In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame

Vivian Panka is starring as Regina George in Mean Girls.

Following its London run, the musical kicks off its first ever UK and Ireland tour later this month. Tina Fey adapted Mean Girls from her 2004 film, collaborating with Jeff Richmond who composed the music and Nell Benjamin who wrote the lyrics. The show is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Vivian's theatre credits include: Alana Beck in Dear Evan Hansen (UK Tour), Heather Duke in Heathers (The Other Palace & Filmed Movie) and Judy Bernly in 9 to 5 (UK Tour).

In this episode, Vivian discusses all-things Mean Girls, including which role she was originally submitted for, the audition process and her favourite Regina song to sing. Vivian also discusses the path of her career, including iconic moments, the impact of Heathers and lots more.

Mean Girls opens in Manchester on 23rd February and tours the UK and Ireland until January 2027.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
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Jamie Chatterton is playing Warner in Legally Blonde.

Nikolai Foster is directing an all-new production, starring Amber Davies as Elle Woods, which opens at Leicester Curve in February ahead of a UK and Ireland tour.

Jamie graduated from ArtsEd and went on to originate the role of Alan Osmond in the world premiere of The Osmonds musical (UK Tour). He then originated the role of Tom Fraser in The Little Big Things (Soho Place), which was also filmed for digital release and recorded a cast album.

Most recently Jamie played Herr Zeller in Nikolai Foster's revival of The Sound of Music (Leicester Curve), and also understudied the role of Captain von Trapp.

Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Jamie discusses why playing Warner is a full-circle moment and how rehearsals have been so far. He also talks all-things The Osmonds, The Little Big Things and The Sound of Music.

Legally Blonde runs at Leicester Curve 7th – 21st February and then tours for the rest of the year. Visit www.legallyblondeshow.com for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for a new season of In The Frame! Our first guest of the year is Mason Alexander Park who is starring as Mary Todd Lincoln in the West End production of Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola.

Directed by Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! is described as a dark comedy about a "miserable, suffocated" Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Mason made their London theatre debut as the Emcee in Cabaret (Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse theatre) and went on play Ariel in The Tempest and Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing, both at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and directed by Jamie Lloyd.

Mason famously played Hedwig in the US tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Their other theatre work includes playing St. Jimmy in American Idiot (Deaf West, Center Theatre Group Los Angeles), Charlotte von Mahlsdorf in I Am My Own Wife (Long Wharf Theatre), Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show (Bucks County Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO), Creator and Performer in The Pansy Craze (Audible at The Minetta Lane Theatre). They’ve also worked extensively on screen.

Recorded backstage, in this episode Mason discusses all-things Oh, Mary!, their move to London and their path to theatre plus lots more. Prepare yourself for dark sarcasm and carnage!

Oh, Mary! is booking at the Trafalgar Theatre until 25th April 2026. Visit www.ohmaryplay.co.uk for info and tickets.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final episode of the series, and Aisha Jawando is In The Frame!

Aisha is a legendary star of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. She was in the original West End cast playing Aline and understudying Tina. She went on to become the alternate Tina before taking over the role full-time to huge acclaim. Aisha left the show in 2022, but has returned many times to standby or play Tina for one-off shows in the West End and on the UK tour.

Aisha starred as Angelica Schuyler in the original UK & Ireland tour cast of Hamilton. Some of her other theatre credits include: Fela (National Theatre), The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre), Ikette in Soul Sister (Savoy Theatre), understudy Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), Beautiful: The Carole King Theatre (Aldwych Theatre), Martha Reeve in Motown The Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre), Carmen in The Life (Southwark Playhouse) and Pilar in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve).

In addition to being in the Wicked movie, Aisha has worked on screen with Netflix, Apple TV and BritBox. She also runs a vintage jewellery business.

In this episode, Aisha discusses her Tina journey and last minute returns, as well as the path of her career, touring with Hamilton, her new career outlook, lockdown performances and lots more.

Follow Aisha on Instagram: @aishajawando

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening to In The Frame in 2025! It's time for a break, but we'll be back with new episodes in 2026.

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Blagden is In The Frame!

George is starring in A Ghost In Your Ear at the Hampstead Theatre, written and directed by Jamie Armitage. Using binaural sound technology, the audience wears headphones so they are immersed in the "terrifying" auditory world of the show.

Next year George will star alongside Anna-Jane Casey and Layton Williams in Paul Foster’s UK revival of Kiss Of The Spider Woman.

George has worked extensively on screen, he’s best known for his roles in Vikings and Versailles. His stage work includes The Cabinet Minister (Menier Chocolate Factory), Tartuffe (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Platinum (Hampstead Theatre) and The Pitchfork Disney (Shoreditch Town Hall).

George’s first love is musicals. In addition to playing Grantaire in the Les Misérables movie, he played PJ in Marianne Elliott’s West End revival of Company and Bob Wallace in Sheffield Theatres’s production of White Christmas.

In this episode, George reveals why A Ghost In Your Ear is such a unique piece of theatre as well as his love for musicals and the unexpected path of his career.

A Ghost In Your Ear runs at the Hampstead Theatre (downstairs) until 24th January. Visit www.hampsteadtheatre.com for info and tickets.

Kiss Of The Spider Woman plays Leicester Curve, Bristol Old Vic and Mayflower Studios next year.

This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: [email protected]

Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.