Theatre Audience Podcast

Natalie Maher & Darren Murphy
  • 4.9 (9)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Step into the captivating world of live performance with the Theatre Audience Podcast! Hosted by the dynamic duo, Natalie and Darren and special guests. This ongoing series promises to whisk you away into the heart of the theatre scene. Every Thursday afternoon, we bring you insights into the latest shows, buzz-worthy theatre news, and exclusive interviews with industry insiders. It's your backstage pass to the drama, the laughter, and the sheer magic of the stage. Join us on this exhilarating theatrical journey where the curtains never close on excitement. Tune in, stay ahead of the curve, and let your love for theatre shine bright! Don't miss out... Subscribe now for a front-row seat to the most thrilling episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. American Psycho, The Producers & The Opera Locos

    6D AGO

    American Psycho, The Producers & The Opera Locos

    This week Darren and Natalie take on three wildly different theatrical experiences - from razor-sharp satire with The Producers and dark musical thrills American Psycho to outrageous operatic comedy - The Opera Locos. The Opera Locos – Sadler’s Wells The madcap Spanish company Yllana brings its international hit The Opera Locos to Sadler’s Wells, turning the world of grand opera completely on its head. This riotous comedy follows a group of eccentric opera singers competing for a prestigious prize, but their soaring voices and egos quickly spiral into chaos. Featuring beloved arias from composers such as Mozart, Verdi and Puccini alongside unexpected pop classics, the show blends virtuosic singing with physical comedy, mime and clowning. The result is a playful celebration of opera that proves the genre can be both spectacular and seriously funny. American Psycho – Almeida Theatre Rupert Goold returns to the Almeida Theatre with a thrilling revival of the cult musical American Psycho. Based on Bret Easton Ellis’ infamous novel, the show plunges us into the sleek, soulless excess of 1980s Wall Street as investment banker Patrick Bateman hides a terrifying double life. Featuring music by Duncan Sheik, this stylish, darkly satirical musical explores capitalism, vanity and the emptiness of consumer culture. With slick staging and a pounding score, the production captures both the glamour and the horror of Bateman’s world — where appearances are everything and identity is terrifyingly fragile. The Producers – West End Transfer Mel Brooks’ legendary musical comedy The Producers storms into the West End following its acclaimed run at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The outrageous story follows down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock and timid accountant Leo Bloom, who hatch a scheme to get rich by producing the worst musical ever written. What could possibly go wrong? Packed with showstopping numbers, outrageous jokes and the infamous “Springtime for Hitler”, this revival proves why The Producers remains one of the funniest musicals ever written — a riotous love letter to theatre itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min
  2. Behind the Portrait: Keala Settle & Hal Fowler on Mrs. President

    MAR 2

    Behind the Portrait: Keala Settle & Hal Fowler on Mrs. President

    In this special backstage episode, Natalie sits down with Keala Settle and Hal Fowler, the stars of Mrs. President at the Charing Cross Theatre - a gripping reimagining of Mary Lincoln’s fight to reclaim her reputation after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Keala Settle delivers a powerhouse performance as a woman vilified by history, navigating grief, public scrutiny and the crushing weight of expectation. Opposite her, Hal Fowler plays photographer Mathew Brady, the man tasked with restoring her image - a collaboration that becomes as volatile as it is revealing. In this candid conversation, Keala and Hal explore the emotional intensity of the piece, the fine line between truth and public narrative, and why Mary Lincoln’s story feels startlingly contemporary. They discuss power, identity, media manipulation and the cost of being misunderstood - themes that resonate far beyond the 19th century. Raw, insightful and unexpectedly timely, this is a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of one of London’s most thought-provoking productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  3. Love, Laughter & Into the Woods

