It was only right to have the iconic Maddie Grace Jepson on Call To Stage to announce her West End debut as Lorraine Baines in Back To The Future! We can't wait to watch her thrive on that stage.
Maddie is an actor and TikTok viral sensation who has over 2.1 million digital followers worldwide. Just four years after Maddie first appeared on TikTok, she quickly established herself as the go-to creator for everything related to womanhood, lifestyle, and beauty by producing hilariously original and relatable content.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Maddie discuss the audition process for Back To The Future, training at drama school, West End dreams, going viral on TikTok and just how wonderful Nicola Coughlan really is.
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36:43
74 - Ruthie Henshall on Chicago, Miss Saigon, Auditions & Broadway
We are joined by an absolute legend on this episode of Call To Stage!
Ruthie Henshall is a five-time Olivier Award nominee who has played some of the West End’s biggest roles. She’s been Fantine in Les Misérables, Nancy in Oliver!, Roxie Hart (and Mama Morton) in Chicago in the West End and was in the Original West End casts of Miss Saigon, Children of Eden, Crazy For You and Peggy Sue Got Married.
On Broadway, Ruthie was Roxie Hart in the Chicago revival and Ellen in Miss Saigon alongside numerous other credits spanning her nearly 40 year professional career.
Ruthie won Best Actress In A Musical at the Olivier Awards in 1995 for her performance in She Loves Me.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ruthie talk about the emotional toll of auditioning, the importance of nurturing young talent in theatre and Ruthie’s experiences on Broadway!
Ruthie also shares stories from Miss Saigon, Chicago and making her professional debut in the UK Tour of A Chorus Line.
For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage
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40:12
73 - Reneé Lamb on Six, Dialect Coaching & Little Shop of Horrors
Best known for originating the role of Catherine of Aragon in the multi award-winning Six The Musical, Reneé Lamb is one of the UK theatre scene’s most exciting stars.
From Six to CAKE (where she originated the leading role of Jeanne), Reneé has also starred in the Original Casts of Be More Chill, Malory Towers and Little Shop of Horrors at the Regent Park Open Air Theatre. She’s most recently starred in the new play Radiant Boy at the Southwark Playhouse.
Outside of the theatre, Reneé starred in the BBC drama This Town and will be seen in Edgar Wright’s upcoming film The Running Man.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Reneé talk about the impact of Six, performing at Regents Park for Little Shop, transitioning from musicals to plays and the importance of dialect coaching.
They also talk about their touring experiences, the rise of theatrical concerts and their predictions for the future of theatre.
For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage
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38:11
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.
For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage
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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!
For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage
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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