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.

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20 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes20

Newest first

Thursday · 25 min
189. Roger Allam on returning to the Old Vic, Les Misérables and playing a testicle for Alan Ayckbourn
With Sarah on foreign shores, Alex heads to the Old Vic rehearsal room to chat to stage and screen legend Roger Allam. Known for his TV and stage appearances in the likes of The Thick of It, Les Misérables and Frank and Percy, Allam is back on stage this summer in How The Other Half Loves at the Old Vic. And, apparently, he played a certain body part in an Ayckbourn radio play. Allam also touches on the topic of amplification and seeing his greats at the Old Vic when he was young. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monday · 33 min
188. Bonus episode: Shaking up the West End with Phelim McDermott
Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Phelim McDermott has staged everything – gargantuan operas, intimate shows and even forays into the world of Studio Ghibli with My Neighbour Totoro. He now brings his show Tao of Glass to @sohoplace for a West End season – mixing puppetry, the music of Phillip Glass and pseudo-memoir in an experience hoping to redefine what a West End show can be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 23 · 56 min
187. The Best Plays of the Century Part Seven: the years 2012/2013
The year of the London Olympics and its successor sees theatre at a red hot peak. Sarah and Alex discuss plays from James Graham’s breakthrough to Lucy Prebble’s The Effect and Lucy Kirkwood’s era defining Chimerica. Plus The Audience with Helen Mirren and the groundbreaking The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 22 · 46 min
186. Bonus episode: Tim Sheader on new Donmar season announcement + Hadestown stars on their film
Welcome to this midweek bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! Today, the Donmar Warehouse's artistic director Tim Sheader (fresh from directing Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium) reveals two brand new shows in his 2026 season – a new comedy involving Elvis' dead body, and a revival of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land. He also calls on more new comedies in UK theatre. After that, we head over to America where the stars of Hadestown discuss taking the award-winning musical to the big screen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 17 · 40 min
185. The Oresteia, the Odyssey and Lloyd Webber warns of Broadway tragedy
Sarah and Alex discuss Simon Stone’s new adaptation of The Orestia, out in the same week as Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster, and another example of the huge appeal of the Greeks. They talk about the cult surrounding Jonathan Larson, the composer of Rent, and ask whether Andrew Lloyd Webber is right when he puts the early closure of Cats:The Jellicle Ball down to the impossibility of producing theatre in New York’s famous heartland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 13 · 28 min
184. Bonus episode: No sooner Shed than done – producer Francesca Moody on her Edinburgh projects
Producer Francesca Moody has brought some iconic shows to the stage: Fleabag, Baby Reindeer and Weather Girl amongst their number. This year, she's taking three new productions to the Edinburgh Fringe, even working with partners like Global Creatures, the minds behind the Moulin Rouge! and Muriel's Wedding musicals. Shedinburgh will also be shooting down south to the Young Vic for a London spell, in a big step forwards for the artist-led project. Moody also reflects on her programming strategy and always developing work with a long life in mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 9 · 37 min
183. Bonus episode: Hamilton's Thomas Kail on directing Moana and stage legend Frances Ruffelle discusses I Can Die Too
An interview double bill to end the week! Our main episode ran early to coincide with the barnstorming Palladium production of Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium, but we had to wrap up the week with something special. Firstly, you can hear award-winning director Thomas Kail discuss his work on the live-action version of Moana, now sailing into cinemas across the world. We also ask Kail if he'd ever give Hamilton the same treatment... secondly, we head to Pitlochry Festival Theatre where stage legend Frances Ruffelle is premiering I Can Die Too, a brand new play with music co-created with Alan Cumming and Sally George. Ruffelle unpacks the fascinating, metatheatrical new work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 7 · 34 min
182. Jesus Christ Supersized + Sarah talks Pride
What's the buzz? Our main episode has landed a few days early to coincide with the opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar at The London Palladium! Sarah and Alex discuss Sam Ryder's performance and the show's ability to awe on the largest stages. Elsewhere, it was a big, bold, exciting opening for Pride at the National Theatre, while Sarah and Alex mull over big news stories from the NT, RSC and Bridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 2 · 31 min
181. Russell Tovey in The Guilty, art by actors, and memories of Tom Stoppard
Actress Nancy Carroll returns to the podcast while Alex Wood takes a break. She and Sarah talk about their theatre outings to The Guilty at the Donmar Warehouse and Springwood with Robert Lindsay at Hampstead and the MAMA (Many Actors Make Art) exhibition Nancy is organising. Plus as a theatre is named the Stoppard, Nancy reveals his favourite thing in rehearsals - and why Arcadia is a perfect play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 30 · 44 min
180. Bonus episode: It's A Midsummer Night's Hot Mess as we bring the heat in a two-parter
Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast! In a double bill, we head first to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to hear from three of the cast members of A Midsummer Night's Dream – Jenny Rainsford, Terique Jarrett and Mary Malone. The trio explain why Shakespeare's comedy is such a tried-and-tested hit at the beautiful outdoor venue. Secondly, we hop to The Other Palace for the return of hit musical Hot Mess, which is currently celebrating a well-received second and expanded run at the central London venue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 25 · 55 min
179. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Six: the years 2010/11
We've hit the 2010s! Sarah and Alex continue their odyssey through the top plays of the century, which in this episode has two central themes: plays about climate catastrophe and the gargantuan success of the Royal Court under Dominic Cooke. At the same time, playwrights like Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Alice Birch are entering the mix... while Laura Wade correctly predicts Partygate a decade early. And James Corden brings some cheer with One Man, Two Guvnors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 24 · 40 min
178. Bonus episode: RSC's former artistic director Gregory Doran on Venus and Adonis + new book Walking Shadow
Gregory Doran stops by on this bonus episode to discuss his production of Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis, performed by puppetry and narrated by Simon Russell Beale. As part of the chat, Doran also dives into the prompts behind his new book Walking Shadow, based on diary entries and experiences following the death of his husband, the legendary actor Antony Sher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 18 · 45 min
177. The art of naming theatres, and will Paddington work on Broadway
Awards season may be over but the theatre news does not slow down! James Graham is back with a brand new play landing direct in the West End, while news from New York sees that indomitable bear Paddington making its furry way to Broadway. Also - Judi Dench will have a theatre named after her, and there's great news from the Bush as part of its 2026 season. Plus, Sarah mulls over what she thinks of the Traitors being turned into a five-part-cycle stage play experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 16 · 22 min
176. Bonus episode: How The Traitors will work on stage
In this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, Alex sits down with Stephen Lambert, one of the masterminds behind the hit TV series The Traitors, as well as writer John Finnemore and director Rob Hastie, who explain how exactly they plan to bring The Traitors to the stage – in a multi-show experience like nothing else seen in the West End. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 11 · 22 min
175. Bonus episode: Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding talk Cyrano de Bergerac and the Dartmouth Scar Experiment
If you're looking for our main episode, we released it two days early as the dust settled on this year's Tony Awards. That said, we had to get a bonus episode in to help with your weekly theatre fix, so below is our interview with the two stars of the forthcoming West End transfer of Cyrano de Bergerac, Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding, who will be returning to the roles of Cyrano and Roxane for the Noël Coward run of Edmond Rostand's play, adapted by Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson. In the interview, the pair discuss reinterpreting the role of Roxane, why a nose had to be shown on stage and the different rhyming structure bedded into the text. Oh – and if you're looking for the project Lester refers to, it's the Dartmouth Scar Experiment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 10 · 45 min
174. Can we solve the theatre etiquette problem once and for all?
What's this? The main episode of the week coming out two days early? As the dust settles on another Tony Awards season, Sarah and Alex have a lot to chew on – topics include Brits thriving on Broadway, the sacrifices mothers have to make to succeed in the performing arts and, after an incident at Inter Alia, the mobile phone etiquette debate. If that's not enough, they also pick the six summer shows they can't wait to see - with shows in Manchester, Stratford-upon-Avon, London and Chichester (if you're travelling south via the M6, M40, A3 and A27). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 5 · 34 min
173. High Cs on the high seas – Sarah has a nautical, musical adventure to New York
While Alex has been manning the fort back in London, Sarah has sailed over to the Great White Way for a small Broadway bonanza ahead of this weekend's Tony Awards. She observes the "Miller moment" that seems to be ongoing with productions of Death of a Salesman, All My Sons and Broken Glass all making headlines over the last year. After sampling the best New York has to offer, she makes some predictions ahead of Sunday's glitzy event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 3 · 46 min
172. Bonus episode: New musicals special with Redcliffe team, Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts
In this bumper episode, we are celebrating the world of new musicals with two great insights into the experience of staging new world. In the first part, we bring you our on-stage discussion with the music team of Redcliffe, Jordan Luke Gage's brand new musical having its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough. In part two, we head across the Atlantic to talk to Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts, the two "strangers" bring baked goods to the masses in the five-star musical Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York), playing now on Broadway - ahead of this Sunday's Tony Awards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 28 · 48 min
171. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Five: the years 2008/9
As part of their long-running series, Alex and Sarah end the 00s with a bumper exploration of two pivotal years for playwriting this century – with Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, Lucy Prebble's Enron, John Logan's Red, Lynn Nottage's Ruined and so many more to mull over. But which plays will be Sarah's top picks? And what have we forgotten from the month before? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 27 · 28 min
170. Bonus episode: Sara Bareilles on ten years of Waitress and new musical The Interestings
Ten years on from Waitress' Broadway bow, we had a virtual chat with composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles to discuss the lasting and profound effect of the show, from its much-loved numbers to its now-instantly recognisable characters. What's more, Bareilles is working on a brand new musical, and reflects on this second-time experience as she prepares to bring it to the stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WhatsOnStage Podcast

