Prompt Jess Branch

After my episode with Gemma Knight Jones, the overwhelming feedback I got was how much people LOVED hearing theatre parents chat about their experiences. So I started to cast around for other West End mamas to chat to, and Sophie Isaacs was an obvious choice. 
She was in the original West End cast of 'Heathers' and also 'Six', 'Made In Dagenham' and 'Kinky Boots'. A true West End queen. 
We cover a wide variety of topics including West End fandom, parenting, show reports and all of my usual questions including the most important. Is she prompt?!
This was a joy to record and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did recording.

Dan Buckley is an actor with a huge number of musical theatre productions under his belt including 'The Book of Mormon', 'Loserville' and 'Fisherman's Friends'. However it was his brilliant social media content which made me aware of him. Dan makes funny, well observed and painfully true videos which completely encapsulate the highs, lows and all-consuming agony of working within this industry. 
This interview went to places I wasn't expecting it to so I just tried to give Dan space to talk about his own personal experience without judgement or pressure. We cover the usual sources of theatre demons such as bad digs and haunting onstage mishaps. But also discuss addiction and behavioural cycles that can be hard to break in a sometimes toxic environment. 

I couldn't quite believe that one of our most prolific living playwright's agreed to be on my podcast. But one of the most incredible things about Mark Ravenhill is how generous he is with his knowledge and expertise. 
This was a lengthy chat which covered the French word for prompter, his sometimes- good-sometimes-bad relationships with stage managers, the remarkable German theatre system and his worst digs story. Which also involves me owning up to one of my biggest mistakes. Yikes. 
Editing this was almost impossible as so much of what Mark says is so interesting. I think I could have chatted theatre with him all day. Make a cup of tea (or four) and enjoy this week's episode of 'Prompt'.

Gemma Knight Jones is the ultimate West End queen; A talented mama who is always grafting and endlessly optimistic. 
 
Gemma and I were pregnant together on a fast-paced West End show, an experience that truly bonded us, and then we came together again shortly before I left stage management permanently. 
 
I really wanted to chat to her about motherhood in the arts and how she was still managing to fully slay onstage whilst also raising her child. Something which any parent listening will agree is no easy task. 
 
When I listened to this back I realised it was more of a chat than an interview so I hope you can get comfortable and tune into this conversation which covers pregnancy, illness, optimism and how to stay awake onstage.

In this episode I chat with the fabulous Rob Madge and Rosie Morgan about the unique friendship which can occur between stage manager and performer, along with their biggest mistakes, their time keeping and their plans for the National Theatre.

Les Dennis is one of the country's most experienced and popular entertainers. With a career spanning several decades and a CV which boasts gameshow host, stand up comic, straight actor, reality tv star and musical theatre legend, it was not hard for Jess to find topics to chat about. In fact editing their lengthy conversation down to 45 minutes was the hardest part! Join them both as they chat time keeping, stage management and how Su Pollard managed to escape from Woking shopping centre.