Princess Donnough is an icon. After making her West End debut as an understudy in I’m Sorry, Prime Minister, she was quickly “bumped up” to leading the show night after night – a whirlwind experience that would test any performer’s nerve.

But if that sounds intense, it’s nothing compared to her time with Sh*tfaced Shakespeare.

In this episode, Princess takes us inside one of the most gloriously chaotic shows in theatre – where one performer is absolutely smashed and the rest of the cast have to somehow keep a Shakespeare play on track. From audience members being dragged onstage to impromptu dance breaks and theatre mayhem, she shares what it’s really like to perform in a show where anything can (and does) happen.

Princess also introduces us to her unforgettable stage persona Levi, explains why she keeps coming back to the madness, and offers a survival guide to dealing with the world’s worst hanxiety.

Alongside the chaos, we hear about her meteoric rise in the West End, and Princess reflects on her journey into an industry she didn’t grow up around, what kept her going through those early years of graft, and why she’s so passionate about making sure everyone gets their shot.

This is an episode about resilience, risk, and the joy of letting go – and a reminder of exactly what makes the West End so special.

Princess Donnough – You’re On Tonight

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

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Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan.

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

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James Haxby is an understudying legend. He’s worked on some of the biggest shows in the world - from 9 to 5 to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where he covered the iconic role of Willy Wonka.

But when James understudies - he goes all in. He tells us how he covered fourteen roles in a single production, and is currently understudying Beetlejuice on its Australian and international tour, stepping into the shoes of the role’s creator, Eddie Perfect.

In this episode, James shares what it’s really like to cover such legendary parts, and how connecting with other covers across the world became a lifeline in some of the most high-pressure moments of his career.

Along the way, he takes us inside his time performing with the Pop-Up Globe in Australia and New Zealand – from ‘original practice’ Shakespeare to sweating it out in full armour in 40-degree heat. He also tells the story of being pushed onstage on opening night of his first understudying job - handed a script, a shot of whiskey, and told simply to get onstage.

We also dive into the surprising differences between working in the UK and Australia - and why it’s not just about the weather.

But more than anything, this is an episode about resilience. From struggling to find work in Australia, to moving across the world to go to drama school, to nearly giving up on acting altogether - before one final audition changed everything.

James Haxby - You’re On Tonight.

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

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Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan.

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

youreontonight@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/youreontonight

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Denia is quite simply one of the loveliest people we’ve ever had in the studio - and one with the most strings to his bow (pun intended).

In 2025, Sam understudied in Stereophonic - the most Tony Award-nominated play in history. In this episode, he gives us a fascinating insight into what it’s like to work on a show of that scale, covering performances from an extraordinary cast including actors who have won Tony Awards for the very roles he covered, as well as Olivier Award nominees such as Zachary Hart (nominated for Stereophonic and The Seagull).

But Sam’s role went far beyond covering actors. In a show built around a live band, we hear how Sam also had to be ready to step in with instruments - a completely different kind of pressure that demands precision, musicality, and total calm under fire.

Alongside this, Sam talks about taking on the iconic role of Frank Spencer in a stage adaptation of Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, and what it was like bringing such a beloved, well-known character to life again.

More than anything, this is an episode about what happens when people truly support one another, and about the quiet encouragement and generosity that stays with you long after you’ve finished a job.

Sam Denia - You’re On Tonight.

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

Instagram @youreontonight

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Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan.

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

youreontonight@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/youreontonight

www.youtube.com/youreontonight

www.tiktok.com/youreontonight

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura White is an inspiration. Not only has she been in everything in the last decade from The Play That Goes Wrong to BBC’s Doctors, she’s also been one of the leading voices shaping the culture of British theatre.

Laura has incredible stories from her time understudying – from being called back to play a role she’d not performed for over three years, to what it’s like when The Play That Goes Wrong… goes wrong.

But this episode is also about something much more.

In 2020, Laura set up the Page One Project – a mentorship programme supporting emerging artists from the global majority. At the same time, she began working with Applause For Thought, providing mental health support for actors and artists in the creative community.

Laura tells us why she works so passionately to support others in the industry, why it’s important to ask for help, and how her experience understudying in the West End made her realise she could be the change she needed to see.

Laura White - You’re on Tonight

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

Instagram @youreontonight

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Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan.

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan Armstrong has been in some of the most exciting shows in the world. From Cats, to Avenue Q, and currently The Producers, Megan has been an understudy, swing, and principal throughout her career.

