Tea And Tonic

Theatre director and choreographer, Racky Plews, chats about growing up in a musical household, learning ballet, the piano and base guitar, going to Sylvia Young Theatre School and Arts Ed, learning her trade working on over 40 productions at fringe venue 'Upstairs at the Gatehouse', her joy at directing Green Day musical 'American Idiot' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', working on 'Royal Caribbean's' big budget shows at sea, creating an actor/muso production of 'Footloose' and directing a comedy web series in lockdown; all over a late night cuppa! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress, director, activist, mental health awareness advocate and yoga instructor, Summer Strallen, chats about learning to dance aged 2, going to Arts Ed and Laine Theatre Arts, musical theatre roles, her fond memories of performing in 'Guys and Dolls', lockdown, learning to listen to herself, slowing down and self-care, speaking out about her mental health, meditation and launching her online performance and wellness platform, 'The Strallen Collective' to help those in the arts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, presenter and writer, Neil Hurst, chats about his love for performing, singing in his local clubs as a teenager, leaving uni to take up a role in 'Evita', doing variety and summer seasons, working with his comedy idols, musical theatre tours, TV, 'Michael McIntyre's Big Show', 'Coronation Street' and co-writing a panto; all over a brew! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress, dancer and teacher, Charlotte Gooch, chats about being taught how to dance aged 3 by her aunt, a former prima ballerina, her 3 years of training at Laine Theatre Arts, getting her first professional job in the ensemble in 'Dirty Dancing' in the West End, performing the role of Penny in the show here and in Germany, 'Cats', 'Legally Blonde' and 'Strictly Ballroom', understudying Sandy in 'Grease', lead roles in 'Top Hat' and 'Flashdance', joining the 'Spinettes' and teaching in London; all over a herbal tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Director, choreographer, author and teacher, Gary Lloyd, chats about learning to dance aged 6, competing in ballroom, Latin American and disco, his passion for choreography as a child, training at Laine Theatre Arts, his first professional job in 'Cats', his year at sea, working through the night on his 21st, 'Starlight Express', being in a boyband, helping artists on 'Pop Idol' and 'X Factor', working with Take That's choreographer on 'Oh What a Night', Royal Variety and the Queen's Jubilee, the only time he was starstruck, the advice he gives his students, Thriller Live and writing a book; all over a builders brew and a tonic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor and principal coach at London Speech Workshop, Jamie Chapman, chats about his foray into theatre in Weymouth aged 7, learning how to get a laugh, getting a scholarship at Bristol Old Vic, his time in Rep, auditioning for 'Extras', TV roles including 'Red Dwarf', and 'The Crown', performing in 'Nativity the Musical' and 'Nativity Rocks'; all over a tea AND a sherry! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress and singer Carley Stenson chats about dancing from the age of 3, ballet training, singing competitions, her time at Winstanley College, getting Hollyoaks aged 17 and spending the next decade there, staying grounded, performing in a band, making her West End debut in 'Legally Blonde' and later securing the lead role, getting Les Miserables, proving herself and not being complacent and making long lasting friendships; all over a peppermint tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, singer, writer, comedian and director, Gary Wilmot MBE, chats about how he started off doing impressions, winning 'New Faces' in the late 70's, performing on the Variety circuit, making his West End debut in 'Me and My Girl' at the Adelphi theatre in 1989, the range of musicals that followed, overcoming nerves, how the London Underground song came about for the Palladium panto, performing it for the Royal Family, writing a play and screenplay and being awarded an MBE; all over a coffee! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor, director, producer, choreographer and one half of 'Clever Little Films UK', Dawn Buckland, chats about her 4 years at 'Sylvia Young Theatre School' being the best days of her life, living her best life for a decade in 'Starlight Express' aged 17, why she turned down 'Billy Elliott' the first time round, understudying the leads in 'Mamma Mia', getting roles in films, 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Mamma Mia 2', 'Nativity the Musical' and making her own films; all over a brew. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Choreographer and Director, Stephen Mear CBE, chats about learning to dance aged three, training at the London Studio Centre of Dance and working hard on his ballet technique, performing in his first two shows whilst at college, winning two Olivier awards, the success of 'Mary Poppins', taking 'Sunset Boulevard' with Glenn Close to Broadway, choreographing two music videos, working with Victoria Wood and winning the Carl Alan award; all over a cup of tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Choreographer and Director, Stephen Mear CBE, chats about learning to dance aged three, training at the London Studio Centre of Dance and working hard on his ballet technique, performing in his first two shows whilst at college, winning two Olivier awards, the success of 'Mary Poppins', taking 'Sunset Boulevard' with Glenn Close to Broadway, choreographing two music videos, working with Victoria Wood and winning the Carl Alan award; all over a cup of tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theatre Producer and Founder of Aria Entertainment, Katy Lipson, from Manchester, chats about being creative growing up, her love of music, finding her feet at uni and in her twenties, writing and putting on shows, performing, teaching and MD'ing to earn money whilst starting up her business, her admiration for Sonia Friedman, producing the UK Premiere Tour of 'The Addams Family' and opening her socially distanced show 'The Last Five Years'; all over a water! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theatre Producer and Founder of Aria Entertainment, Katy Lipson, from Manchester, chats about being creative growing up, her love of music, finding her feet at uni and in her twenties, writing and putting on shows, performing, teaching and MD'ing to earn money whilst starting up her business, her admiration for Sonia Friedman, producing the UK Premiere Tour of 'The Addams Family' and opening her socially distanced show 'The Last Five Years'; all over a water! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor and author, Samantha Giles, chats about getting the acting bug, her tough times at University, working a multitude of jobs, TV and theatre roles, auditioning for Emmerdale, winning a TV Quick Award for Best Actress, leaving soapland for new challenges and releasing her first children's book; all over a cuppa! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor and author, Samantha Giles, chats about getting the acting bug, her tough times at University, working a multitude of jobs, TV and theatre roles, auditioning for Emmerdale, winning a TV Quick Award for Best Actress, leaving soapland for new challenges and releasing her first children's book; all over a cuppa! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dancer and choreographer, Tommy Frantzen, chats about learning to dance in Sweden, performing in musicals as a teenager, getting a scholarship in London, how 'So You Think You Can Dance' opened doors, working with Kate Prince's 'Zoonation' and choreographing on 'Strictly Come Dancing'; all over a loose leaf tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dancer and choreographer, Tommy Franzen, chats about learning to dance in Sweden, performing in musicals as a teenager, getting a scholarship in London, how 'So You Think You Can Dance' opened doors, working with Kate Prince's 'Zoonation' and choreographing on 'Strictly Come Dancing'; all over a loose leaf tea. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer, director and playwright, Debbie Isitt, from the Midlands, chats to me about making up shows as a child, training in performing arts in Coventry, working as an actor, touring her own theatre company around the world, getting a standing ovation at the Venice Film festival for her first feature film, how her film ‘Confetti’ came about, the 'Nativity' franchise of her films and musical and why she didn’t move to Los Angeles; all over a tea! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer, director and playwright, Debbie Isitt, from the Midlands, chats to me about making up shows as a child, training in performing arts in Coventry, working as an actor, touring her own theatre company around the world, getting a standing ovation at the Venice Film festival for her first feature film, how her film ‘Confetti’ came about, the 'Nativity' franchise of her films and musical and why she didn’t move to Los Angeles; all over a tea! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actor Simon Lipkin, chats about school days at Sylvia Young Theatre School, getting lucky with his first cruise ship job, auditioning over 10 times for 'Avenue Q', how Sir Cameron Mackintosh saved his career, touring with Monty Python's 'Spamalot', playing Nathan Detroit opposite Rebel Wilson's Miss Adelaide and starring in film, 'Nativity Rocks'; all over a brew! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.