The WhatsOnStage Podcast
WhatsOnStage managing editor Alex Wood and chief theatre critic Sarah Crompton host a weekly podcast on all things theatrical. News, views, frank exchanges and lists offer an unmissable guide to what’s happening on stage...
Insights from recent episode analysis
On the show
- Jethro Compton1 ep
- Rachel Zegler1 ep
- Elaine Paige1 ep
Also: Rosamund Pike, Calam Lynch, Noah Ritter, Sadie Sink, Noah Jupe, Clare Perkins, Clark Gregg, Hayley Atwell, Bryan Cranston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Omar Elerian, David, Lesley Manville, Sonia Friedman, Mark Rosenblatt, Sara Bareilles
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Based on 1 signal.
Built from
By chart position
- 🇬🇧United Kingdom · Performing Arts#851K to 268K
- 🇫🇷France · Performing Arts#1215K to 81K
- 🇺🇸United States · Performing ArtsHOME#11213K to 69K
- 🇳🇿New Zealand · Performing Arts#103.4K to 18K
- 🇰🇷South Korea · Performing Arts#361.9K to 10K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
89K to 473K🎙 Daily cadence·264 episodes·Last published 3d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
298K to 1.6M🇬🇧57%🇫🇷17%🇺🇸15%+6 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
164K to 867K
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/30/26 | 215. Comedy in the West End: Hay Fever special | Nancy Carroll and Charles Edwards are starring alongside Christine Baranski and Richard E Grant in Noel Coward’s Hay Fever at Wyndham’s Theatre. Sarah went along to talk to them about the pleasures of plays that simply entertain, the qualities of Noel Coward, plus working with Angela Lansbury, Judi Dench and adventures in the DC and Lord of the Rings universes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 30m 11s | ||||||
| 10/28/26 | 214. Bonus episode: Michael Sheen, Rakie Ayola and Sophie Melville discuss Owain & Henry | Michael Sheen might currently be on screens running amok in a Scottish castle, but in a matter of days he'll be back on stage in an epic new Welsh play having its world premiere – Owain & Henry. Reframing the legendary tale of the last true Prince of Wales, the piece will open at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre next week. Sheen is joined by stage and screen stars Rakie Ayola and Sophie Melville. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 23m 36s | ||||||
| 10/23/26 | 213. The Best Plays Of The Century Part Ten: the years 2018/2019 | Sarah and Alex are within touching distance of the 2020s as they continue their examination of the best plays of the century. 2018 and 2019 offer up an array of epic plays exploring American history, solo shows that leave audiences flabbergasted, and a lot (really, a lot) of plays based on hit novels – from A Little Life, to Life of Pi, to Small Island. But which plays will Sarah single out as her favourite of each year? She has some difficult choices to make... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 59m 16s | ||||||
| 10/20/26 | 212. Bonus episode: Manchester's 2027 theatre scene just got more exciting | Today, artistic director Selina Cartmell unveiled her brand new season at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, coming hot on the heels of the 50th anniversary celebrations at the beloved theatre. Featuring new work by Simon Stephens and Ben Power as well as revivals of Faith Healer and Much Ado About Nothing (featuring the legendary Beverley Knight), Cartmell spills the beans on championing the theatre’s central ethos and telling vital stories for 2027 and beyond.She also had a lot to say about her love of Sondheim and her plans for an all-string orchestra for A Little Night Music, opening this Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 24m 56s | ||||||
| 10/15/26 | 211. When does a show deserve five stars? | Finally reunited after Alex's foreign forays, Sarah runs through her tireless fortnight of reviews – featuring Rent with Gaten Matarazzo, Hay Fever with Richard E Grant and Christine Baranski, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup, and As You Like It with Fisayo Akinade and Jonathan Groff. The conversation brings up a range of questions about reviewing revivals, the nature of star ratings and whether we should have more music critics reviewing musicals. After that, the pair discuss the new Almeida and Pitlochry seasons, and what audiences might expect from the new Tarantino play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 49m 12s | ||||||
