Ann Marcuson and Elliot Mackenzie are playing Mrs Winthrop and Dickon in The Secret Garden at York Theatre Royal.

Marking the first major UK staging the musical in over a decade, John Doyle is directing this actor-musician production and working alongside Catherine Jayes as Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator.

Ann and Elliot are reuniting onstage for this production, having previously performed together in the West End cast of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which won the 2025 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

Ann's theatre credits include: These Demons (Theatre503), Two Ladies (Bridge Theatre), The Mighty Walzer (Royal Exchange Theatre), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre/Gielgud Theatre), The Family Reunion (Donmar Warehouse), I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls (Watermill Theatre/Tricycle Theatre), Bloodhound, The Glass Slipper (Northern Stage), Little Wolf’s Book of Badness and Hard Love (Hampstead Theatre).

Elliot's theatre credits include: Lord of the Rings, Whistle Down the Wind (Watermill Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK tour), Million Dollar Quartet (UK tour/India tour), The Misadventures Of Pinocchio, Dick Whittington, Aladdin (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch), Zog (Rose Theatre Kingston/UK tour) and A Christmas Carol (Rose Theatre Kingston).

In this episode, Ann and Elliot discuss what it has been like to work on The Secret Garden, the art of actor-musicianship and their whirlwind journey with Benjamin Button.

The Secret Garden runs at York Theatre Royal until 4th April. Visit www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins

@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

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Desmonda Cathabel has just finished her run as Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown.

She’s now in rehearsals to star as Lily Turner in Rosie: A New Musical. The show will be performed as a one-night-only semi-staged gala at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 17th March.

Rosie tells the true story of Miss Rosie Boote, who was raised in a convent in Ireland and dreamt of becoming a star on the West End stage in Edwardian London. The show has book, music and lyrics by Chris Broom.

Desmonda is from Indonesia and came to the UK to train at the Royal Academy of Music. She won the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year in 2022.

Desmonda was a quarter finalist in the ITV casting show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream. Her theatre credits include alternate Kim in Miss Saigon (Sheffield Crucible), Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin (UK & Ireland Tour) and From Here To Eternity (Charing Cross Theatre).

Desmonda performed in Maria Friedman’s solo show at Crazy Coqs and the Menier Chocolate Factory, and was later directed by Maria in the star-studded Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends concert.

Recorded the morning after her final performance in Hadestown, in this episode Desmonda discusses what it was like to say goodbye to the show and what playing Eurydice meant to her.

She also delves into how she came to be involved with Rosie and why she loves new work, plus her path through the industry so far, Asian representation in theatre, reflections on Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream and lots more.

Rosie plays the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 17th March. Visit www.rosiethemusical.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins

@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

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

Laura Harrison is playing Mrs Lyons in the touring production of Blood Brothers.

Laura is also the alternate Mrs Johnstone and has history with the show, having previously played Donna Marie and Miss Jones whilst understudying Mrs Lyons. Written by Willy Russell, Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in the West End and has toured extensively.

Laura was Standby Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked, having previously been in the show’s ensemble whilst understudying Elphaba. Laura was in Jamie Lloyd's West End revival of Sunset Boulevard, understudying for Norma Desmond. Her theatre credits also include: Magenta in Rocky Horror, Vivienne in Legally Blonde, Lucille in Parade and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.

In this episode Laura discusses her return to Blood Brothers and what it’s like to be covering one of her dream roles, Mrs Johnstone. She also takes a deep dive into her Elphaba journey and some of the remarkable moments from her time in Oz. Laura also reflects on Sunset Boulevard and how she's navigating her the industry after some major career highs... and lots more pops up along the way.

Blood Brothers tours the UK. Visit www.kenwright.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins

@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

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