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The WhatsOnStage Podcast

Sarah Crompton & Alex Wood
Theatre
West End
Broadway
Operation Mincemeat
Musical Theatre
Evita
Wicked
Olivier Awards
National Theatre
Stephen Sondheim
Theater
Paddington the Musical
Hamlet
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Les Misérables
Shakespeare
British Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
London Palladium

WhatsOnStage managing editor Alex Wood and chief theatre critic Sarah Crompton host a weekly podcast on all things theatrical. News, views, frank exchanges and lists offer an unmissable guide to what’s happening on stage (and in film and on television) now, in the past and in future. From musicals, to plays, to immersive shows, to interviews with the biggest stars, there's something for everyone! ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes229Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsSociety & CultureArts

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Artwork for The WhatsOnStage Podcast

Latest Episodes

Yesterday saw the Tony Awards nominations being revealed - in a great moment for UK theatre, with 41 nominations. We chat to producer Sonia Friedman (Oedipus), star Lesley Manville (Oedipus) and writer Mark Rosenblatt (Giant) about the success of the... more

In a packed week of theatre news Sarah and Alex discuss Cynthia Erivo halting a show to stop filming —and Lesley Manville declaring war on photos. Is technology ruining or helping theatre? Plus: troubled waters at The Bridge, Broadway transfers and w... more

On this week's bonus episode, Alex chats to Omar Elerian, the director and adaptor of Kohlhaas, a brand new work making its world premiere in the first week of the Brighton Festival. Elerian is also the co-founder of There & Then, a new theatre compa... more

In part four of the series, Sarah and Alex discuss the mighty War Horse, sublime new work from Complicité, incredible Scottish writing and blistering debuts. They also finally mull over the question – what actually is a play?

Hosted on Acast. See ac... more

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Recent Guests

Omar Elerian
Director and adapter of Kohlhaas, founder of There and Then
There and Then
Episode: 162. Bonus episode: The man shaking up the West End with experimental work
Jethro Compton
Producer, writer and designer known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (West End), NEO (Seoul)
Episode: 160. Bonus episode: What is the future of new musicals?
Elaine Paige
Award recipient
Episode: 158. Bonus episode: Behind-the-scenes at the Olivier Awards with Rachel Zegler, Elaine Paige, Rosamund Pike and the Paddington team
James Hamid
Paddington performer
Paddington the Musical
Episode: 158. Bonus episode: Behind-the-scenes at the Olivier Awards with Rachel Zegler, Elaine Paige, Rosamund Pike and the Paddington team
Artie Shaw
Paddington performer
Paddington the Musical
Episode: 158. Bonus episode: Behind-the-scenes at the Olivier Awards with Rachel Zegler, Elaine Paige, Rosamund Pike and the Paddington team
Eliza Lumley
Theatre professional
Episode: 158. Bonus episode: Behind-the-scenes at the Olivier Awards with Rachel Zegler, Elaine Paige, Rosamund Pike and the Paddington team
Tom Fletcher
Paddington team member
Paddington the Musical
Episode: 158. Bonus episode: Behind-the-scenes at the Olivier Awards with Rachel Zegler, Elaine Paige, Rosamund Pike and the Paddington team
Rosamund Pike
Actor
Interalia
Episode: 158. Bonus episode: Behind-the-scenes at the Olivier Awards with Rachel Zegler, Elaine Paige, Rosamund Pike and the Paddington team
Calam Lynch
Actor playing Brian Epstein in Please Please Me
Kiln Theatre production
Episode: 156. Bonus episode: Calam Lynch and Noah Ritter discuss the Fifth Beatle in Please Please Me

Hosts

Alex Wood
Host of the podcast; managing editor at WhatsOnStage; frequent interviewer and co-presenter, with a focus on theatre criticism and storytelling.
Sarah Crompton
Chief theatre critic and co-host; contributes critical insights and interview-driven content.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 112 ratings
  • The best British theatre podcast

    Each episode offers a rich discussion between two journalists who clearly love and are extremely knowledgeable about theatre. A must listen for all theatre fans

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lukey Likes Games
    Germany2 months ago
  • Great Podcast

    I have always enjoyed this podcast. Really interesting topics and discussions around the world of arts and theatre. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    G4amer6
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Needs to be better

    Alex and Sarah spend most of their time talking about the art of criticism, the industry of being a critic and their jobs, rather than actually reviewing what’s on stage. More straightforward theatre reviews please, fewer internal discussions. It’s too self indulgent.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Gooner N7
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Great podcast but weird editing!