| 10/12/26 | 210. Bonus episode: Phantom at 40 with Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more | On Friday night, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera turned 40 – with the event seeing a special reunion between original stars Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. We chatted to the pair, Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh and current stars Jordan Donica and Beatrice Penny-Touré on the show's red carpet as this musical blockbuster hits four decades in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 13m 43s | ||||||
| 10/8/26 | 209. Special interview: Simon Russell Beale | The great British actor is currently on stage as the great American showman Liberace. As he finished rehearsals he talked to Sarah about how to play characters with whom you have little sympathy, returning to the stage after serious illness, the Shakespeare roles he longs to play and working with Tom Stoppard just before the playwright’s death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 44m 06s | ||||||
| 10/7/26 | 208. Bonus episode: Gillian Anderson and Derren Brown bring magic to the West End | Hello WhatsOnStage Podcast listeners! With Alex freshly back from a fortnight away, he lets intrepid video expert Tom Millward sample some of his finest, starry interviews from the last couple of weeks – featuring multi-award-winning stage star Gillian Anderson and the legendary Derren Brown, explaining their experiences in their respective shows – Anderson leading the five-star Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Brown with his new West End residency with Only Human. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 13m 23s | ||||||
| 10/1/26 | 207. The Best Plays of the Century Part Nine: the years 2016/2017 | Sarah and Alex continue their journey through the finest new plays of the 21st century. This episode, Harry Potter hits the stage,climate change becomes a major theme and James Graham has an exceptionally busy year. Plus new plays by Lucy Kirkwood, Caryl Churchill, Mike Bartlett and a romance from David Eldridge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 55m 00s | ||||||
| 9/27/26 | 206. Bonus episode: Wicked's Head of Wigs Heather-Jay Ross on hair that defies gravity | Welcome to this bonus episode of the WhatsOnStage Podcast, brought to you by the West End production of Wicked. Last night, Wicked celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Apollo Victoria in the West End with a special celebration. While a certifiably joyous, hair-raising spectacle, the work being done on hair backstage is much, much more complicated – and pulled off with equal aplomb. We sit down with Wicked's head of wigs Heather-Jay Ross to reflect on the technical expertise happening behind the scenes, some of the incredible moments working on the show and some misconceptions about the world of wigs in theatre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 21m 16s | ||||||
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| 9/24/26 | 205. Special interview: Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade | Ahead of the RSC’s all male As You Like It, Jonathan Groff and Fisayo Akinade discuss the similarities between Shakespeare and musicals, their best theatre experiences, the importance of Ian Charleson and the fun of dressing up in very glamorous frocks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 31m 48s | ||||||
| 9/23/26 | 204. Bonus episode: Designer Tom Scutt on having three musical revivals in the West End | What do Into the Woods, Cabaret and Jesus Christ Superstar all have in common? That's right, this year they're all being mounted in the West End, and they're all being designed by the same man: the Tony Award-winning Tom Scutt. We sit down with Scutt to discuss his design process, getting into the reeds of Into the Woods and where his artistic drive comes from. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 35m 41s | ||||||
| 9/17/26 | 203. Josh O'Connor is a hit, Ava Pickett does it again and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George | Recapping after a very busy series of trips and outings, Sarah and Alex run through the biggest openings and stories of the week: new warnings about the threat of AI to the creative industries, a gloriously knockout performance from Josh O'Connor at the Almeida, reactions to the National's new season and the fate of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 38m 59s | ||||||