But she has also played one of the most famous - and secretive - roles in the history of theatre. In 2021, Megan was hired to play ‘The Woman’ in the long-running West End production The Woman In Black.

And she wasn’t allowed to tell a soul.

We find out what it was like to play a role shrouded in secrecy, our most last minute you're on tonight story ever and what happens when touring shows overseas and things get lost in translation. We hear tales of trampoline terror, missing entrances, and why it's okay to not want to do eight shows a week.

Megan Armstrong - You’re On Tonight.

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

Instagram @youreontonight

TikTok @youreontonight

YouTube @youreontonight

Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan.

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

youreontonight@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/youreontonight

www.youtube.com/youreontonight

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Georgie Staight is working on some of the most exciting and dynamic productions in theatre today. From Hamlet at the National Theatre to the West End and Broadway smash-hit Operation Mincemeat, she’s built a career shaping performances both on and off stage.

But what does a director actually do?

In this episode, Georgie pulls back the curtain on the rehearsal room. She explains the different roles a director plays throughout a process, the crucial differences between a director and an associate director, and what it really takes to build trust with a cast.

We also talk about what it’s like to work on one of the biggest hits in theatre, and the fascinating differences between working in the West End and on Broadway - from rehearsal culture to performance pressure.

Along the way, Georgie shares her experiences working with comedy duo Flo and Joan, why she’s such a champion of new writing, and answers the question every actor and creative wants to know: how do you actually network with integrity?

This is an episode about leadership, collaboration, and what it really takes to bring a show to life.

Georgie Staight - You’re On Tonight.

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

Instagram @youreontonight

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Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

youreontonight@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/youreontonight

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Marsan has built one of the most extraordinary acting careers in Britain. From Ray Donovan and Ridley Road to blockbusters like Vera Drake, Back to Black, and Sherlock Holmes, he’s almost never been off our screens. But now, for the first time, Eddie talks about his return to the stage after 24 years.

In May, Eddie appeared in the Young Vic’s production of An Oak Tree, where he was forced to step onstage - without ever having seen the script - and perform in front of a live audience. In this episode, Eddie talks honestly about what it was like to walk into that unknown, why he chose that moment to return to theatre, and how it felt to put his trust entirely in the hands of another actor.

Eddie is also fiercely passionate about the craft of acting. From profit-share theatre above pubs to Hollywood blockbusters, Eddie explains why he believes fantastic acting can be found everywhere, and why understudies deserve far more respect than they currently receive.

Along the way, we talk nepotism, working-class representation in the arts, and why he believes an actor should be able to play anyone.

Eddie Marsan - You're On Tonight.

If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

Instagram @youreontonight

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Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

youreontonight@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/youreontonight

www.youtube.com/youreontonight

www.tiktok.com/youreontonight

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Espallardo is a trailblazer. Not only has she appeared in some of the biggest musicals in the world (Les Miserables, Hamilton), she was also the first Asian person to play Elphaba in the West End’s Wicked. All before the age of 30.

Nicola has done what many only hope to do - she’s achieved her dream. In this episode she talks about not only how empowering that felt, but why it can also lead to the scariest moment in any career: figuring out what comes next.

Along the way, we hear truly sensational stories that shine a spotlight on what really goes on in theatre’s biggest shows. Nicola tells us about being hurriedly painted green when she had to go on mid-show for one of the most iconic roles in musical theatre, what happens when you forget your lines and your scene partner has to improvise you both a way out of it, and how to deal with audience members filming your performance night after night.

Nicola also shares the pride of being able to represent her community on stage, as well as explaining the pressures that run alongside that. She’s an incredible, inspiring guest in so many ways.

Nicola Espallardo, You’re on Tonight.

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If you enjoyed the show, you can follow us at:

Instagram @youreontonight

TikTok @youreontonight

YouTube @youreontonight

Get in contact at: youreontonight@gmail.com

Hosted by Kara Alberts-Turner & Liam Horrigan

Produced by and recorded at The Sound Company, London.

For The Sound Company: Dom Boucher, Luke Nagy, Gareth Wood & Nick Thackeray-Cron alongside Freya Baldwin & Seb Stone.

Show image by Louisa Sexton.

Produced by The Sound Company. www.sound.co.uk

Get in touch:

youreontonight@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/youreontonight

www.youtube.com/youreontonight

www.tiktok.com/youreontonight

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.