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MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast

MusicalTalk
The Boys From Syracuse
Musical Theatre
Come From Away
London
Little Shop Of Horrors
Off-West End Revival
Richard Rodgers
Ruddigore
Starlight Express
Why Am I So Single
Hello Dolly
Gilbert and Sullivan
Orchestration
Ben Levy
September 11, 2001
The Emu War
The Wellbrick Centre On Roswell Drive
Wilton's Music Hall
Larry Hart
Theatre

We are a weekly podcast devoted to bringing you news, views, reviews, interviews and much more content devoted to musical theatre and film. We discuss composers, writers, actors, theatres and shows and encourage listeners to join in. Visit our site at musicaltalk.co.uk

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1006Founded20 years ago
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Arts

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Latest Episodes

MusicalTalk marks the 75th anniversary of the death of Ivor Novello, one of the greatest British musical theatre writers of the 20th Century in opulant style! Join Thos for the first half of a fascinating conversation with the people behind the 2025 ... more

After many, many years, MusicalTalk Mini returns!

In this revived short-form format, David Herzog brings his expert eye to the Welsh National Theatre's touring production of Our Town. With its stripped-back staging, timeless themes, and delicate ba... more

In this episode of MusicalTalk, Nick and Hannah take a candid and wide-ranging look at four very different theatrical experiences: Titanique, The Little Mermaid's ill-fated "Sea Witch", Into the Woods, and The Choir of Man.

From the outrageous camp... more

In this episode, presenter Michael Gordon Shapiro speaks with multi-award-winning composer Stephen Weiner about his newest musical project: an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Stephen discusses the process of transforming Alexandre Dumas' e... more

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Recent Guests

Stephen Weiner
Composer and writer of musical theatre
Composer of Monte Cristo and other musicals
Episode: Episode 922: Countdown to Monte Cristo with Stephen Weiner
Serena Cherry
Musician (Svalbard) and solo project Knock Tool
Svalbard, Knock Tool
Episode: Episode 921: From Mosh Pit to Orchestra Pit (Feat. SVALBARD's Serena Cherry)
Gary Lloyd
Director, choreographer, creator, writer extraordinaire
Episode: Episode 920: Shining in Misery - A Stephen King Sized Parody!
Jason Wayhead
Director of Stranger Sings!
Dr. Phillips High School Theatre
Episode: Episode 917: Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody
Bianca Toledo
Actress playing Joyce Fires in Stranger Sings!
Dr. Phillips High School Theatre
Episode: Episode 917: Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody
Sarah Clark
Production Manager and Designer of Stranger Sings!
Dr. Phillips High School Theatre
Episode: Episode 917: Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody
Liz Robertson
Musical theatre veteran known for her role in My Fair Lady.
Episode: Episode 914: Singing with Nureyev and Living with Lerner: Liz Robertson Interview.
Amy Clare Tasker
Co-writer and director of The Queen is Mad
Episode: Episode 909: Mad for The Queen is Mad
Tom James McGrath
Co-writer and musical director of The Queen is Mad
Episode: Episode 909: Mad for The Queen is Mad

Host

Thos Ribbitts
Long-running host with multiple name spellings across episodes; key voice.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 86 ratings
  • Fantastic

    Brilliant podcast! Any musical theatre fan should listen! All the special episodes are my favs! All the special guests are amazing!!!!!! recommend to anyone.

    As for the guy who says it needs More music in it.... dude.... it’s not a radio show... or EP... podcasts are for discussions!!! Not radio. duh! Ha.

    Joking. Just enjoy the info you get here coz it’s fantastic

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A-Suz!
    United Kingdom8 years ago
  • Hilarious!

    This podcast is great. It's a podcast that does not take itself too seriously and therefore can be enjoyed by musical theater nerds or people that are simply curious about musical theatre going on in London or anywhere really. Job well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joanie Little
    Canada11 years ago
  • Wonderful

    A fantastic listen - doesn't take itself too seriously, nicely chatty and informative. Some good interviews hidden away. At its best when lighthearted in style.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PerfectSix
    United Kingdom14 years ago
  • Take a listen, you won't regret it!

