エピソード

  • 95 - Ben Forster on Phantom Of The Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar & Surprise Opportunities
    2025/11/26

    We're joined by the dynamic and highly talented Ben Forster on this episode of Call To Stage!

    You might recognise Ben winning ITV's Superstar competition back in 2012 which resulted in him playing the lead role of Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of Jesus Christ Superstar in its 2012 Arena Tour.

    Since then, he has Buddy The Elf in Elf The Musical in the West End, and has played The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera in the West End, Greece, Japan and on the World Tour.

    On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ben talk about his experiences on TV, training at Italia Conti and Ben's experiences in productions including Thriller Live and Phantom.

    They also discuss Ben's venture into pop music, Amber's secret love for Elf The Musical and the incredible travelling opportunities that musical theatre can provide you.

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    32 分
  • 94 - Brian Conley on 9 To 5, Onstage Mishaps & Back To The Future
    2025/11/19

    We have showbiz royalty on this episode of Call To Stage - Amber is joined by the legendary Brian Conley!

    Alongside his numerous television appearances (hosting the Royal Variety Performance eight times and winning numerous National Television Awards), Brian is amongst the UK's most accomplished theatre performers.

    Brian has played the lead in some of the most notable musicals in the world - including the West End productions of Me and My Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hairspray and A Christmas Carol, as well as the UK Tours of Oliver! (as Fagin) and Barnum. He was nominated for an Olivier for his performance in the West End production of Jolson.

    Most recently, Brian performed as Doc Brown in the West End production of Back To The Future: The Musical.

    On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Brian talk about sharing the stage in 9 To 5 - including onstage mishaps, backstage chaos... and Brian being suspended on the air for half the show!

    They also talk about their separate experiences at Back To The Future and Strictly Come Dancing as well as stories from Hairspray and Brian's 40 years doing pantomimes! Plus - the ultimate trick if you ever forget your lines on stage.

    For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    35 分
  • 93 - Roxanne Couch on Hamilton, Drama School & Six The Musical
    2025/11/12

    We have the radiant and ridiculously talented Roxanne Couch on this episode of Call To Stage!

    Born and raised in California and now one of the most exciting new performers in the West End, Roxanne has already made waves as part of Six and Hamilton. Roxanne's story is one of passion, commitment and saying yes to the life she dreamed of.

    On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Roxanne talk about the cultural changes between Silicon Valley and London, the strict (and slightly chaotic) reality of drama school and how to navigate nerves.

    They also dive into Roxanne’s journey from covering Seymour and playing Parr in Six, to becoming the Hamilton standby covering all three Schuyler Sisters — including the whirlwind mental gymnastics of switching between Eliza, Angelica and Peggy at a moment’s notice!

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    32 分
  • 92 - Adam Bailey on Book of Mormon, World Tours & Starlight Express
    2025/11/05

    We’re back with another episode of Call To Stage — and this week Amber is joined by her fellow Welsh star and West End leading man, Adam Bailey!

    From performing in Starlight Express in Germany to the National Tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the South Korean Tour of Cats and now The Book of Mormon UK Tour - theatre has taken Adam all around the world.

    But it didn't start with After three years of drama school rejections, he finally earned a full scholarship to Lane Theatre Arts — proving that resilience really does pay off.

    On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Adam dive into everything from finding your stage name (and how his came from a bottle of Baileys!) to surviving eight-show weeks as Elder Price. They talk about the realities of touring life, learning to protect your mental health and why it’s okay to admit when “the show must go on” doesn’t always serve the performer.

    Adam opens up about his early career skating through Starlight Express, touring South Korea with Cats, landing his big break in Priscilla and the brotherhood he found in Jersey Boys — including his long-time friendship with Amber’s partner, Ben Joyce.


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    37 分
  • 91 - Victoria Hamilton-Barritt on Hadestown, ADHD & Cinderella
    2025/10/29

    This week's episode is one you do not want to miss! It's one of our most highly requested guests who has taken over the musical theatre world... it's Victoria Hamilton-Barritt.

    You may have recently seen Victoria’s unbelievable performance as Persephone in Hadestown or you're getting ready to see her take over the Westend stage as she is originating the role of Millicent Clyde in the upcoming Paddington: The Musical.

    Victoria has been nominated for some incredible awards (multiple times) including a Grammy, Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award - she just doesn't stop! She also has worked with big names like Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) where she accompanied him on tour where she performed songs from his musical Moonshadow.

    On this episode, Victoria and Amber discuss how humbling the musical theatre industry can be, both training at Urdang and Victoria recalls the crazy story of how she got the role of Persephone in Hadestown.


    For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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    34 分
  • 90 - Sharlene Hector on Going From Music To Musicals, Hercules & Perseverance
    2025/10/22

    We’re back with another episode of Call To Stage — and this week Amber is joined by the powerhouse vocalist, storyteller and all-round goddess Sharlene Hector!

    From Basement Jaxx to Hairspray, Dreamgirls, A Strange Loop, Standing at the Sky’s Edge and now Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Sharlene’s journey is one of fearless leaps and undeniable talent.

    Having started out singing in church and touring the world as a session singer before ever stepping foot on a musical theatre stage, her story proves that trusting your gut can take you exactly where you’re meant to be.

    In this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Sharlene talk about breaking into theatre without formal training, her life-changing leap from temp work to global tours with Basement Jaxx, and how lockdown unexpectedly opened the door to her first West End role.

    They dive into the sisterhood of Hercules’ Muses, dealing with burnout on Dreamgirls, standing strong through racism during A Strange Loop and the emotional power of representation.


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    32 分
  • 89 - Idriss Kargbo on Burlesque, Wicked, Child Acting & Sylvia Young
    2025/10/15

    If you're looking for the most exciting names in musical theatre... we've got you sorted on Call To Stage! And that's especially true for this week's guest.

    Idriss Karbo has emerged as one of the most exciting actors gracing the West End at the moment.

    Most recently starring in Burlesque in the West End, as well as the West End transfers of Austenland and I Wish You Well - The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical, Idriss is known for his infectious smile and ability to inhabit larger-than-life characters, from Boq in the West End transfer of Wicked to Donkey in the UK Tour of Shrek The Musical at just 18 years old.

    Idriss also featured in the 2025 remake of Disney’s Snow White as Bingley.

    On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Idriss talk about performing as a child (in productions of The Lion King, Oliver! and more), transferring a show from the Fringe, “the best year of his life” in Wicked and his current experience in Burlesque.

    Idriss also shares his experience of overcoming his parents skepticism around acting, touring the UK with Shrek and his experiences across film and TV.


    For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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    34 分
  • 88 - Taila Halford on The Devil Wears Prada, Shucked & The Power of Delusion
    2025/10/08

    We're back with an exciting episode of Call To Stage - as Amber is joined by your next Emily in The Devil Wears Prada... Taila Halford!

    Taila makes both her Principle and West End debut with the role from this Autumn - having already performed in School of Rock on a tour of Asia, Cats on Royal Caribbean cruises and Shucked at Regents Park Open Air Theatre.

    On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Taila talk about life between contracts, keeping the faith through rejection and behind the scenes stories from performing on cruise ships!

    Taila also takes us inside performing in Shucked alongside Ben Joyce and they chat about building resilience and why “being a little bit delusional” might actually be a performer’s superpower.


    For more bonus content, join the Call To Stage Backstage Pass on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/calltostage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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    33 分