189. Roger Allam on returning to the Old Vic, Les Misérables and playing a testicle for Alan Ayckbourn

188. Bonus episode: Shaking up the West End with Phelim McDermott

187. The Best Plays of the Century Part Seven: the years 2012/2013

186. Bonus episode: Tim Sheader on new Donmar season announcement + Hadestown stars on their film

185. The Oresteia, the Odyssey and Lloyd Webber warns of Broadway tragedy

184. Bonus episode: No sooner Shed than done – producer Francesca Moody on her Edinburgh projects

183. Bonus episode: Hamilton's Thomas Kail on directing Moana and stage legend Frances Ruffelle discusses I Can Die Too

182. Jesus Christ Supersized + Sarah talks Pride

181. Russell Tovey in The Guilty, art by actors, and memories of Tom Stoppard

180. Bonus episode: It's A Midsummer Night's Hot Mess as we bring the heat in a two-parter

179. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Six: the years 2010/11

178. Bonus episode: RSC's former artistic director Gregory Doran on Venus and Adonis + new book Walking Shadow

177. The art of naming theatres, and will Paddington work on Broadway

176. Bonus episode: How The Traitors will work on stage

175. Bonus episode: Adrian Lester and Susannah Fielding talk Cyrano de Bergerac and the Dartmouth Scar Experiment

174. Can we solve the theatre etiquette problem once and for all?

173. High Cs on the high seas – Sarah has a nautical, musical adventure to New York

172. Bonus episode: New musicals special with Redcliffe team, Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts

171. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Five: the years 2008/9

170. Bonus episode: Sara Bareilles on ten years of Waitress and new musical The Interestings