70 - Desmonda Cathabel on Hadestown, I Have A Dream & Indonesia
Desmonda Cathabel might now be recognised as one of the country’s most talented performers – but her career started thousands of miles away in Jakarta.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she was awarded the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2022. In 2023, she was a finalist on ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream where she shot to national attention.
On stage, Desmonda played Princess Jasmine on the UK & Ireland Tour of Disney’s Aladdin, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends and she currently stars as Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Desmonda talk about sustaining a healthy voice, the challenges of being an alternate and their touring experiences. Desmonda shares her journey from Indonesia to the West End, and shares the stories behind from behind the scenes of I Have A Dream and landing her role in Hadestown.
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34:05
69 - Simon Lipkin on Oliver, Avenue Q & Cameron Mackintosh
Simon Lipkin is one of the West End’s most accomplished actors. Having originated roles in many of London’s biggest shows (including Avenue Q, Rock of Ages and Elf The Musical).
He can’t just sing, act and dance, he’s also an accomplished puppeteer (he was the dog in I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical, and the Lorax in The Lorax at the Old Vic) and a magician, having performed in Derren Brown’s Unbelievable in the West End in 2024.
He’s currently starring as Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh’s 4x Olivier Award nominated revival of Oliver!, for which Simon was nominated as Best Actor in a Musical.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Simon talk about life-changing training experiences, being nominated for an Olivier Award for Oliver!, being mentored by Cameron Mackintosh and the key to having a versatile career in both theatre and television.
They also share experiences from Avenue Q… and spill the tea on Simon’s relationship with Georgina Castle!
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36:33
68 - Clare Foster on Benjamin Button, Working In TV & Avenue Q
We have a multiple Olivier Award nominated actor on Call To Stage today... and, even better, she is form one of Amber's favourite shows currently on in the West End.
Clare Foster started her professional career in Germany, as an understudy in Saturday Night Fever. Ever since then, she has shot to the top of London's theatre royalty. With roles in We Will Rock You, Avenue Q (where she received her first Olivier nomination), Crazy For You (where she received her first WhatsOnStage Award nomination), Merrily We Roll Along, Travesties and, most recently, in Consent at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
Clare has performed around the world - from Boston to Bolton, and currently stars in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, for which she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Clare talk about making her West End debut in We Will Rock You, the crazy ride that was Avenue Q and working on TV shows such as The Bill and Casualty. They reflect on the importance of learning from failures, and the joys of working with a reliable cast.
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37:00
67 - Hiba Elchikhe on Aladdin On Tour, Mountview & Everybody's Talking About Jamie
We have a highly requested guest on this weeks episode of Call To Stage!
Hibe Elchikhe graduated from Mountview and quickly made her professional stage debut in the Asia tour of Ghost, followed by her first lead role as Jasmine in the Australian tour of Aladdin.
In London, Hiba made her stage debut in Antony & Cleopatra at the National Thatre, and made her West End debut as Pritti Pasha in Everybody's Talking About Jamie. Since then, she has gone on to star in The Time Traveller's Wife and, most recently, Here & Now (the Steps musical) in Birmingham.
On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Hiba talk about training at BRIT School and Mountview, her first big break in Asia and her journey to landing the role of Jasmine in Aladdin. They also touch on the impact of Everybody's Talking About Jamie and dreams of working on Broadway...
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36:51
66 - John Dagleish on Olivier Awards, Acting In Films & Benjamin Button
In many ways, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the underdog musical of the year in the West End - a production which started off-West End in 2019 and fought its way to the Ambassadors Theatre thanks to its incredibly passionate fanbase. In John Dagleish, the show has found its star.
The winner of Best Actor in a Musical at the 2025 Olivier Awards (for his role as Benjamin Button), Dagleish's history in the West End is storied.
He previously won Best Actor in a Musical at the Oliviers in 2014 for his performance as Ray Davies in the original cast of Sunny Afternoon. He's also performed in the West End productions of Harlequinade and The Winters Tale. Outside of theatre, John has been in Justice League, Christopher Robin and the live action The Little Mermaid, among others.
On this weeks episode of Call To Stage, Amber and John talk about the magic of bringing Benjamin Button to the stage, his synergy between being an actor and a musician, influential acting teachers, his West End debut and Olivier Award wins. He also shares his insights into the differences of performing on stage, and performing in front of the camera.
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This is Call To Stage, the podcast from Amber Davies, where musical theatre takes centre stage. From unforgettable backstage stories to exclusive news and insights, each week musical theatre and Dancing On Ice star Amber is joined by stars of the stage (and sometimes just fans of it!) to chat, laugh… and maybe even sing. If one thing’s for sure, Amber and her guests will be leaving it all on the mic. New episodes every Wednesday.
UK