In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame West End Frame

Fresh from starring in Ain't Too Proud, Cameron Bernard Jones is soon to be playing Collins in the new UK revival of Rent for Landmark Theatres.

Cameron is originally from New York and has performed internationally in Porgy & Bess, Hairspray and Showboat. In the West End, he has been in Motown The Musical and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in which he covered Ike Turner.

Cameron was in South Pacific at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Punchdrunk’s acclaimed porudction of The Burnt City and received a Black British Theatre Award nomination for his performance as the title role in The Wiz at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.

Cameron starred as Melvin Franklin in the original West End cast of Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations at the Prince Edward Theatre.

Cameron is also a podcaster; he hosts and produces Lick The Plate, a podcast about people and food.

In this episode, Cameron discusses his original journey into theatre, reestablishing himself in the UK and the highs and lows of his first contract as a West End leading man. He also reflects on navigating a career in theatre as a bass baritone and lots more.

Follow Cameron on Instagram: @cbjarts

Follow and subscribe to Lick The Plate wherever you get your podcasts. You can see Cameron in Rent at the Peterborough New Theatre and Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple in June and July.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins 
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  
46s Film Making 46s: Filmmakers talk origins, challenges, budgets, and profits.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Ella Karuna Williams is playing Patty Newby in Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Ella is from the US and previously played Patty in multiple workshops of Stranger Things. She  moved to London to make her West End debut in the show which opened at the Phoenix Theatre in December 2023. Stranger Things just won two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design.

On screen, Ella appeared in The Equalizer. She is also a singer/songwriter and recently released her debut EP, Silent Noise. 

At 18 years old, Ella is our youngest ever In The Frame guest! In this episode she discusses moving to London, taking Stranger Things from workshop to full production, her path into theatre and lots more.

Follow Ella on Instagram @ellakarunawilliams and for info about Stranger Things: The First Shadow visit www.uk.strangerthingsonstage.com

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins 
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  
46s Film Making 46s: Filmmakers talk origins, challenges, budgets, and profits.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Whilst taking a hiatus from her run as Anne Boleyn in Six, Laura Dawn Pyatt is currently part of the ensemble of 42 Balloons by Jack Godfrey.

Laura first joined the cast of 42 Balloons when the musical had a concert run in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre. The show is now receiving its fully staged premiere at The Lowry in Salford and Laura is reprising her performance for this new iteration of its journey.

42 Balloons is inspired by the highly improbable true story of how Larry, and his partner Carol Van Deusen, convinced their friends and family to help Larry achieve his dream of flying. Featuring an 80s pop-inspired score, 42 Balloons questions how far you would go to make your dreams come true; is the sky actually the limit, and what happens if it doesn’t all go to plan?

Laura joined Six The Musical’s UK & International tour cast in April 2023, starring as Anne Boleyn. She has taken a break from the show to do 42 Balloons and is set to return to the company to finish off her run later in the year.

Some of Laura’s other theatre credits include performing with Bat Out Of Hell at the Big Night of Musicals (AO Arena Manchester), playing Claire in Ordinary Days directed by Julie Atherton (Cockpit Theatre), Dick Whittington and Jack & The Beanstalk (Royal & Derngate) and Eliza in Brass (Bernie Grant Arts Centre).

Laura has worked as a choreographer, performed in concerts, appeared on screen and been part of many other projects.

Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Laura discusses what it's like to be back in 42 Balloons, conquering her confidence with Six, navigating her career after leaving drama school without an agent and lots more.

42 Balloons runs at The Lowry in Salford 18th April - 19th May 2024. Visit www.42balloons.com for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins 
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  
46s Film Making 46s: Filmmakers talk origins, challenges, budgets, and profits.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Fresh from her runs as Elphaba and Fantine, Lucie Jones is preparing to play two solo concerts at Cadogan Hall in May.

Lucie is renowned for her solo shows; in recent years she has performed solo concerts at the Adelphi Theatre and His Majesty’s Theatre in the West End as well as on tour with the 50-piece Fulltone Orchestra.