    I really enjoy this podcast (special mention for the brilliant James Graham interview a few months ago). However, the edits for commercial breaks usually arrive halfway through a sentence. It is bizarre! If anything, I am more inclined to forward through the ads than let them play.

    Advertisers please note!!

    Even plays do not break for interval mid-sentence!! I would have rated 5 stars but for this annoyance..

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Coolerthanapopsicle
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Pinkwashing, whilst supporting hate

    Have now unsubscribed from your podcast - after your absolute Pinkwashing this Pride Month, You can't use a Progress Pride flag as your avatar, whilst promoting the work of a billionaire who has set up a fund to strip away the legal rights of LGBTQ+ people. You, Alex and Sarah, are complicit in the hate, hurt and murder of LGBTQ+ people - and are profiting from that too. #Shameonyou

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lazarusheart
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Pinkwashing, whilst supporting hate: strong negative feedback on Pride Month messaging.
Love: positive reception and requests for more episodes.
Great women Talking About theatre & Life: praise for female-led discussions.
What a treat!: appreciation for behind-the-scenes perspectives.
More please: eagerness for more episodes.
Needs to be better: listeners want more straightforward theatre reviews.
Great podcast but weird editing!: audience notes on ad breaks interrupting sentences.
Interesting & informative podcast: endorsements from actors/actresses.
Love: sound quality and diction improvements needed.
Fascinating: accessible to non-theatre audiences while informative.
Learn something new every episode!: listeners feel educated and inspired by industry insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

162. Bonus episode: The man shaking up the West End with experimental work
Q: Can you just sort of talk about where this started for you?
Omar explains that translating the 19th-century Kleinist novella into English during the George Floyd protests sparked a meaningful echo with current calls for justice, which motivated the adaptation and aligned the project with a strong, timely storytelling approach.
156. Bonus episode: Calam Lynch and Noah Ritter discuss the Fifth Beatle in Please Please Me
Q: Calam, how's it all going?
Calam and Noah describe a productive rehearsal period with strong, collaborative energy and a growing sense of the production's momentum.
151. Bonus episode: Into the Woods has a new Witch and we meet her
Q: What was your first impression of the witch as a character?
The character offers a blend of humor and terror, with a past that drives her trauma and a longing for love, which I'm eager to explore.
154. Bonus episode: Sadie Sink, Noah Jupe, Clare Perkins and Clark Gregg talk time-hopping Romeo and Juliet
Q: First question is, did you have any prior experience with Shakespeare, either at school or anything like that that you can talk to me about?
Sadie Sink describes her school Shakespeare exposure, how meeting Rob Icke and his approach reframed her view of Shakespeare, and how the process felt like a pivotal personal and artistic turning point that she felt she needed to pursue the project.
137. Bonus episode: Newly announced Jonathan Larson Project cast talk the legacy of the RENT composer
Q: Can you talk a bit about the role you played in Rent and what it meant to you?
Max describes playing Mark and Roger in different productions, reflecting on how formative those experiences were in discovering his voice and identity as a performer.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The WhatsOnStage Podcast

What is The WhatsOnStage Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly, conversation-driven show hosted by two senior theatre voices who discuss current events, industry trends, and thematic debates across theatre, film, and television. Episodes mix news and viewpoints with long-form interviews and behind-the-scenes conversations that illuminate how productions are staged, marketed, and received. Listeners get sharp, insider takes on the theatre ecosystem, from West End and fringe to screen adaptations, plus first-hand accounts from actors and writers about creating and staging work. A standout trait is the duo's balance of critical analysis with industry insider access, often pairing candid discussions about criticism with interviews that reveal the human stories behind productions.

Overall it stand... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The WhatsOnStage Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The WhatsOnStage Podcast:

1. MickeyJoTheatre
2. The Rest Is Entertainment
3. Taskmaster The Podcast
4. Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
5. This Cultural Life

How many episodes of The WhatsOnStage Podcast are there?

The WhatsOnStage Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 229 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The WhatsOnStage Podcast?

Recent guests on The WhatsOnStage Podcast include:

1. Omar Elerian
2. Jethro Compton
3. Elaine Paige
4. James Hamid
5. Artie Shaw
6. Eliza Lumley
7. Tom Fletcher
8. Rosamund Pike

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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