Represent! - The Queermusicals.com podcast

You're listening to Represent, the queer musical theatre podcast. My name is Dr. James Lovelock and I'm an academic and a huge musical theatre fan exploring the representation of all things queer in the musical theatre industry. In this episode we are joined by Georgina Coram and Lucy Mackay from the cast of the Sheffield-based musical Gwenda's Garage. The musical is based on the stories of queer women who were involved in the real Gwenda's Garage in the 1980s and follows the characters through the political upheaval of Margaret Thatcher's Britain, including the enacting of Section 28 and the fight for the rights of queer people to adopt children. As always you can follow us on your favourite podcast platform and don't forget to share this episode on social media. Links Tickets for Gwenda's Garage at the Southwark Playhouse Georgina Coram on Instagram Lucy Mackay on Instagram Dr James Lovelock on Instagram Queermusicals on Instagram and website

Welcome to Represent, the queer musical theatre podcast. My name is Dr James Lovelock and I'm an academic and a huge musical theatre fan, exploring the representation of all things queer in the musical theatre industry. My guests today are the fabulous writer and director Robyn Grant and her astoundingly versatile collaborator Allie Dart, who is currently appearing in the comedy about spies at the Noel Coward Theatre. Robyn and Allie are the Victoria Wood and Julie Walters of our time, appearing together in the hit musical parodies Unfortunate, The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch and Wolverine, among many other productions. Today we discuss the art of collaboration, creating inspiring rehearsal rooms and Robyn's current project, Medusa. Links Robyn Grant's Instagram and website Allie Dart's Instagram Dr James Lovelock's Instagram Series Instagram and website New Musicals Unfortunate the untold story of Ursula the Sea Witch - a musical parody Trailer Instagram Spotify Apple Music Shipton: A New British Folk Musical Instagram MT Spotlights Tickets Buy tickets for Unfortunate the untold story of Ursula the Sea Witch - a musical parody at the Lowry Theatre in December Find out more about The Comedy About Spies.

Welcome to Represent, the queer musical theatre podcast. My name is Dr James Lovelock, and I’m an academic and a huge musical theatre fan exploring the representation of all things queer in the musical theatre industry. My guest today is the extraordinary actor and writer Lauryn Redding. Lauryn appeared as Nikki in the gorgeous West End musical Standing At The Sky’s Edge, and was the first writer and performer to open a show at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester after the pandemic with the wonderfully titled Bloody Elle. We discuss Lauryn’s current project Jack, based on the diaries of Anne Lister, and recent television role as Mel in Smoggie Queens, as well as exploring our hopes for female queer representation in musical theatre in the future. Links Lauryn Redding - Instagram Tiktok Dr James Lovelock - Instagram Represent the queer musical theatre podcast - Instagram Lauryn performs 'Open Up Your Door' from Standing at the Sky's Edge Standing at the Sky's Edge album and script Bloody Elle album, script and 2021 trailer Smoggie Queens on BBC iPlayer Signal Musicals YouTube channel Otherland script and trailer I Kissed A Girl on BBC iPlayer The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs script and trailer

In this week's episode from Podstream Studios in New York, Dr James Lovelock talks to actors Evan Kinnane and Ben Jackson Walker about LGBTQ+ representation on Broadway and beyond. We talk about Evan's role as Marc Hall in the 2020 production of The Louder We Get at Theatre Calgary in Canada, and about Ben's current role as Romeo in & Juliet as well as our hopes and dreams for queer musical theatre in the future. Follow Evan on Instagram here. Follow Ben on Instagram here. Follow James on Instagram here. 'This Dance Is For You' from The Louder We Get www.queermusicals.com This episode was recorded at Podstream Studio in New York and engineered by Desta Wondirad (thanks Desta!)

This week's episode comes from New York's Podstream Studios, where James Lovelock chats with the amazing L Morgan Lee about her recent performance as Nina-Mae in A Complicated Woman at Goodspeed Musicals and her involvement in workshopping the new musical version of The Danish Girl. You can find out more about L Morgan on her website and her instagram page. James Lovelock's instagram page is here. www.queermusicals.com This episode was recorded at Podstream Studio in New York and engineered by Desta Wondirad (thanks Desta!)

