The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat West End Frame

Emmanuel Akwafo (Sappho / For Black Boys) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Emmanuel discuss Sister Act starring Beverley Knight (Dominion Theatre) as well as the latest news about the Tony Award nominations,  Lempicka closing, Titanique's West End transfer, Lucie Jones starring in The Baker's Wife, casting for The Bodyguard in Slovenia and lots more.

Emmanuel played Pitch in the original cast of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy at the Royal Court and for the play's first sold out West End run at the Apollo Theatre.

Some of his other theatre credits include Lady Jelly-Bottom in Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith), Amiens in As You Like It (Globe Theatre), Tim T in Primary Playwrights (Soho Theatre), Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith) and Mr Martin in The Bald Soprano (Leicester Square Theatre).

Emmanuel is currently playing the Narrator in Sappho by Wendy Beckett which is spreading queer joy at the Southwark Playhouse. Fusing ancient poetry with modern music, Greek chorus with contemporary dance, Sappho is described as a thrilling adult fairy tale of mythic proportions that may – or may not – have happened.

Follow Emmanuel on Instagram: @eman.akwafo. Sappho runs at the Southwark Playhouse until 25th May, visit www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk for tickets. 

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.   

West End Frame Editor, Andrew Tomlins, is back for some bonus show talk!

The shows covered in this episode include Pippin In Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), 42 Balloons (The Lowry, Salford), Frankie Goes To Bollywood (Watford Palace, UK Tour) and Remembrance Monday (Seven Dials Playhouse).

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.   

Andrew hosts a solo episode of The West End Frame Show.

Andrew discusses Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Phoenix Theatre), Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York (Criterion Theatre) and Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) as well as the latest news about stage door etiquette following Melanie La Barrie's recent online statements, Sister Act, My Son's A Queer, 2:22 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.   

Reece Kerridge (Adam/Felicia in Priscilla The Party) returns to co-host The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Reece discuss Ushers: The Front Of House Musical (The Other Palace Studio) and The Ballad of Hattie and James (Kiln Theatre) as well as the latest news about this year's London Palladium Pantomime starring Jane McDonald and Julian Clary, Oliver! transferring to the West End, 2:22 making a West End return and lots more.

Some of Reece's theatre credits include The Book of Mormon (West End), understudy  SpongeBob & Squidward in SpongeBob The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour), Top Hat (The Mill at Sonning), understudy cover Lord Farquaad in Shrek The Musical (UK & Ireland Tour) and Our House (Union Theatre) as well as many pantomimes and cabarets.

As a presenter Reece co-hosted the radio show Sit In The Stalls and also performs as his drag persona Gracie Lou.

After spending Christmas touring arenas in Peter Pan and Elf The Musical, in which he understudied Buddy, Reece is now starring as Adam/Felicia in Priscilla The Party which has opened at HERE at Outernet.

Priscilla the Party is staged by the creative team behind Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical re-directed by original director Simon Phillips and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth.

Priscilla the Party is booking at HERE at Outernet until Sunday 29th September 2024. Visit www.priscillatheparty.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.   

Ben Culleton (Les Misérables / La Cage aux Folles) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Ben discuss the 2024 Olivier Awards (Royal Albert Hall), Your Lie In April (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Bare In Concert (London Palladium) as well as the latest news about Kinky Boots starring Johannes Radebe, Lauren Samuels joining Wicked's US tour, Heathers, Rob Madge, Opening Night and lots more.

Ben is currently playing Courfeyrac and understudying Enjolras in the West End production of Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre). Having trained at ArtsEd, he made his West End debut understudying Kenickie and Doody in Grease (Dominion Theatre).

Ben's other theatre credits include swing in 42nd Street (Théâtre du Châtelet) and Ricky in Pump Up The Volume (Turbine Theatre, MT Fest). Last summer Ben received huge acclaim for playing Jean-Michel in Tim Sheader's revival of La Cage aux Folles (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

Follow Ben on Instagram @benculletonn. For info about Les Misérables visit www.lesmis.com.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins.
@AndrewTomlins32 

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.   

Jye Frasca (Syncopation / Wicked) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!

Andrew and Jye discuss Red Pitch (@SohoPlace), Coming Clean (Turbine Theatre) and Cruel Intentions (The Other Palace) as well as the latest news about Oklahoma!, Jessica Vosk, I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical, Jerry's Girls and more. There's also discussion about the online racial abuse which occurred following Francesca Amewudah-Rivers' casting in The Jamie Lloyd Company's production of Romeo & Juliet.

After growing up in Australia, Jye moved to London to attend drama school. Jye was in the original West End casts of Wicked, Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins, with his other UK theatre credits including West Side Story, Mamma Mia, Cats, Anything Goes, Love’s Labour's Lost, We Will Rock You and Thrill Me.

After moving to America, Jye took over as Frankie Valli in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys before making his Broadway debut as Boq in Wicked for the musical’s 15th anniversary! Jye has worked on screen, most recently appearing in Amazon Freevee’s Leverage: Redemption.

Ten years on from moving to America, Jye is back on the London stage, starring in Syncopation at the Bridewell Theatre.  Directed by Karen Jemison, Jye is performing opposite Devon-Elise Johnson in the UK premiere of  Allan Knee's two-hander ballroom-inspired play.

Syncopation runs at the Bridewell Theatre until Saturday 13th April 2024. Visit www.syncopation.uk 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.