| 9/16/26 | 202. Bonus episode: Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Annabel Mutale Reed on the new Martin Guerre | Martin Guerre has a devoted following amongst musical theatre fans, originally penned by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the two creators of that little-known musical Les Misérables (whatever happened to that one?). Now, they're returning to passion project Martin Guerre to give the musical a new lease of life at the Old Vic, staged in the round alongside rising star co-lyricist Annabel Mutale Reed. They join Alex Wood to discuss the project from their rehearsal room in south London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 36m 38s | ||||||
| 9/9/26 | National Theatre2027 season+3 | Indhu Rubasingham | National TheatreWest Side Story+2 | — | National Theatre2027 season+5 | — | 24m 18s | ||
| 9/6/26 | theatrerevivals+4 | — | Henry Higgins | Manchesternorthern Scotland | theatrerevivals+6 | — | 39m 35s | ||
| 9/3/26 | theatreautumn preview+3 | — | Ceilidh musicalsplays about John Maynard Keynes | BristolPitlochry | theatreautumn preview+3 | — | 35m 35s | ||
| 9/2/26 | musical theatreTim Minchin+4 | Tim Minchin | RSCMatilda the Musical | — | Tim MinchinMatilda the Musical+5 | — | 21m 48s | ||
| 8/27/26 | theatreAmerican plays+4 | — | King Charles III | Scotland | theatreplays+6 | — | 53m 21s | ||
| 8/25/26 | musicaltheatre+4 | Matthew WarchusStephen Beresford | Lesbians and Gays Support the MinersNational Theatre+1 | — | Pridemusical+6 | — | 23m 46s | ||
| 8/20/26 | radio dramaDisney+4 | — | BBCRoyal Court+2 | — | Lin Manuel MirandaThe Greatest Showman+5 | — | 35m 30s | ||
| 8/16/26 | musical theatreDisneyland+4 | Samantha BarksOliver Tompsett | Theatre Royal Drury LaneSecret Cinema+2 | DisneylandGreenwich | The Greatest ShowmanDisneyland+7 | — | 20m 51s | ||
| 8/14/26 | 193. Bonus episode: Why comedy actors can do anything with Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson | We head to the Edinburgh Fringe to talk to Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson, normally known as comedy duo Britney, who are performing in a brand new play, Jitters. The duo, reflecting on a decade at the Fringe, detail what it's like breaking new ground professionally as they tackle a long-form drama as a twosome, and how the Edinburgh Festivals have changed over the last ten years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 34m 55s | ||||||
| 8/9/26 | theatrereviews+3 | — | Royal Shakespeare TheatreEdinburgh Festivals+2 | — | Game of ThronesCats+4 | — | 49m 04s | ||
| 8/6/26 | 191. Ariana Grande, Trainspotting's fate and top shows at the Edinburgh Festivals | In a busy week Sarah and Alex talk about Ariana Grande’s decision to step back from her projected stage appearance opposite Jonathan Bailey in Sondhem’s Sunday in the Park with George. And as Alex sets off for Edinburgh, they discuss his top picks for the festival, the failure of Trainspotting and the death of Peter Gill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | 46m 28s | ||||||
| 7/17/26 | theatreadaptation+4 | — | The OresteiaRent+1 | — | OresteiaBroadway tragedy+5 | — | 40m 09s | ||
| 7/13/26 | theaterEdinburgh Fringe+3 | Francesca Moody | Global CreaturesFleabag+4 | Edinburgh FringeYoung Vic | Francesca MoodyEdinburgh Fringe+3 | — | 28m 42s | ||
| 7/9/26 | directingtheater+4 | Thomas KailFrances Ruffelle | AcastMoana+2 | London PalladiumPitlochry Festival Theatre | Thomas KailFrances Ruffelle+6 | — | 37m 01s | ||
| 7/7/26 | theatrePride+3 | — | National TheatreRSC+2 | The London Palladium | Jesus Christ SuperstarPride+3 | — | 34m 19s | ||
| 7/2/26 | theatreart+3 | Nancy Carroll | Donmar WarehouseHampstead+5 | — | Russell ToveyThe Guilty+5 | — | 31m 34s | ||
| 6/30/26 | Shakespearetheatre+3 | Jenny RainsfordTerique Jarrett+1 | Regent's Park Open Air TheatreThe Other Palace+2 | — | A Midsummer Night's DreamHot Mess+5 | — | 44m 05s | ||
| 6/25/26 | climate catastropheRoyal Court+4 | — | Royal CourtDominic Cooke+1 | — | best plays2010s+7 | — | 55m 35s | ||
| 6/24/26 | Shakespearepuppetry+3 | Gregory Doran | RSCVenus and Adonis+1 | — | Gregory DoranVenus and Adonis+3 | — | 40m 29s | ||
| 6/18/26 | theatre newsBroadway+4 | — | BushPaddington+1 | — | theatreBroadway+5 | — | 45m 27s | ||
