In this brand new interview, Laura Pitt-Pulford opens up about her journey to becoming everyone's favourite theatre actress. She talks about the importance of being a good, reliable company member and praises her peers she's gotten to work with from veteran performers like Sally Ann Triplet and Janie Dee to newer faces on the scene like Jamie Bogyo and Alfie Friedman. In our interview, Laura also takes time to reflect on her roots as well as to talk about the experience of getting older as she looks forward to tackling roles that are to come her way. She also opens up as well about life now as a mother and a wife to fellow actor George Blagden who she worked with on Hampstead Theatre's Platinum. Throughout the conversation, Laura remains as charming as ever proving herself to be a great leading lady both on stage and off stage.

One of the most exciting musical revivals this year is of course Assassins at Chichester Festival Theatre. A firm favourite among Sondheim aficionados, the musical tells the stories of the assassins and almost assassins of US Presidents. One of the show's stars is Amy Booth-Steel who's playing Sara Jane Moore; the woman who attempted to assassinate Gerald Ford. The production marks the first time Amy has performed in Chichester and also the first time working with long-time friend Polly Findlay who directs her first musical. We hear Amy talk about her fondness for Polly as well as for Stephen Sondheim who she calls a genius and expects the run to be an emotional one as Sondheim was involved in the new revisions for this production before he passed.

In this brand new interview, Amy Booth-Steel opens up about what drew her to the part of Sara Jane Moore and why this show feels particularly relevant today. Throughout her career, Amy has openly spoken about her views on politics and current affairs, and here she shares that she feels it's particularly important to keep an eye on politics following the pandemic. Over her career, Amy has also starred in some of the most acclaimed productions in recent years including The Light Princess, Tammy Faye and Heathers. More recently, Amy also starred in Georgia Oakley's Blue Jean, a film that discusses the story of teachers who abseiled down the Houses of Parliament in protest against Section 28. Now, as she heads to Chichester for this hugely exciting revival, she re-emphasises her love for acting and telling stories and she shares her hope that the show will help audiences have a new perspective on the real life people the show talks about.

Assassins runs at Chichester Festival Theatre from 3rd June - 24 June with tickets on sale now!

After playing to sold out performances at the London Palladium in The King and I in 2018, Dean John-Wilson is currently reprising the role of Lun Tha in the current UK Tour. In our interview, Dean talks about the experience rejoining the show after 5 years and the joy of getting to rediscover the character that saw him woo audiences and critics alike in the West End. A seasoned performer with credits on Aladdin, From Here to Eternity and Passion, Dean tells us how this show feels more relevant than ever and how it feels particularly special now being able to tell this story to audiences up and down the country.  We also spend some time delving into the legacy of Rodgers & Hammerstein as a renaissance of their work seems to be happening with successful revivals of Oklahoma and South Pacific recently. Dean also tells us about his experience working with Tony winning director Bartlett Sher and shares his reasons for why he thinks this production has been so successful.

In this new interview, Dean John-Wilson also opens up about his career as a vocal coach with VCA - a company helped establish in 2015 where he offers coaching sessions to aspiring performers. He remains humble about his career beginnings as he shares his own experiences of how having coaches and mentors in his own career have helped him enhance his mindset. Over the years, he's also developed a reputation for his physical fitness - similarly offering classes to students wanting to lose weight or gain muscle mass. As he now returns to the role of Lun Tha, he stresses how he feels it's important to be able to show people it's possible to be performing full time whilst also running an online business. As the interview closes, he shares his own  hopes for the future and continues to encourage aspiring performers to make their dreams a reality by making bold choices.

The King and I continues its UK Tour till 2024 before commencing a West End run at Dominion Theatre.

Over the last 2 decades, Laura Rogers has worked consistently as a hugely dynamic actress on both stage and screen. Her latest role sees her playing Clementine "Clemmie" Churchill in Jack Thorne's new play: When Winston Went to War with the Wireless at the Donmar Warehouse. In this interview, Laura talks about exploring the world of 1926 Britain and the foundations of the BBC. She talks about her personal admiration for Clemmie who was known as a rod of steel and the "backbone to Winston", and what it's been like working opposite Adrian Scarborough's Winston. This is the first time Laura has worked with Adrian and also the first time she has played the Donmar Warehouse which she describes as a very special institution. On this production, Laura is also reuniting with director Katy Rudd whom she worked with on the National Theatre's acclaimed production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Here, we're given a fascinating insight into the rehearsal process and she shares her excitement at bringing the piece to audiences when the show opens.

In our very special interview, Laura Rogers also gives her take on politics today and how they perhaps differed to in 1926. In a time where various industries are striking and the BBC is again under much scrutiny, we hear Laura talk about the parallels between the events of 1926 and to that of 2023. We also hear Laura praise the work of Jack Thorne as she discusses how unique and epic his writing is and why this piece seems so well-suited to the Donmar Warehouse. After Arts Council England announced it would be withdrawing funding for Donmar Warehouse, there's been great concern about the future of the theatre industry, a concern which Laura shares. However, she also feels assured that the Donmar will continue to thrive as she shares her hopes for the future of the industry. She talks about the family-feel of working at the Donmar and also expresses her admiration for Michael Longhurst as he prepares to step down from his role as Artistic Director. It's a truly fascinating listen and we look forward to seeing her portrayal of Clemmie when the show opens.

When Winston Went to War with the Wireless runs at the Donmar Warehouse from 2 June - 29 July with tickets available now.

With thanks to Kate Morley PR.

After spending close to a decade with the  Royal Ballet School, Ellie Young's transition into Musical Theatre has been one that has wowed both her peers and herself. In this new interview, Ellie talks about her ballet roots and what it's like joining the company of one of the West End's biggest shows. As Meg Giry, Ellie gets to revisit some of her ballet skills, dancing across the newly renamed His Majesty's Theatre. But this is the first time audiences will get to hear her sing solo, act and of course close the show. A clearly multi-talented and very versatile performer, it was fascinating to hear her talk about her journey into the West End post-Covid and how she has no regrets about diverting from her original ballet path.

In this interview, Ellie also talks about her experience performing on the Cats International Tour. She looks back at the hurriedness of her initial audition and how the "stars aligned" when she was given time to attend the audition and then got to travel around the world with one of the most beloved shows. Throughout our conversation, Ellie remains very humble however pointing out that she has taken singing lessons to ensure the standard of her voice matches that of her peers too. As she now continues to tread the boards eight times a week in Phantom of the Opera, she looks ahead with great optimism that is truly inspiring.

Phantom of the Opera is currently booking at His Majesty's Theatre until March 2024