MusicalTalk Mini 73: Revisiting Avenue Q
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
Release Date: 04/20/2026
Episode 929: The Breadth of Broadway - Part 2
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
Colm and Thos are back to discuss two more diverse musical theatre gems from Colm's recent visit to Broadway: Ragtime and Maybe Happy Ending - one musical looking back - and one looking forward. They also discuss changing attitudes to taste and tastelessness in musicals - including the Doctor Crippen musical, Belle, and, perhaps surprisingly to a modern eye, the Titanic story itself - as well as more modern musical parodies like Titanique. And is what was right with Ragtime in the 1990s now its main weakness in the 2020s? All this and more in a jam packed in-depth episode (Warning:...
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Episode 928: The Breadth of Broadway - Part 1
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
The Great White Way is still the centre of the musical theatre universe, and so it's no wonder that Colm's been filling his Broadway boots and is bursting to talk about it. In this episode he sits down with Thos for an in-depth chat about just two of the shows he saw on a recent visit there - High Spirits, the 1964 musical adaptation of Noel Coward's comedy, Blithe Spirit, and that perennial favourite, The 25th Annual Putman Country Spelling Bee. With insights into the art of adaptation and an investigation into how the political and geographic context can change interpretation, you'll...
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Episode 927: High School Musical...Talk
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
On this episode of MusicalTalk, Nick Hutson experiences a cultural phenomenon for the very first time: High School Musical. Joining him is Hannah, a devoted fan who knows every beat, lyric, and basketball move. As the film unfolds, Nick reacts in real time—questioning, analysing, and occasionally surrendering to the infectious charm—while Hannah offers insight, enthusiasm, and gentle (or not-so-gentle) persuasion. Expect sharp musical observations, affectionate debate, and plenty of laughter as newcomer meets superfan.
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MusicalTalk Mini 73: Revisiting Avenue Q
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
Nick revisits Avenue Q at the Shaftesbury Theatre for its 20th anniversary—and discovers a show that’s traded shock value for something warmer, wiser, and unexpectedly nostalgic. In this episode, he explores how Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s irreverent musical holds up in 2026, from updated references (AI, Trump, and Spotify playlists) to subtle staging tweaks and musical refreshes. There’s discussion of what still lands, what’s softened with time, and whether the show’s once-edgy humour can—or should—still provoke. Along the way, Nick reflects on seeing the show through a...
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Episode 926: The Final Timeline - Back to the Future Closes
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
Nick, Chris and Nikki fire up the flux capacitor one last time as they attend the final performance of the London production of Back to the Future: The Musical. What makes this farewell especially poignant is their unique full-circle journey with the show — having been there at the very beginning during its early Manchester run in 2020, just before the world changed forever. In this reflective and heartfelt episode, they explore how the themes of Back to the Future — time, change, and second chances — have mirrored real life in unexpected ways. They discuss the turbulent road (or lack...
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Episode 925: Mad About the Boys: Novello, Coward and Porter (part 2)
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 twentieth century - Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Ivor Novello. From Mrs Worthington and Nina from Argentina, to I've Got You Under My Skin and Keep the Home Fires Burning via Every Time We Say Goodbye, the Great American and British Songbooks have never been so interesting!
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Episode 924: Mad About the Boys: Novello, Coward and Porter (part 1)
MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast
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 behind the 2025 EdFringe Cabaret Show, Mad About the Boys, which looks at the lives of those three friends, rivals and contemporaries, Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Ivor Novello. Seasoned with a pinch of Seigfried Sassoon, and insights into some of the great songs of the period (Keep the Home Fires Burning for one), you'll feel you've been to a...
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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...
info_outlineNick revisits Avenue Q at the Shaftesbury Theatre for its 20th anniversary—and discovers a show that’s traded shock value for something warmer, wiser, and unexpectedly nostalgic.
In this episode, he explores how Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s irreverent musical holds up in 2026, from updated references (AI, Trump, and Spotify playlists) to subtle staging tweaks and musical refreshes. There’s discussion of what still lands, what’s softened with time, and whether the show’s once-edgy humour can—or should—still provoke.
Along the way, Nick reflects on seeing the show through a different lens two decades on, highlights standout performances (including an impressive turn from Emily Benjamin), and considers why Avenue Q continues to resonate with both returning fans and a brand-new audience.