| 6/16/26 | The Traitorstheater+4 | Stephen LambertJohn Finnemore+1 | WhatsOnStage PodcastAcast+1 | — | The Traitorsstage adaptation+5 | — | 22m 20s | ||
| 6/11/26 | theatreinterview+4 | Adrian LesterSusannah Fielding | Noël CowardCyrano de Bergerac+2 | — | Cyrano de BergeracAdrian Lester+6 | — | 22m 38s | ||
| 6/10/26 | theatre etiquetteTony Awards+5 | — | Inter Alia | BroadwayManchester+3 | theatre etiquetteTony Awards+5 | — | 45m 32s | ||
| 6/5/26 | BroadwayTony Awards+4 | — | Death of a SalesmanAll My Sons+1 | New York | BroadwayTony Awards+5 | — | 34m 21s | ||
| 6/3/26 | new musicalstheater+5 | Sam TuttyChristiani Pitts | RedcliffeTwo Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) | Southwark Playhouse BoroughBroadway | new musicalsRedcliffe+6 | — | 46m 26s | ||
| 5/28/26 | playwritingtheater+5 | — | JerusalemEnron+2 | — | best playstheater+8 | — | 48m 43s | ||
| 5/27/26 | musical theatreSara Bareilles+5 | Sara Bareilles | WaitressThe Interestings | — | WaitressSara Bareilles+7 | — | 28m 31s | ||
| 5/21/26 | theatreBrecht+5 | — | Equus | — | BrechtEquus+5 | — | 37m 11s | ||
| 5/20/26 | theatreWest End+3 | — | Jermyn Street TheatreA Slow Fire+1 | — | Jermyn Street TheatreA Slow Fire+5 | — | 28m 43s | ||
| 5/15/26 | theatreIan McKellen+4 | — | National TheatreKing Lear+1 | Bowness-on-WindermereBrighton | Ian McKellenKing Lear+5 | — | 33m 26s | ||
| 5/13/26 | theaternew writing+4 | Noah GalvinJosh Radnor | Soho TheatreAcast+1 | — | Noah GalvinJosh Radnor+5 | — | 27m 26s | ||
| 5/8/26 | Tony nominationsBroadway+4 | David | Broadway | — | Tony nominationsBroadway+7 | — | 34m 49s | ||
| 5/6/26 | Tony AwardsUK theatre+4 | Lesley ManvilleSonia Friedman+1 | AcastOedipus+1 | — | Tony nominationsUK theatre+7 | — | 29m 13s | ||
| 5/1/26 | theatre newstechnology in theatre+3 | — | The BridgeBroadway+1 | — | theatreCynthia Erivo+5 | — | 41m 01s | ||
| 4/29/26 | theatreWest End+4 | Omar Elerian | There & ThenKohlhaas+1 | Brighton FestivalDuchess Theatre | Omar ElerianKohlhaas+4 | — | 22m 57s | ||
| 4/24/26 | theaterplaywriting+4 | — | ComplicitéWar Horse | Scotland | War HorseComplicité+4 | — | 49m 56s | ||
| 4/22/26 | new musicalsmusical theatre+3 | Jethro Compton | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Soho Theatre Walthamstow | new musicalsmusical theatre+5 | — | 12m 53s | ||
| 4/17/26 | retooled classicsnew writing+3 | — | A Doll's HouseThelma and Louise | — | IbsenA Doll's House+5 | — | 35m 48s | ||
| 4/14/26 | Olivier Awardstheater+3 | Rachel ZeglerElaine Paige+1 | Paddington The MusicalInto the Woods | Royal Albert Hall | Olivier AwardsPaddington The Musical+3 | — | 25m 13s | ||
| 4/10/26 | legal dramatheatre+4 | — | Manchester UnitedLeeds+1 | — | legal dramaInter Alia+5 | — | 37m 12s | ||
| 4/8/26 | theaterinterview+4 | Calam LynchNoah Ritter | Kiln TheatreAcast+1 | — | Calam LynchNoah Ritter+5 | — | 27m 27s | ||
| 4/3/26 | love storiestheater reviews+3 | — | Romeo and JulietLes Liaisons Dangereuses | — | theaterRomeo and Juliet+5 | — | 33m 47s | ||
| 4/1/26 | actingtheater+3 | Sadie SinkNoah Jupe+2 | AcastRomeo and Juliet | — | Sadie SinkNoah Jupe+5 | — | 13m 45s | ||
| 3/30/26 | theatreinterviews+3 | Hayley AtwellBryan Cranston+2 | — | — | theatre interviewsHayley Atwell+3 | — | 30m 25s | ||
| 3/27/26 | awardstheatre+3 | — | Standard Theatre AwardsCritics' Circle Theatre Awards+2 | Stratford-upon-AvonManchester | theatre awardscritics+3 | — | 37m 45s | ||
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Chart history for The WhatsOnStage Podcast
Peaked at #8 in United Kingdom, top 10 in 2 of 26 tracked markets, currently #8 in United Kingdom.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | — | #8 | #8 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #10 | #10 | — |
| France | — | #12 | #12 | — |
| RO | — | #25 | #25 | — |
| South Korea | — | #36 | #36 | — |
| Finland | — | #46 | #46 | — |
| Norway | — | #61 | #61 | — |
| PT | — | #62 | #62 | — |
| Japan | — | #65 | #65 | — |
| Netherlands | — | #66 | #66 | — |
| Australia | — | #76 | #76 | — |
| United Kingdom | — | #78 | #78 | — |
| Ireland | — | #80 | #80 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #97 | #97 | — |
| AT | — | #101 | #101 | — |
| United States | — | #112 | #112 | — |
| BE | — | #112 | #112 | — |
| Spain | — | #125 | #125 | — |
| TH | — | #131 | #131 | — |
| PL | — | #134 | #134 | — |
Chart Positions
26 placements across 23 markets.
Chart Positions
26 placements across 23 markets.