250 Interviews: 25 most popular interviews in West End Frame history

Yesterday we published West End Frame's 250th interview with Beautiful's Katie Brayben, so to celebrate below is a list of the twenty-five most popular interviews in West End Frame history! 

1. Ashley Day

After winning West End Frame's Understudy Of The Year Award for The Book of Mormon

Published December 2013

2. Sierra Boggess

Whilst playing Fantine in Les Misérables

Published November 2012

250th Interview: Katie Brayben, starring as Carole King in Beautiful

Fresh from winning Best Actress in a Musical at the 2015 Olivier Awards last Sunday (5th April), we are thrilled to reveal that West End Frame’s 250th interview is with Katie Brayben!

Katie is currently starring as Carole King in the West End premiere of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical which opened at the Aldwych Theatre in February. The show is based on the early life and career of Carole King. As well as winning an Olivier, Katie has received tremendous critical and public acclaim for her portrayal of the legendary singer/songwriter. Many have labelled her performance as career-defining. 

She most recently played Princess Diana in King Charles III which transferred from the Almeida Theatre to the West End. Her credits also include: American Psycho (Almeida), Joking Apart (Nottingham/Salisbury Playhouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Ragtime (both Regent’s Park Open Air), 13 (National), Company (Southwark), John and Jen (Landor), Friday 4pm (Arcola), Counted? (Tour), The Great British Fete (Bush Theatre), Mamma Mia! (West End/International Tour), Return to the Forbidden Planet (Tour) and Some Girls are Bigger than Others (Lyric Hammersmith/Tour). 

I recently spoke to Katie about her whirlwind journey with Beautiful, what it’s like to take on such an almighty role and how it felt to meet Carole King on opening night…

The last few months have been crazy for you! From meeting Carole King on opening night, receiving rave reviews and then winning an Olivier Award! Have you had a chance to sit down and take it all in?

What’s weird is that it has been such a whirlwind, right from auditioning for the part up until now. I don’t think there is a way of sitting down and taking in what has happened, especially while I’m still in it. Maybe in a couple of years I’ll go, ‘oh yeah – that happened!’ [laughs]. It’s so weird for all this to be happening to me, I just feel like I’m watching somebody else’s life; it’s almost like I’m looking at it from the outside. It’s a very bizarre time!

Big Interview: Jim Dale – “I wouldn’t change anything!”

Following a successful off-Broadway run, Jim Dale is bringing his one man show Just Jim Dale to the West End next month.

The production will open at the Vaudeville Theatre (where Jim made his West End musical debut in 1965 in The Wayward Way) on 28th May (previews from 26th May) for a limited season until 20th June 2015.

The Tony Award winner, two-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Academy Award nominee is best known in the UK for starring in eleven Carry On films and in the US for narrating the Harry Potter audiobook series and starring in the ABC series Pushing Daisies. 

From starting out as the youngest professional comedian on the British Music Hall stage, Jim’s career has been remarkably varied; he is a singer, dancer, comedian, Shakespearean actor, musical theatre star and raconteur. In Just Jim Dale, Jim takes audiences on a journey through an unequalled career in the theatre with a myriad of irresistible showbiz tales, songs and performances. 

In 1970 Sir Laurence Olivier invited Jim to join the National Theatre as a leading actor. As well as originating the title role in Barnum opposite Glenn Close, Jim’s Broadway credits include Scapino, Joe Egg, Me And My Girl, Candide and The Threepenny Opera. He also played Fagin in Oliver at the London Palladium in 1995.

I recently sat down with Jim to discuss how he knew the time was right to write Just Jim Dale and why he thinks the show will surprise people. We also talked about his incredible career, how he created Barnum's big entrance and why he doesn't have an agent... plus Miss Saigon's Richard Maltby Jr (director of Just Jim Dale) popped in for a chat...

Is a one man show something you had been thinking about doing for a while? I read somewhere that you first had the idea in 1973!

That’s true! I’ll tell you what, in 1973 I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve been doing this since 1955 so that’s twenty years of experience I could put into a one man show.’ But now I realise I wouldn’t have had much to put in it! I think it would have been nice to do this maybe ten years ago, I was probably more agile and could have done it for much longer… once I get that ramp leading up to the stage for a wheelchair in ten years we’ll do it [laughs]. Anyway, the fact is after all these years there are obviously so many more memories and so many more things that have happened. In 1975 I was not who I am now; I thought I knew it all – that’s what we all think in the early days, but then you realise that you’re still learning.

Big Interview: Gary Watson, starring as Nick Massi in Jersey Boys

Gary Watson recently joined the West End production of Jersey Boys at the Piccadilly Theatre as Nick Massi. 

Jersey Boys has been seen by over 19 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End's longest running and most popular shows. It tells the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks.

In 2013 Gary finished as a runner-up in West End Frame’s Understudy of the Year Award for covering the role of Zach in A Chorus Line (London Palladium).