    FEB 26

    Love, Laughter & Into the Woods

    This week, Darren and Natalie bring you backstage moments, bold new musical theatre, immersive magic and political satire with a photo call for World’s Greatest Lover, Natalie took her school kids to see Into the woods and Darren attended the press night of I’m Sorry, Prime Minister. World’s Greatest Lover – Photo Call & Cast Chats We were at the photo call for the high-energy pop-rock musical World’s Greatest Lover, featuring music and book by Julien Salvia and lyrics and book by Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal - the award-winning writing duo behind The Prince & The Pauper and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Fresh from their Eurovision pop success with La Poupée Monte Le Son, the pair now bring their infectious theatrical style to London. Darren caught up with cast members Matt Terry, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, and Jaymi Hensley for quick-fire chats about the show’s bold sound, its romantic chaos and what audiences can expect. Into the Woods  Back under the trees at the Bridge, this thrilling revival of Sondheim’s masterpiece invites audiences into an immersive fairytale world where wishes come at a cost. With seating wrapped around the action and on-foot tickets allowing you to follow the story, this is musical theatre at its most playful, poignant and theatrical. I’m Sorry, Prime Minister The iconic political duo return in this sharp, nostalgic and gently biting farewell to Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey. A final chapter to the beloved Yes, Minister universe, this stage outing blends classic satire with contemporary relevance as power, ego and public image once again collide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  4. Inside The Opera Locos with Yllana’s Joseph O’Curneen

    FEB 22

    Inside The Opera Locos with Yllana’s Joseph O’Curneen

    In this week’s episode, Darren is joined by Joseph O’Curneen - founding member of internationally acclaimed Spanish theatre company Yllana - to talk about the glorious chaos that is The Opera Locos. Returning to London following standing ovations, The Opera Locos takes over Sadlers Well’s Theatre for a strictly limited run. This vibrant comic opera experience blends world-class singing with outrageous physical comedy, fusing the grandeur of Mozart, Verdi and Puccini with pop anthems from Whitney Houston, Mika, U2 and more. At the heart of the show are five eccentric opera singers - a faded tenor, a macho baritone, a pop-loving counter-tenor, a dreamy soprano and a fiery mezzo - whose rivalries, egos and hidden desires spiral into operatic mayhem. It’s opera… but not as you know it. Joseph shares how Yllana, founded in 1991 as a comedy and physical theatre company, has grown into a global powerhouse - producing 41 shows, performing over 16,000 times across 48 countries, and reaching almost six million audience members. We explore the art of non-verbal storytelling, the universal language of laughter, and why opera is the perfect playground for comic anarchy. From Max Award-winning success in Spain to international touring and a triumphant London return, this is a joyful, insightful conversation about risk, reinvention and making classical music wildly accessible. If you think opera isn’t for you - this might just change your mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  5. Memory, Music & The Weight of What We Carry

    FEB 19

    Memory, Music & The Weight of What We Carry

    This week Darren and Natalie explore three powerful productions that examine legacy, longing and the stories we pass down - through history - Here there are Blueberries, through song - Ballad Lines, and through quiet acts of courage - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Here There Are Blueberries A haunting and urgent new play inspired by a real-life photo album discovered in an archive - images taken by Nazi officers at Auschwitz. As archivists begin to piece together the lives behind the photographs, difficult questions emerge: what do we do with inherited history? Who gets to tell these stories? And how do we confront the ordinary faces of extraordinary evil? A deeply unsettling, necessary piece of theatre that lingers long after the lights go down. Ballad Lines A lyrical, folk-infused new musical that threads together generations of women through music and memory. Rich in harmony and storytelling, Ballad Lines blends Celtic influences with contemporary musical theatre to create an intimate exploration of identity, love and resilience. Atmospheric, heartfelt and musically stunning. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Based on the beloved novel by Rachel Joyce, this moving musical charts Harold’s spontaneous walk across England to save an old friend. With an evocative score and deeply human performances, it’s a story of redemption, grief and the extraordinary power of simply putting one foot in front of the other. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  6. Sixteen Postcodes. One Story. Backstage with Jessica Regan

    FEB 17

    Sixteen Postcodes. One Story. Backstage with Jessica Regan

    This week we’re joined by comedian, writer and performer Jessica Regan, a regular voice on The Guilty Feminist Podcast, to talk about her bold and brilliantly personal one-woman show 16 Postcodes. Following sell-out, critically acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Pleasance Theatre, 16 Postcodes makes its London premiere at King's Head Theatre. The show chronicles Jessica’s real-life journey through London’s crumbling private rental market - and in a twist that makes every performance unique, the audience decides which stories are told each night. With the UK’s Renter’s Rights Bill coming into effect later this year, this conversation feels especially timely. Jessica offers a lived, sharp and darkly funny perspective on the realities behind the headlines - exploring instability, autonomy, power, and what it really means to try to build a life when “home” never quite sticks. We talk about turning housing trauma into theatre, why comedy is sometimes the only survival tool available, how audiences respond when given control, and whether legislation can truly repair the emotional toll of renting in London. It’s funny. It’s honest. And it’s painfully relatable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  7. Love, Legacy & What We Hold On To

    FEB 12

    Love, Legacy & What We Hold On To

    This week Darren and Natalie cover a packed episode spanning major casting announcements, explosive physical theatre, and an intimate world premiere that cuts straight to the heart. We were at the Thomas Hopkins Productions press launch announcing three exciting productions: Maureen Lipman starring in Allegra Wendi Peters leading Glorious And The Jonathan Larson Project, celebrating the visionary composer behind Rent and Tick, Tick… Boom! A glimpse at what promises to be an exciting season ahead. Frantic Assembly’s Lost Atoms Jess and Robbie’s love story begins with a chance meeting and unfolds into something extraordinary - or so they remember. Written by Anna Jordan (Succession, Yen, The Unreturning) and staged with Frantic Assembly’s signature physical intensity, Lost Atoms dives into the soaring highs and devastating lows of a relationship shaped as much by memory as reality. Funny, raw and emotionally charged, it asks: when love ends, whose version survives? Guess How Much I Love You? A pregnant couple wait for their 20-week scan - and the life they imagined begins to shift. This devastating and beautifully observed new play by Bruntwood Prize-winner Luke Norris, directed by Olivier Award-winner Jeremy Herrin, explores parenthood, impossible decisions and enduring love. A powerhouse cast including Rosie Sheehy, Robert Aramayo, and Lena Kaur deliver deeply affecting performances in this world premiere that lingers long after the curtain falls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  8. Courage, Legacy & the Stories We Tell Ourselves

    FEB 5

    Courage, Legacy & the Stories We Tell Ourselves

    This week Darren and Natalie explore three powerful productions that wrestle with truth, legacy and the cost of standing by your convictions - from the Wild West with High Noon to the White House with Mrs. President and the glittering wreckage of the Jazz Age with Beautiful Little Fool. High Noon A searing stage adaptation of the legendary Western that once served as an allegory for Hollywood’s blacklist, High Noon feels chillingly relevant today. Set in real time and running without an interval, the story follows Marshal Will Kane (Billy Crudup) as he faces an impossible choice: protect his town from a returning outlaw or protect his new wife, Amy Fowler (Denise Gough). With songs by Bruce Springsteen, The Chicks and Ry Cooder, this tense, 100-minute thriller is part love story, part political warning - and entirely gripping. Mrs President   Keala Settle takes on the role of Mary Lincoln in this newly reimagined version of John Ransom Phillips’ gripping drama. Haunted by grief, vilified by society and desperate to reclaim her narrative, Mary turns to photographer Mathew Brady (Hal Fowler) to help restore her image - only for their collaboration to spiral into a fierce battle over truth, authorship and control. Directed by Bronagh Lagan, this bold reinvention reveals Mary Lincoln as a woman fighting to define herself in a world determined to define her. Beautiful Little Fool Told through the eyes of their daughter Scottie, this new musical charts the turbulent, brilliant and tragic relationship between Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, with music and lyrics by Hannah Corneau and a book by Mona Mansour, the UK premiere stars Lauren Ward as Scottie, David Hunter as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hannah Corneau as Zelda. A sweeping, lyrical exploration of art, fame and family long after the Roaring Twenties have faded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
See All (200)

4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Step into the captivating world of live performance with the Theatre Audience Podcast! Hosted by the dynamic duo, Natalie and Darren and special guests. This ongoing series promises to whisk you away into the heart of the theatre scene. Every Thursday afternoon, we bring you insights into the latest shows, buzz-worthy theatre news, and exclusive interviews with industry insiders. It's your backstage pass to the drama, the laughter, and the sheer magic of the stage. Join us on this exhilarating theatrical journey where the curtains never close on excitement. Tune in, stay ahead of the curve, and let your love for theatre shine bright! Don't miss out... Subscribe now for a front-row seat to the most thrilling episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Natalie Maher & Darren Murphy
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Theatre Audience Podcast
  • Show Website
    Theatre Audience Podcast

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