Episode 910: The Stage in 1925
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
Release Date: 12/17/2025
MusicalTalk Mini 72: David Herzog on OUR TOWN
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 delicate balance between nostalgia and existential reflection, how does this iconic American classic fare on a contemporary UK tour? David explores the production’s creative choices, performances, and emotional impact, considering whether this intimate revival captures the quiet power of Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece — or loses its way in translation!
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Episode 923: Into the Woods, Out to Sea… and Into the Choir: When Musicals Get Lost
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 outrageous camp and unexpected charm of Titanique to the frustrating missteps of Sea Witch, the pair explore what separates a show that works from one that simply doesn’t. Along the way, they dig into the crucial role of storytelling craft in musical theatre — why plot still matters, even in the most spectacle-driven productions, and how weak structure...
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Episode 922: Countdown to Monte Cristo with Stephen Weiner
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 Alexandre Dumas’ epic tale of betrayal, imprisonment, and revenge into a compelling work for the musical stage. From shaping the musical voice of Edmond Dantès and capturing the sweeping scale of the story in song, to collaborating with his creative team and preparing the show for its debut, Stephen offers an insightful look at how a classic novel becomes a new...
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Episode 921: From Mosh Pit to Orchestra Pit (Feat. SVALBARD's Serena Cherry)
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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. Serena explains how discovering The Phantom of the Opera at the age of 17 first opened the door to musical theatre, before life — and loud guitars — briefly pulled her away again. Now, much to the surprise of many in her rock band circle, she has rediscovered musicals and embraced them with enthusiasm. Along the way, Nick and Serena discuss a wide range...
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Episode 920: Shining in Misery - A Stephen King Sized Parody!
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 — from its musical styles and theatrical influences to the challenges of adapting such a psychologically charged story for the stage. Andy and Gary unpack how the piece evolved, how tone and atmosphere were shaped through music and direction, and what it’s like collaborating on a brand-new musical with such a dark, distinctive voice. And of course,...
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Episode 919: Sondheim Was Alive in 2025
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 having put in the leg work, sat down for a run through of each of these varied and, in some cases, seldom produced Sondheim shows, and try to work out why they were the ones to be revived (or premiered, in one case). It's not always a "Shaw" thing.
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Episode 918: They Can’t Take That Year Away From Me!
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 moment when optimism was in the air, creativity was boundless, and entertainment itself was being boldly reimagined. It’s a time when music, storytelling and spectacle collide on a scale never quite seen before — and when a certain brand of showmanship begins to redefine what “musical theatre” might mean to future generations. Elsewhere on their...
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Episode 917: Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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, Stranger Things - it's something even better - the 2025 five star EdFringe production of Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical by Jonathan Hogue. In this episode Thos talks to the Director, Producer and one of the stars of this amazing, funny and musical-theatre loving musical. If you know the difference between your Joe Raposo and your Jule Styne,...
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Episode 916: From Page to Stage: Creating SEA WITCH
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 development to the realities of shaping a new piece of musical theatre for today’s audiences. The conversation digs deep into the writing process, the collaboration between creatives, and the ever-evolving challenges (and rewards) of being a writer and producer in the current theatrical landscape. https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/sea-witch/
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Episode 915: From Our Canadian Correspondent
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 After, The Louder They Get, Grow, Emilio's A Million Chameleons and Confessions of a Red Headed Coffee Shop Girl. Add to that discussions of the Canadian productions of Hades Town and Something Rotten and you have it all without spending a loonie (or a toonie)!
info_outlineTravel 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 the invisible world of how the profession presented itself to its peers - through lists of classified messages, official notices, general advertisements, ads for songs, and even updates on which actors had suffered car crashes, colds or nervous breakdowns. With Vincent Youman's No No Nanette and Jerome Kern's Sally proving the big musical hits of the season, Rodgers and Hart's Mountain Greenery premieriing in the revue Applesauce and the Gershwin Brother's musical Primrose on tour, alongside the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company holding fort in Edinburgh and revivals of the the Belle of New York and Greek Slave (a 19th Century precursor to a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), it's a real treasure trove of unexpected information. And what's more you'll find out the answer to the age old music hall riddle - do kippers swim folded or flat? It's fascinating stuff!