His West End credits also include: Rudolpho in Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre/RSC), Marius in Les Miserables (Queen's Theatre), Evita (Adelphi Theatre) and Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Victoria Theatre). 

Gary’s further credits include: Norman in Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (Stratford East), G.K Chesterton in Finding Neverland (Leicester Curve), Claude in Hair (Slovenia), Sky in Mamma Mia! (International Tour) and Rum Tum Tugger in Cats (National Tour).

He also recently appeared in the television adaptation of Victoria Wood’s That Day We Sang (BBC2), Kenneth Branagh’s film of Cinderella (Walt Disney Productions) and Kiss Me, Kate for the 2014 proms, the performance was later televised on BBC2 on Christmas Day.

I recently spoke to Gary about joining Jersey Boys, taking over BBC2’s Christmas schedule last year and why understudying Zach in A Chorus Line was one of the most terrifying things he has ever done… 

When was the first time you saw Jersey Boys?

I saw the show very early on at the Prince Edward, I think it was during its first year and I hadn’t seen it since. I loved the show, it’s a great show for guys and I have always had my eye on it so feel very lucky to have got this role!

Was Nick the character you always had your eye on?

Yes, I was really drawn to him. He’s got some great comic moments; he’s this dry and sort of quirky character so I’ve always really liked him and when we started auditioning I was like ‘this fits me really well’. I’m really enjoying playing him so far. I think it all starts with the script because that’s your first point of reference. Your agent sends through the material and, I’ve been saying it from day one, Jersey Boys is so well written that the first time you read it out loud you know how you’re going to say it. With certain scripts for shows you have to work quite hard with the material to make it natural or whatever, but with Jersey Boys the text is so brilliantly concise and funny and sad and witty and powerful. It leaps off the page so it’s just a joy to perform.

Big Interview: Carolyn Maitland

Last year Carolyn Maitland won West End Frame’s Understudy of the Year Award for covering the role of Ellen in the West End revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre. 

Carolyn will depart the production next month to star as Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain at the Kilworth House Theatre.

Carolyn received huge acclaim for understudying Hannah Waddingham in Kiss Me, Kate at the Chichester Festival Theatre and Old Vic. She has understudied countless roles including Karen Holmes in From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury), Vivienne & Serena in Legally Blonde (Savoy), Lucy Harris in Jekyll & Hyde (UK Tour), Gabriella & Taylor in High School Musical 2 (UK Tour) and Serena, Mabel & Miss Bell in Fame (UK Tour). 

I recently met with Carolyn to discuss her whirlwind year in Miss Saigon, going on as Ellen with no rehearsal and her experience in Kiss Me, Kate as well as why she was thrilled to win WEF’s Understudy of the Year Award plus much, much more…

How familiar were you with Miss Saigon before being cast in the show?

I had never, ever seen Miss Saigon! My fiancé had worked in the sound team in the original. When I was called in to be seen they had been auditioning for months and months. It was a last minute call in; when we found out From Here To Eternity was going to close they called me and a few other girls in for understudy Ellen, I think that they’d had trouble finding the fit for what they wanted. Everyone always goes on about Ellen but I had never seen it before so turned to YouTube and read about it. After my first audition – where I just did my own songs – they sent through the new song ‘Maybe’ which was actually in a different key to what they use in the show now. It was a very long and hard song to learn until you really broke down the text – I thought the song was just so beautiful. I fell in love with it and it was at that point I really started getting excited about the part. 

Big Interview: Michael Urie

Michael Urie is currently starring in Buyer and Cellar at the Menier Chocolate Factory. 

Michael originated the role of Alex More in Jonathan Tolins' one-man play when it premiered off-off-Broadway. He then transferred with the show to off-Broadway where the piece became a major, sell out hit. Michael later reprised his performance for the play’s U.S. Tour.

Buyer and Cellar follows an out-of-work LA actor who gets a job in Barbra Streisand’s Malibu basement where she has created her very own, private shopping mall. As revealed in her 2010 'My Passion for Design' book, Streisand’s basement mall does exist; however, everything else about this play is fictionalised.

Michael is best known for his portrayal of Marc St James in Ugly Betty, and is also currently appearing in hit comedy Modern Family. For Buyer and Cellar, Michael received the Drama Desk Award, Clarence Derwent Award, and nominations for the Drama League and Outer Critics’ Circle awards. 

His other New York theatre work includes: How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying (Broadway), The Cherry Orchard (Classic Stage Company), Angels in America (Signature Theatre), The Temperamentals (off-Broadway), The Revenger’s Tragedy (Red Bull Theatre) and Another Vermeer (HB Playwrights). 

For television Michael’s work includes The Good Wife, Hot in Cleveland and Partners; and for film He’s Way More Famous Than You (also director), Thank You for Judging (co-director/exec producer), Beverly Hills Chihuahua, WTC View, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, The Decoy Bride, Petunia and Such Good People.

I recently spoke to Michael about bringing Buyer and Cellar to London, what he thought when he read the script for the very first time and the incredible journey the piece has taken him on…

When I first heard about Buyer and Cellar I thought it sounded absolutely crazy, but I was also very intrigued!

