In the 'House Seats'
This podcast brings you interviews with people working in the entertainment industry discussing about all aspects of onstage performing or backstage production. Ideas as a prospective performer through to what an adjudicator, choreographer or casting director might look for when you are delivering your performance piece.
Hosted by Craig Bartley who is a performer and choreographer, who has appeared in West End and Broadway productions ranging from 42nd Street (Original cast at Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Me & My Girl (Adelphi Theatre), La Cage Aux Follies (Palladium Theatre), Mack And Mabel in concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Man of La Mancha (Peacock Theatre) of which he recorded the cast albums for both ‘Mack And Mabel’ and ‘Man of La Mancha’. He also spent more than two and a half years playing the part of ‘Doody’ in the hit musical ‘Grease’ where he received the Golden Quiff Award for best performance, which was presented by the late Victoria Wood.
He also appeared in two Royal Variety Performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for the BBC and ITV and 'A Royal Performance' at the Adelphi Theatre.
Craig’s experience has enabled him to travel the globe extensively whilst being involved in performing, choreographing, directing and producing for the inaugural production set up for most of the World’s leading cruise lines. As well as performing, Craig has taught specialist classes at Mountview, Millenium, Urdang, Elmhurst and Red Roofs Theatre School. He was also the full-time Course Director and co-Principal of his own successful Starquest Performers College.
He still runs and teaches at Starquest Performing Arts encouraging children from two and a half to 18 to act, sing and dance.
He hopes this podcast will help and inspire existing and especially newly graduated creatives just what challenges lie in store and what the highs and lows are for people within the performing arts industry. If you like this podcast then please leave us a 5 star review on iTunes podcasts.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 38 minutes
- Episodes
- 100
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2024
Ep99: Live from the BATD UK Stage and Ballet Scholarships.
This episode comes live from the recent UK stage and ballet scholarships organised by the British Association of Teachers of Dancing where Craig was one of the judges. Here you can list…
Ep 98: Surrey Dance Festival and the heats for the Miss Dance of Great Britain competition.
These student give there feedback on their…
Ep 97: Bright Star Festival in Farnham, Surrey
Craig was the adjudicator of this year's Bright Star Festival and he took some time out to chat with Lydsey, the organiser, along with some of the participants and teachers to understan…
Ep 96: Jonathan Andrew Hume, professional British screen and stage performer
Jonathan Andrew Hume is a professional British screen and stage performer who is highly skilled in both acting and singing and is well-known for his work on Pride, Amazing Grace and 10,…
Ep 95: Sam Underwood, leading TV, stage and film actor.
Sam Underwood was born in Woking, Surrey and attended the Winston Churchill School. He trained at the Karen Clarke Theatre Group (now Summerscales Performing Arts). He was taught by voc…
Ep 94: Pia Fay Waller, Head of wardrobe
Pia studied costume design at the Wimbledon College of Art and Design, which is part of the University of the Arts London, where she learnt a wide variety of skills including millinery,…
Ep 93. Derek Griffiths, legendary presenter, actor and musical composer.
Derek rose to fame as a presenter of the legendary BBC children's show Play School in the 1970s. He was raised in London, the actor and musician and went on to perform in both theatre, …
Ep 92: Ria Jones, West End leading lady and international musical theatre star.
Ria was born and raised in Swansea and was brought up surrounded by the rich heritage of Welsh music. Her mother was an Opera Singer and her father a successful cabaret entertainer, so …
Ep 91: Luke Holman, Assistant Musical Director.
Luke is a musical director, pianist and conductor based in London and has just completed the summer season at the Chichester Festival Theatre as the assistant musical director for the h…
Ep 90: Behind the scenes at Chichester Festival Theatre
When Chichester Festival Theatre opened in 1962, it was Britain’s first modern thrust stage theatre. The brainchild of a local optician, Leslie Evershed-Martin, it was effectively ‘crow…
Ep 89: Graham Michael, Company Stage Manager and photographer
Since graduating from Guildhall, Graham has worked on a wide range of shows both in the UK and on tour overseas. He recently worked on Jesus Christ Superstar at Regents Park Open Air Th…
Ep 88: Matthew Malthouse, Westend performer
Matthew was brought up in the west coast of Scotland and trained at the Dance School of Scotland before starting his professional trading at Arts Ed in London.
He left after one year as …
Ep 87: Kate Parr, actor, personal trainer and general workaholic
This recording was done at Chichester Festival Theatre where Kate is currently playing the role of Patsy and is also understudy for Carly Anderson who plays Polly, the lead female chara…
Ep 86: Deborah Laws, dancepreneur and owner of the Dance Business Lab
After running a dance school for 27 years and a franchise theatre school for 12. Deborah made a break and invested in a business coach, studied marketing, retention, business strategies…
Ep 85: Live from Move It, the world's biggest dance event.
This weeks podcast was recorded live at this year's Move It which is the world's biggest dance event where Craig was promoting Starquest Performers College, and takes place at London's …
Ep 84: Thanet Dance Festival
Craig is at it again! Adjudicating at this year's Thanet Dance Festival which is based in Birchington in Kent.
Ep 83: Chesham Festival
We are back with season five and kicking off is Craig's interview with parents, teachers and performers at Chesham Festival in Bucks, UK which was held on 24–26 February 2022.
A chance f…
Ep 82: Tim English, professional performer, director and vocational tutor.
Tim English trained at Arts Ed and graduated with honours. He was recently resident director for Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre London and The Lion King UK/International Tour.
His…
Ep 81: It's behind you. A big panto shout out for 2021.
This week we give a big shout out to all the pantos that are going ahead this year around the UK.
After a year without we thought a much needed reminder to support your local pantomimes…
Ep 80: Jack O'Neill aka Ava Cardo, drag entertainer, singer and panto star.
A loveable live singing drag queen from the Midlands who brings glamour, comedy and a contagious energy to her performances. Singing camp classics, musical parodies and all the songs yo…