    Just absolutely brilliant. I've been an avid listener of this podcast since 2007 and it's never failed to entertain me. Not only is it hilarious - I've had to pause it at times as I was laughing so hard - it is also informative, and a great incite to the world of Musical Theatre. If you have ANY doubts about listening to this podcast, please put them aside and take a listen. You'll be very glad you did.

    Oh, if you're not already, go follow the MusicalTalk team on Twitter at @musicaltalk

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dreamscomekaren
    United Kingdom14 years ago
  • Frank Loesser at 100

    Guessing at facts, and often guessing wrong, and carrying on at length about songs not by Loesser.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    A. Memmo
    United States14 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows are informative and entertaining, with great guest lineups and insider theatre knowledge.
Positive feedback highlights the show's accessibility and breadth of topics across musical theatre history and current productions.
Listeners praise the balance of humor and depth, plus strong interviews with industry professionals.

Top Arts Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 922: Countdown to Monte Cristo with Stephen Weiner
Q: What is the ensemble and orchestration approach for the off-Broadway production?
The project uses a seven-musician ensemble to maintain intimacy and manage space constraints, with ongoing tweaks to orchestrations led by David Hancock-Turner, aiming for a sound that feels both traditional and expansive enough for the material.
Episode 922: Countdown to Monte Cristo with Stephen Weiner
Q: How do you decide between working with public-domain properties vs. newer or rights-restricted works?
Weiner explains that public-domain titles offer built-in recognition, while rights-restricted properties come with higher rights complexity; both paths need careful consideration of audience awareness, potential reach, and production economics.
Episode 922: Countdown to Monte Cristo with Stephen Weiner
Q: For listeners unfamiliar with the source material, can you give a quick view of your version of the story within Monte Cristo?
We discuss that the show is a freely adapted blend of the novel and Fechner's play, focusing on Edmond Dantès's unjust imprisonment, his transformation into the Count of Monte Cristo, and the moral questions of revenge versus love, with modern-heat emotional moments suitable for musical theatre.
Episode 921: From Mosh Pit to Orchestra Pit (Feat. SVALBARD's Serena Cherry)
Q: Why does Serena value memorable melodies and how does that relate to her work in metal?
She explains that she aims for pieces where a single motif can evoke wide emotional range, and she seeks that same evocative quality in metal, even when layered with distortion and intense performance.
Episode 921: From Mosh Pit to Orchestra Pit (Feat. SVALBARD's Serena Cherry)
Q: What's the premise of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and why did it resonate so much?
It's about a man in midlife who, after receiving a letter about a dying friend, decides to walk across the UK to deliver it, turning a personal moment into a poignant exploration of grief and forgiveness, which deeply moved the theatre audience.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About MusicalTalk

What is MusicalTalk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively, UK-centric discussion focused on musical theatre, with frequent interviews and deep dives into shows, productions, and industry culture. Episodes mix current West End chatter, historical trivia, and creator-led conversations, often pairing guests from theatre, directing, and performance with playful critique and insider storytelling. Noteworthy is the show's willingness to explore crossovers between genres, celebrate niche productions, and feature seasoned theatrical professionals, making it a strong fit for listeners who crave behind-the-scenes insights and theatre history alongside show recommendations.

Where can I find podcast stats for MusicalTalk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for MusicalTalk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to MusicalTalk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does MusicalTalk get?

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What are the audience demographics for MusicalTalk?

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How many subscribers and views does MusicalTalk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers MusicalTalk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to MusicalTalk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with MusicalTalk:

1. The West End Frame Show: Theatre News, Reviews & Chat
2. A Musical Theatre Podcast
3. The WhatsOnStage Podcast
4. Putting It Together
5. Behind the Awards with Eila Mell & Bruce Gotlieb

How many episodes of MusicalTalk are there?

MusicalTalk launched 20 years ago and published 1006 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact MusicalTalk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for MusicalTalk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for MusicalTalk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for MusicalTalk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of MusicalTalk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on MusicalTalk?

Recent guests on MusicalTalk include:

1. Stephen Weiner
2. Serena Cherry
3. Gary Lloyd
4. Jason Wayhead
5. Bianca Toledo
6. Sarah Clark
7. Liz Robertson
8. Amy Clare Tasker

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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