Up Close with Carlos Tseng

Carlos Tseng
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Weekly

A series of interviews led by Carlos Tseng with some of the most prominent figures in the world of theatre, arts & entertainment. The series offers an up close insight into the lives and work of our esteemed guests, often leading to surprising, poignant and humorous answers. Find out more by listening along!

  1. Oct 6

    Shubham Saraf: In Praise of Imperfection

    Send us Fan Mail With The Cherry Orchard now playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Shubham Saraf sat down for an intimate reflection on his return to the stage and his return to the world of Chekhov. Having previously played in the Almeida's Three Sisters, we talked about the common traits between Tuzenbach and Yepikhodov - men forced to deal with unrequited yearning. The show sees him working under the careful direction of Ian Rickson, the director behind Jerusalem, the play that reaffirmed Shubham's desire to become an actor. This new production presents a new adaptation from Conor McPherson and also features a cast that see Shubham starring opposite Kristin Scott Thomas, Stephen Mangan and Jack Riddiford. In this special new interview, Shubham Saraf looked back at his first encounter with The Cherry Orchard, learning this world with the late Wyn Jones. In recent years, audiences have seen Shubham take on some of our most prestigious stages, notably leading the company of The Father and the Assassin in the Olivier Theatre. His last outing in the West End was in Thomas Ostermaier's production of An Enemy of the People opposite Matt Smith and Paul Hilton. In many ways, this return to the West End is a homecoming for Shubham Saraf who describes the theatre as being a special space for him to explore ideas and be in touch with his own humanity.  The Cherry Orchard is running at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 9 January 2027.

    Shubham Saraf: In Praise of Imperfection

  2. Sep 29

    Alice Fearn: Mastering Musical Theatre

    Send us Fan Mail In this new episode, we sat down with the incomparable Alice Fearn as she continues her run as Debra in Tony Award winning musical Kimberly Akimbo. Tracing her artistic expansion from a talented debutante to a seasoned leading lady, Alice reflects on what it means to continually grow and truly master the craft of musical theatre. Having dazzled audiences across the West End for a number of years, she is now making her Hampstead Theatre debut in a theatre not known for staging musicals. Through this lens, Alice talks us through her process to inhabit the unconventional role, illustrating how her approach to character building and storytelling has naturally deepened and matured over a remarkable career. In our interview with Alice Fearn, our conversation broadens to examine the monumental milestones that have shaped her career. Alice offers an insightful look at balancing the heavy theatrical legacy of Elphaba in Wicked with the surreal joy of crossing over into Jon M. Chu's cinematic adaptation as "Galinda's Momsie." As our conversation continues, we also talk about the technical agility she is known for and how she's now often in demand for shows like The Distance You Have Come and Come From Away. We also reflected on her Celine Dion tribute concert, The Power of Love as she credits the Canadian superstar as the reason for why she sings. It is a profound conversation that perfectly encapsulates exactly what it takes to master the art, and the heart, of modern musical theatre. Kimberly Akimbo runs at Hampstead Theatre until 7 November.

    Alice Fearn: Mastering Musical Theatre

  3. Sep 23

    Nina Cassells: Defining Defiance on Stage

    Send us Fan Mail As rehearsals continue for her highly anticipated Chichester Festival Theatre debut in Nina Segal’s Antigone Exits, Nina Cassells sat down with us for a deep, insightful conversation on her craft. Under the direction of Jeff James, Nina unpacks the visceral experience of bringing Sophocles' iconic heroine into a modern political sphere, exploring how she and the company are shaping the collective energy of the Chorus and navigating the intimate spatial mechanics of Chichester’s Minerva Theatre. In our interview with Nina Cassells, we looked back at her training at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, recalling her captivating, emotionally charged turn in the title role of Lorca's Yerma. Since gradutating, Nina's taken on various defiant young women carving out autonomy against rigid social structures—from her raw, high-voltage performance as Zainab in Julia Grogan's Playfight at Soho Theatre alongside her Guildhall peer Sophie Cox, to her sparkling Pauline Fossil in Kendall Feaver's Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre. We also discussed her fierce Hermia in the Bridge Theatre's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream that brought audiences closer than ever to the enchanted forest. Now taking on the role of Antigone, Nina continues to blaze as a rising star in the industry. Antigone Exits runs at Minerva Theatre from 26 September - 17 October.