Lucie has also launched the Lucie Jones Academy and is busy teaching workshops alongside industry friends across the UK and beyond.

Lucie burst on to our screens in the 2009 series of The X Factor (ITV) and has gone on to become one of the most renowned leading ladies in British musical theatre. She made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables and went on to play roles including Meat in We Will Rock You (International Arena Tour), Victoria in American Psycho (Almedia Theatre), Molly in Ghost (Asian Tour), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve & UK Tour), Holly in The Wedding Singer (UK Tour), Maureen in Rent (St James Theatre & UK Tour), Lou in Girlfriends (LMTO), Heidi in Title Of Show (Digital Production) and The Ghost Of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (Dominion Theatre).

Lucie had an acclaimed run as Jenna in Waitress (Adelphi Theatre / UK & Ireland Tour). Her most recent credits include starring as Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) and Fantine in Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre). Lucie also recently starred in the workshop of 13 Going On 30, the staged concert of Super You (Lyric Theatre) and is about to play Catherine in the Pippin 50th Anniversary Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Lucie represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2017 and released the album Lucie Jones Live At The Adelphi in 2020.

Marking her third time In The Frame, in this episode we rewind to Lucie's early days post X Factor and how she took control of her career early on. Lucie also discusses her final Elphaba show, her run as Fantine, hustle culture and the friends she has picked up throughout her career...and so much more!

You can see Lucie in concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 12th May 2024. Visit www.cadoganhall.com for info and tickets. For details about The Lucie Jones Academy visit www.luciejones.com/academy

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins 
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  
46s Film Making 46s: Filmmakers talk origins, challenges, budgets, and profits.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

In addition to playing The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Jon Robyns is preparing to celebrate his 20 year theatre career with a very special solo concert.

Jon will play His Majesty's Theatre - home of Phantom - on Sunday 26th May in a show produced by West End Musical Productions.

Jon joined the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera last April. His West End credits include: Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (having previously played Enjolras and Marius), King George in Hamilton, alternate Huey in Memphis, Scrooge & others in Dickens Abridged, Galahad in Spamalot and Princeton & Rod in Avenue Q.

Jon's other theatre credits include: Robbie in The Wedding Singer (UK & Ireland Tour), Emmet in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve), Eddie in Sister Act (UK & Ireland Tour), Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Greenwich Theatre), Hollis in Road Show (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mark in Rent (Frankfurt) and alternate Chris in Miss Saigon (UK & Ireland Tour).

Jon is also a writer and last year premiered his musical Then, Now & Next – co-written with Christopher J Orton – at the Southwark Playhouse.
In this episode Jon discusses his upcoming solo show at His Majesty's and all things Phantom, as well as decisions he has made throughout his career, delving into writing musicals and lots more.

Jon plays His Majesty's Theatre in concert on Sunday 26th May. Visit www.lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/jon-robyns/ for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins 
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  
46s Film Making 46s: Filmmakers talk origins, challenges, budgets, and profits.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Alex James-Hatton is currently starring as Clyde in the UK & Ireland tour of Bonnie & Clyde The Musical.

The show features music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black and book by Ivan Menchell. Having opened on Broadway in 2011, Bonnie & Clyde received two West End runs ahead of this tour which marks the first time the musical has travelled across the UK & Ireland.

Alex made his professional debut covering JD, Ram and Kurt in the original cast of Heathers (The Other Palace / Theatre Royal Haymarket). His other theatre credits include: cover Elder Price in The Book of Mormon (UK & International Tour / West End), Lewis in Pippin (Charing Cross Theatre), Oscar Delancey in the UK premiere of Newsies (Troubadour Wembley Park) and Stranger Things: The First Shadow (workshop).

In this episode, Alex discusses raising a little hell as Clyde, landing his first principal contract, his path into theatre and lots more.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins 
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  
46s Film Making 46s: Filmmakers talk origins, challenges, budgets, and profits.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify