Pocket Size Theatre 5th Anniversary: Our Top 10 Interviews!

We have been lucky enough to interview some incredible performers, from all lines of work. We have collected together our top 10 most viewed interviews over our 5 years at Pocket Size Theatre and here they are! And what a selection of people we have. Click on the images to read the interviews. 

PANTOMIME REVIEW: Dick Whittington at the London Palladium

Last year Cinderella at the London Palladium raised the bar on the scale and production values invested in Christmas Pantomime in a way that few venues could compete with and set the challenge for Michael Harrison in directing this year production of Dick Whittington. 

  

You can literally see the time and effort invested in this year's show to make it feel bigger and better than last year with nine principles in the cast, twelve in the band and an ensemble of twenty two, all dressed in sumptuous costumes throughout by Ron Briggs with spectacular effects.

The Twins FX team create the huge special effects that are a signature of Qdos pantomimes and this show opens with a ridiculous over the top string of London buses carrying the shows title and then sets the tale in context with a giant rat voiced by last year's star Paul O'Grady. You can imagine someone challenging them to be bigger this year and suggesting flying a London double bus over the audience which they duly oblige at the end of act 1.

12 Brits who are flying the flag on Broadway!

Brits have been flying the flag on Broadway for years now, some huge names who have starred on Broadway include Julie Andrews, Carey Mulligan, Michael Xavier, Helen Mirren, Ruth Wilson and Catherine Zeta Jones, to name but a few! We wanted to take a look at some of the West End stars who are living the dream on the Great White Way! We focus on 12 performers who are all doing the West End proud! 

Olivia Phillip

Olivia made her West End debut in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre before appearing in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre and The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre. She went on to play Velma on board the Royal Caribbean before making the move over to America. She made her Broadway debut in Diaster! at the Nederlander Theatre in 2016 before featuring in the Broadway production of Waitress. She is currently part of the Original Broadway cast of Frozen, which opens in February 2018 having done an out of town try out in Denver. @OliviaPhillip ‏

Gavin Lee 

Gavin is a proven West End leading man; playing leads in Top Hat, Singin' in the Rain, Crazy For You, Peggy Sue Got Married, A Saint She Ain’t, Me And My Girl, Oklahoma! and Contact. Gavin made his Broadway debut playing Bert in Mary Poppins, a role he originated in London at the Prince Edward Theatre and later played the role on tour across America. He last played Thenadier in Les Miserables on Broadway and is currently playing Squidward Q. Tentacles in Spongebob Square Pants in the original Broadway cast. 

INTERVIEW: Charlie Stemp, currently starring as Arthur Kipps in HALF A SIXPENCE at the Noël Coward Theatre

How much of the original Tommy Steele film and stage adaptation inspired your portrayal of Kipps?

I’m afraid nothing at all – I have still not seen it to this day. I didn’t want it to interrupt with creating the role.

How do you feel your training at Laine aided your ascension to a leading man of the West End?

It gave me the foundation on which to build my career – their solid values of respect, patience and determination have formed the way I approach my work.

How long did it take you to master the banjo? 

8 weeks – it takes longer than you think!