    Nina Cassells: Defining Defiance on Stage

  4. Sep 16

    Joseph Millson: Unvarnished Truths of a Working Actor

    Send us Fan Mail As he continues his run as part of the 40th anniversary cast of Phantom of the Opera in the West End, Joseph Millson sat down to delve into the realities of the uncertain landscape of the acting industry, unpacking the profound highs and inevitable lulls of the profession. Having won a WhatsOnStage Awarad as Raoul in Love Never Dies, we hear him talk about the joy of reuniting with Sierra Boggess for Andrew Lloyd Webber's beloved musical's anniversary. During our conversation, he poignantly reflects on a life that has seen him acting on stage and screen, writing books and even directing feature film: Signs of Life. Our conversation explored his deeply personal life choices and the ongoing challenge of maintaining authenticity and "play" amid the rigorous demands of the business. In this new interview, Joseph Millson offers an introspective look at a career that has established him as a true veteran of the industry. Last year, he starred in one of the most acclaimed shows of 2025: The Forsyte Saga taking on the role of Soames having previously voiced the role in a radio adaptation. The show saw him return to the Swan Theatre, a place where he feels particularly at home having played numerous roles on the stage where in fact he is also an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Joseph also tells us about the inspiration behind Miller Rose Roberts, a highly praised novella that has been described by readers as a real highlight. After publishing his first memoir: Work and Other Four Letter Words, he also tells us about an in the works sequel which promises to be as honest and funny as his first book.

    Joseph Millson: Unvarnished Truths of a Working Actor

  5. Aug 26

    Noah Ritter: Songs, Stage, and the Realm

    Send us Fan Mail As Game of Thrones: The Mad King continues its 5* rated run at the RSC, Noah Ritter sat down with us to reflect on his early career success. Fresh off his professional stage debut portraying John Lennon in Please Please Me at the Kiln Theatre, Noah discusses the art of stepping into the world of Westeros as a character that's largely existed as a myth in the books and TV series. We also explore his transition from graduating from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) to working on high profile projects. We also hear him unpack his actor-director relationship with Dominic Cooke and how they worked together to ground a legendary figure like Rhaegar Targaryen in this epic piece of theatre.  In a special new interview, Noah Ritter offers a candid look into his beginnings as an emerging talent in the industry. As the acting landscape continues to evolve and become as competitive as ever, he tells us about early wins - landing an agent early on and getting to do filming work before being given the opportunity to play John Lennon. We hear him reflect on the experience building a strong chemistry with Calam Lynch's Brian Epstein before arriving in Stratford upon Avon to play Rhaegar Targaryen in his RSC debut. It is a thoughtful, insightful conversation with an exciting young talent forging his own distinct path across British stage and screen.