[laughs] I know!

What were your first impressions when you read Jonathan Tolins' script? I believe he was actually writing it with someone else in mind?
Well first he explained it to me and I thought, ‘Well that sounds nearly impossible and brilliant’! I had no idea how they would pull it off, but thought it was an amazing idea. I knew if anyone could pull it off it would be John Tolins because I knew him and his work really well. At the time we were working on a TV show together so I knew he was one of the cleverest of the bunch. When I read it I was correct; as you know when I read it I didn’t know I would be doing it… although he told me “This is for someone else, but I would love for you to do it some day”. I was happy for Jesse Tyler Ferguson and I wasn’t reading it with that terror of ‘how the hell am I going to do this’ which was nice.

Big Interview: Tim Driesen

Tim Driesen is currently starring as Frankie Valli in the first UK Tour of Jersey Boys, having previously played the role in the original Dutch production and for a short stint in the West End production. 

Jersey Boys has been seen by over 19 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End's longest running and most popular shows. It tells the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks.

In 2013 Tim was nominated for West End Frame’s Understudy of the Year Award for alternating the role of Drew in Rock Of Ages (Garrick). His West End credits also include: Adrian Banks/Mark Owen in Never Forget (Savoy/UK Tour), Mark in Rent In Concert (Garrick), Bat Boy The Musical (Shaftesbury) and Mamma Mia (Prince Edward).

Tim’s theatre credits also include: Young Ken Barlow in Coronation Street Of Dreams (MEN Arena), Galileo in We Will Rock You (Antwerp), Phoebus and Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris (Antwerp/Asian Tour), Starlight Express (UK Tour), The Rocky Horror Show (European Tour), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) and David Cassidy/Donny Osmond in Thank You For The Music (UK Tour).

As a passionate writer, Tim recently produced and released his debut album In My Corner. The album includes four songs written by Tim as well as three covers including Uptown Girl (Billy Joel), You Keep Me Hangin' On (The Supremes) and a medley of two Frankie Valli songs (My Eyes Adored You/Fallen Angel) from Jersey Boys.

I recently caught up with Tim to discuss his whirlwind year, how he looks after himself whilst playing Frankie and how he relates to the role, as well as why he’s proud of his debut album and which three songs he would take with him to a desert island…

Last time we spoke you were in Rock Of Ages about to go off to Holland to play Frankie for the first time. A lot has happened since then! Have you had a chance to take it all in?

Oh god yes, in our business you spend your life auditioning and when you get a job there is a period of time where you just have to enjoy it – when you just get a job you can’t start worrying about what is next. So when I went off to Holland to play Frankie for the first time I was like, ‘My life is pretty good right now’ but then the time came around to start auditioning again and I started panicking thinking, ‘Oh my god what am I going to do after Jersey Boys finishes in Holland?!’ But then they offered me the UK Tour which was amazing. It’s so important to enjoy it when something like this comes along! Anyone who has played Frankie will probably tell you that it is the best job for a male in musical theatre – it’s basically the male Elphaba!

Big Interview: Sharon D. Clarke

Known for her immense diversity, Sharon D. Clarke is one of theatre’s most respected performers. She is currently playing the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at the Rose Theatre Kingston.

Sharon’s West End credits include playing General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls, Joanne in Rent, Miss Sherman in Fame, Rafiki in The Lion King, Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, Mama Winter in Mama I Want to Sing and Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray. 

She famously created the role of Killer Queen in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre as well as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, and for both roles she was nominated for Olivier Awards. Last year Sharon won her first Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Amen Corner at the National Theatre.

Just a few of Sharon’s further theatre credits include: Porgy and Bess (Regents Park Open Air), Mother Goose, Blues in the Night and Vagina Monologues (all Hackney Empire), Once On This Island (Nottingham Playhouse), Lift Off (Curve), Stepping Out (Albery), Once on this Island (Olivier nomination/Birmingham Rep) and Little Shop of Horrors (Leicester Haymarket). 

As well as playing Lola Griffin in Holby City, Sharon’s screen credits include: You, Me &Them II, Death in Paradise, New Tricks, Psychobitches, The Shadow Line, Casualty, Boo!, The Crust, Waking the Dead, Stop, Look, Listen, The Singing Detective, Sugarhouse, Secret Society and Beautiful People.

I recently spoke to Sharon about taking on her first Shakespeare, the diversity of her career, which role she always had her eye on, winning her first Olivier Award and her dream of working with Quincy Jones…

You constantly surprise people by playing completely different roles. What was it that drew you to Sally Cookson's production of Romeo and Juliet?

It’s my first Shakespeare – my first legitimate Shakespeare! I did some Shakespeare workshops at Battersea Arts Centre in my early twenties, but I’ve never been asked to do a Shakespeare! So that was a big, big draw and the Nurse is such a fantastic role that everyone talks about so I was so pleased to be able to do it.