On this episode of Call To Stage, we're joined by the wonderfully warm, funny and refreshingly grounded Ben Irish.

Ben has become one of the West End's most reliable and versatile leading men. A self-confessed late starter — discovered through a work experience placement at an amateur theatre group in Portsmouth at the age of 15 — he trained at ArtsEd and has since built an impressive career across some of musical theatre's most beloved shows.

His credits include Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, Joe in 9 to 5 The Musical, Sky in Mamma Mia!, Sam in Ghost (which he also toured across Asia) and Hans in Frozen The Musical, which was filmed for Disney+.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Ben talk about coming to musical theatre late and why there is truly no right time or right way into this industry, the family feeling that comes with long runs and touring companies, and the very real emotional and practical challenges of life between jobs.

There are also stories from Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia! and Ghost, as well as conversations about setting boundaries, protecting your personal life and knowing when to say no — even when the jobs are good.

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We have a special solo episode of Call To Stage this week - as Amber opens up about her life recently.

Fresh off a difficult few weeks that have taken a real toll physically and emotionally, Amber sits down to share her side of the story in full: the illness, the press, the online trolling, and everything in between.

Amber also opens up about winning a WhatsOnStage Award for her performance as in The Great Gatsby — a role she describes as the most important contract of her career.

She also gets candid about the physical cost of going from Strictly Come Dancing straight into rehearsals for Legally Blonde with only a ten-day turnaround, and the chest and sinus infection that forced her off stage mid-run.

Amber also speaks openly about the wave of negative press and online trolling she has faced since being cast as Elle Woods - and she sets the record straight. She talks about finding her coping mechanisms, the importance of using her platform to speak out, and why she refuses to let it overshadow her dream role and the best year of her life.

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We're joined by the exceptionally talented and charismatic Billy Nevers on this episode of Call To Stage!

Billy trained at the Italia Conti Junior School before leaving early — at just 17 — to make his West End debut in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Barbican (and, later, the Regents Park Open Air Theatre). He also starred in the original West End cast of & Juliet, and played Lafayette and Jefferson on the Hamilton UK & Ireland Tour, before going on to cover and then take over the role of Aaron Burr.

Billy earned a Black British Theatre Award nomination for his work in Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Billy talk about their separate experiences in productions of Legally Blonde, Billy's journey through Hamilton (from Lafayette and Jefferson to covering and eventually taking over as Aaron Burr) and the impact of Billy's Black British Theatre Award nomination.

Plus, Billy shares his experience from leaving stage school early to launch straight into the West, and the emotional tug-of-war between not wanting to be on tour anymore and having the biggest opportunity of his life.

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We're joined by the candid, witty and magnetic John McCrea on this episode of Call To Stage!

John is one of the most distinctive actors working in British theatre today. Having stared his stage career in The Sound of Music at The Palladium, he went on to originate the role of Jamie New in Everybody's Talking About Jamie - earning an Olivier nomination and WhatsOnStage Award.

Most recently, John starred as the Emcee in Cabaret in the West End, and he currently stars in Slippery at the Omnibus Theatre.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and John talk about originating the role of Jamie New in Everybody's Talking About Jamie (from workshops to an Olivier nomination), life as a child performing at the Palladium and his reflections on not being a triple threat (and why it really doesn't matter).

John also shares stories from Cabaret, his on-screen roles in Disney's Cruella as well as Dracula as well as his Off Broadway adventures.

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We're joined by the outstanding talent that is Katie Hall on this episode of Call To Stage!

Katie has become one of the West End's most beloved leading ladies. From landing her first break - covering Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, straight out of school - she has played some of the most coveted roles in theatre, including Cosette and Fantine in Les Misérables (in the West End, UK Tour, European Tour, Arena World Tour and the iconic 25th Anniversary Concert), Maria in West Side Story (UK Tour) and Johanna in Sweeney Todd (London Coliseum).

Katie currently stars as Sally Bowles in the acclaimed West End production of Cabaret.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Katie talk about the whirlwind of leaving school and starting in the West End as a teenager, stepping into Sally Bowles in Cabaret as her dream role (and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it) and the reality of balancing life as a leading lady whilst raising two young children.

There are also plenty of stories from Les Misérables, Oklahoma and Sweeney Todd, as well as heartfelt conversations about when your dream role arrives at the perfect moment...

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On this episode of Call To Stage, we're joined by the endlessly thoughtful, funny and refreshingly honest Marc Antolin.

Marc has become one of the UK's most reliable leading men - and he's a triple threat! His career highlights include performing in the acclaimed Regents Park Open Air Theatre productions of Little Shop of Horrors (as Seymour) Hello, Dolly! and Into The Woods, as well as the West End production of Matilda The Musical.

Marc currently stars as Leo Bloom in the acclaimed West End revival of The Producers!

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Marc talk about the pressure tied to auditions, keeping performances fresh during long runs, shifting from ensemble to leading roles and how kindness and preparation are your greatest friends in a rehearsal room.

Marc also shares stories from his time in Little Shop of Horrors, the 20th Anniversary UK Tour of Rent and his current performance in The Producers.

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On this episode of Call To Stage we're joined by powerhouse performing and leading man Joel Harper-Jackson!

Joel's story starts with him leaving college early to join the 20th Anniversary tour of Rent. From there, he has played Charlie Price in the UK tour of Kinky Boots, as well as roles in Standing At The Sky's Edge (National Theatre & in the West End), the UK tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at The Aldwych Theatre, and Che in Evita in Europe.

Joel has just been announced to be taking on the role of Frank Sinatra in the major new West End show, Sinatra The Musical.

On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Joel talk about finding calm in the chaos, the emotional comedown after career "peaks", understudying Jonathan Bailey and Taron Egerton in the West End production of Cock and how one self-tape ultimately transformed his career trajectory...

Plus there are stories from Rent, the West End production of Standing At The Sky's Edge and how he is inhabiting Frank Sinatra for his next role, proving that sometimes the parts people don’t expect you to play are the ones you were born for.

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We have a very special episode of Call To Stage for you... as we're taking you behind the scenes and into Amber's dressing for for a Call To Stage Vlog! This episode is only available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CilF3BUZzSE

Amber's taking you with her as she documents the lead-up to opening night - including tech rehearsals, the mysterious bug going around the Legally Blonde company and she's even joined by George Crawford (our Emmett!) for a catch-up.

Plus Amber shares her side to some of the discourse happening on TikTok around the show...

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