    Noah Ritter: Songs, Stage, and the Realm

  6. Jul 22

    Millie O'Connell: A Jellicle Conversation

    Send us Fan Mail Ahead of her highly anticipated run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Millie O'Connell sat down to discuss her role as Demeter in Drew McOnie's radical, gritty reimagining of Cats. As an artist known for her high-voltage presence on stage, Millie gives us an unfiltered look into what it really takes to strip away forty years of theatrical tradition, trading nostalgia for a grounded aesthetic that frames the Jellicle tribe as London’s strays and rebels. We hear her reflect on the delicate art of unearthing fragments of vulnerability within McOnie's rigorous and emotionally exposed choreography. Our conversation explores the physical and psychological realities of performing outdoors under an actual night sky, unpacking the energy exchange between actor and audience while navigating the unpredictable elements of an open-air amphitheatre. In this brand new interview, Millie O'Connell offers an introspective look at a powerhouse career that has seen her move seamlessly from Anne Boleyn in SIX to Cookie in Come Fall in Love. We talk about how her affinity for portraying fierce, complex women in iconic shows like Rent and The Cher Show has shaped her artistic identity, as well as the personal resilience required to navigate a career in musical theatre. Indeed, we also delve into the profound importance of community, reflecting on positive structural shifts in the industry in recent years. It seems like the perfect time for Millie and Demeter to come together and audiences should come expecting Cats unlike they've ever seen before in the magical and jellicle setting of Regent's Park. Cats runs at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre from 25 July - 19 September with a UK tour to follow.

    Millie O'Connell: A Jellicle Conversation

  7. Jul 15

    Pearl Chanda: Beauty and Brutality

    Send us Fan Mail After a string of recent successes, Pearl Chanda is gearing up for her return to the Almeida Theatre in Rebecca Frecknall’s summer revival of Sarah Kane’s Cleansed. Fresh off an incredibly brooding, restrained turn in Hedda to navigating trauma-induced paralysis in Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass at the Young Vic, Pearl gives us an unfiltered look into what it really takes to inhabit Kane's nightmarish world. Having described her time performing Sarah Kane's Crave at the Sheffield Crucible as like "going to war," she breaks down why the themes of the show resonate with her so deeply and why her work is more important than ever. Pearl also gives us an insight into her working relationship with Rebecca Frecknall and why the Almeida Theatre continues to draw in such a loyal audience. In our new interview with Pearl Chanda, we hear her talk about taking on roles like Hedda Gabler as well as the likes of Mae in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Stephanie Rahn in Ink. Amidst her booming screen career in hit projects like I May Destroy You, See How They Run, and Mary & George, Pearl explains why she keeps returning to the wonderful and terrifying world of theatre. She tells us about her love for working with great actors and with great directors, experiences that still happens a lot in the theatre world. As she prepares to open Cleansed, she tells us about the excitement around tackling on a historically challenging piece that she hopes will still have the same potency as it did when the show first opened at the Royal Court Theatre. Cleansed runs at Almeida Theatre on 21 July - 29 August.

    Pearl Chanda: Beauty and Brutality

  8. Jun 26

    Christine Lahti: Reclaiming the Narrative

    Send us Fan Mail Ahead of her highly anticipated London stage debut at the Marylebone Theatre, Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor Christine Lahti sat down for a profoundly intimate conversation with us. In her new solo play, The Smile of Her, she strips away the immaculate veneer of 1950s American suburban mythology to confront the suffocating "silences" of her childhood. We explore the psychological architecture of bringing such an achingly personal piece across the Atlantic—treating the play’s titular "smile" not merely as a coping mechanism, but as a weapon of survival and a dramatic puzzle waiting to be unlocked on stage. In a very special interview, Christine Lahti reflects on her evolution from pioneering modern television drama in Chicago Hope to making her way onto the Marylebone Theatre stage. Christine opens up about the dark moments of her childhood and aggressive patriarchy that still haunts her today. Indeed, she tells us about the internalised misogyny that she's still confronting today. Our conversation captures a legendary artist refusing to let Hollywood or history edit her past as she finally reclaims authorship over her own life. The Smile of Her runs at Marylebone Theatre from 10th July - 29th August 2026.

    Christine Lahti: Reclaiming the Narrative
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A series of interviews led by Carlos Tseng with some of the most prominent figures in the world of theatre, arts & entertainment. The series offers an up close insight into the lives and work of our esteemed guests, often leading to surprising, poignant and humorous answers. Find out more by listening along!

Information

  • Creator
    Carlos Tseng
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Up Close with Carlos Tseng
  • Show Website
    Up Close with Carlos Tseng

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