In today's episode, Dr James Lovelock talks to Elizabeth Ayodele (Standing At The Sky's Edge) and Madeline Charlemagne (Hadestown) about the representation of black, working class women in musical theatre and the importance of diverse education in drama schools. You can follow Elizabeth on Instagram here and Madeline on Instagram here. Find out more about Open Door here. Standing At The Sky's Edge is at the Gillian Lynne theatre until Saturday 3rd August - tickets are available here. Hadestown is playing at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue - tickets are available here. You can follow queermusicals on Instagram here and Dr James Lovelock on Instagram here. www.queermusicals.com

In this episode, I am joined by David Cumming and Zoe Roberts from Spitlip to discuss the fabulous smash-hit West End musical Operation Mincemeat. We talk about how the show has been shaped by the perspectives of its creative team (and actors) to represent women and LGBTQ+ people in a story that is dominated by male characters, and we explore how the real life characters and their legacies have inspired a new generation of musical theatre fans. Operation Mincemeat The year is 1943 and we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Noel Coward meets Noel Fielding, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. The question is, how did a well-dressed corpse wrong-foot Hitler? Tickets available here Follow Operation Mincemeat on Instagram and Twitter Follow Spitlip on Instagram and Twitter Follow David on Instagram and Twitter Follow Zoe on Instagram and Twitter For more information about Dr James Lovelock and his research, go to www.queermusicals.com or follow queer.musicals on Instagram. Tickets for fantasies come true - the queermusicals.com concert are available here.

Today's guests are Robin Simões da Silva and Teddy Hinde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We chat about audition processes, the opportunities for trans men in industry and Robin's musical Brother as well as the importance of queer-led companies and shows in musical theatre. Follow us on Instagram and check out our website at www.queermusicals.com for more information. Robin Simões da Silva's instagram Teddy Hinde's instagram

In our first episode of Series 2, we are joined by Layton Williams (Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Bad Education) and Liam Mower (Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Cats). Liam and Layton both played the title role in the original West End production of Billy Elliot The Musical before reconnecting in a touring production of The Car Man in 2015. We talk about their experiences as child actors, queer representation across dance, theatre and television, and the importance of their friendship group in maintaining a queer community. Follow us on Instagram and check out our website www.queermusicals.com for more information. Layton Williams: Instagram profile Liam Mower: Instagram profile Dr James Lovelock: Instagram profile

For our final episode of the series, we speak to the lovely Jo Foster (they/them) and Liam McEvoy (he/they) from the recent Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of Legally Blonde about their experiences of playing the Legally Blonde dogs Bruiser and Rufus. We chat about being birthday twins, the power of Annie the musical, and Jo’s recent casting as May in & Juliet. #legallyblonde #lgbt #lgbtq #musicals #musicaltheatre #regentspark #oat #rent #hopemilltheatre #julietmusical #shaftesbury #nonbinary #anniemusical Jo Foster is appearing as May in & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre from Monday 26th September - tickets here. Liam McEvoy is appearing in Aladdin at the Aylesbury Waterside from 2nd December until 2nd January - tickets here.

This episode was recorded back in June when I visited Los Angeles for the East West Players production of Interstate: A New Musical. I spoke to the writers Melissa Li and Kit Yan, and actors Jupiter Lê (Dash) and Jaya Joshi (Henry) about their heroes and inspirations, their connection to the narrative and some of the key songs from the musical. Interstate is an Asian-American pop-rock poetry musical that follows Dash, a transgender spoken word performer who becomes internet-famous along with his best friend Adrian, a lesbian singer-songwriter. Fueled by the allure of fame and a desire to connect with their community, the band embarks on a road trip across America for their first national tour. Their fiercely political and deeply personal music touches Henry, a transgender teenage boy living in small-town middle America, and he finds solace in their art as he struggles with his own identity and family. Listen to 'Loser Dumplings' here and 'I Don't Look' here. You can find out more about Interstate here.

In today's episode, we talk to Terique Jarrett and Elander Moore about queer and black representation in theatre and musicals. We discuss Terique's role in Daddy: A Melodrama by Jeremy O.Harris at the Almeida Theatre, and Elander's performances in The Barbershop Chronicles by Inua Ellams and The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer at the National Theatre and on tour. I met Terique and Elander accidentally at Legally Blonde at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre so we talk about representation in this production as well as mentioning Elander's spoken word performances and Terique's connection to the TV series Hustle. You can follow Elander's Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/elander1000. Don't forget to check out our website www.queermusicals.com for more information about LGBTQ+ representation in musical theatre. Music: 'Sky Pop - Electronic Dance Music' by JuliusH, 'Motivational Ident (Main)' by DaddysMusic

On Friday 5th August, queermusicals.com launches a new podcast that explores LGBTQ+ representation in musical theatre and beyond. Dr James Lovelock is joined by a different guest panel every week to discuss how queer actors and creatives are changing the musical theatre industry and allowing LGBTQ+ people to see themselves - and be themselves. Featuring Terique Jarrett, Elander Moore, Alice Croft, Evie-Rose Lane, Liam McEvoy and Joe Foster. Theme music: 'Sky Pop - Electronic Dance Music' by JuliusH