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
Ep 39: Laurretta Summerscales, professional classical ballerina.
At 18 Laurretta joined English National Ballet under the Directorship of Wayne Eagling. After 6 months she had the opportunity to dance the Principal role of Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis…
Ep 38: Matthew Cole, Olivier award nominated choreographer and director.
Matthew Cole is an OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATED Choreographer and is the founder of LONDON THEATRE RUNWAY. A musical theatre training and connectivity programme for industry professionals. w…
Ep 37: Katy Lipson, theatre producer and founder of Aria Entertainment.
Aria Entertainment was founded in 2012 by Katy Lipson. In 2017, Katy was awarded the Best Producer award by the Off-West End Awards and is a recipient of the Stage One Bursary and Start…
Ep 36: Michael England, conductor, composer, musical director
Michael England was born in Colchester and went on to study at Huddersfield University. Since then he has embarked on a highly successful career as conductor, composer and musical direc…
Ep35: Sarah Ingram, leading lady, actress and director
Sarah Ingram is a London-based actress whose musical theatre credits include Miss Jane in Floyd Collins (Wilton's Music Hall), Paulette in Legally Blonde (South Korea for The Curve) Gra…
Ep34: Craig's New Year message
Some thoughts for the year ahead and wishing everyone hope and joy for 2021.
Ep33: Craig's Christmas greetings
As we finish 2020 and look forward to a more hopeful 2021, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all my guests who gave their time up to be interviewed by me and sharing part …
Ep32: LaMichael Leonard, professional dancer, choreographer and Paris Lido principal performer
LaMichael Leonard, Jr. is from Tallahassee, FL, but resides in Paris where he has
been the lead dancer and Master of Ceremonies at the world-famous Lido Cabaret since 2014.
He began his…
Ep31: Sasha Regan, theatre producer and director.
Sasha Regan is an English theatre director. In 1998, she founded the Union Theatre, a small fringe venue on the premises of a disused paper warehouse on Union Street in the London borou…
Ep30: Mike Sterling, British Singer and West End leading actor
Mike Sterling is a much-in-demand performer with over 30 years’ experience encompassing West End theatre, television, radio, classical stage and recording.
He has worked alongside many …
Ep29: Tim McArthur, international musical theatre performer, director and pantomime dame.
Tim trained at Mountview before embarking on his successful career within the performing arts world.
His directing credits include: Into the Woods, (Cockpit Theatre), Metropolis,Wonderfu…
Ep28: Nigel West, professional creative and West End director.
Nigel joined the Bristol Old Vic company at the Theatre Royal in 1983 where he stayed for three years working on 29 productions ranging from ‘RICHARD II’ to the musical ‘JUDY’ which he …
Ep27: Summer Strallen, West End lead, film and TV actress.
Summer has been involved in the West End productions of Cats, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls and The Boy Friend (for which she was nominated for the 2007 Olivier Award for Best…
Ep26: Keith Jack, West End lead, singer, recording artist and runner-up on the BBC reality talent show 'Any Dream Will Do'.
Keith Jack is best known for his appearance in the BBC1 Show ‘Any Dream will Do’, coming in second.
Shortly after the program Keith joined the UK Tour of Bill Kenwright’s Joseph and the …
Ep25: Graham Seed, professional television, film and radio actor
Graham is best known for his role playing Nigel Pargetter in the BBC radio series The Archers from 1983 until January 2011. After his character's death in 2011, Seed played himself as t…
Ep24: Ben Costello, UK and international conductor, musical director, adjudicator, singing coach and accompanist.
Ben Costello is a freelance conductor, musical director, adjudicator, singing coach and accompanist, working internationally. He is also Artistic Director of Thames Concerts Ltd, Foundi…
Ep23: Alison Pollard, West End performer, choreographer, creative and director
Alison is Associate Director on THE BOOK OF MORMON (London and International Tour). In 2021 Alison will direct the UK/International tour of DREAMGIRLS and will be Associate Director on …
Ep22: Richard Guy Mawbey, global wig and hair creator for the stars of stage and screen.
Richard has enjoyed a great career in hair, make-up and wigs. He has worked on Finding Neverland, Evita, La Cage Aux Folles, Frost Nixon, Waitress and Priscilla in New York.
London th…
Ep21. Neil Reynolds, West End performer and now sports journalists, presenter and consultant.
Neil has been in the arts since the age of 4 and has been lucky enough to follow the dream he had as a child.
Having started dancing locally in Greenford in Middlesex he was lucky enough…
Ep20: Andy Coxon, West End lead, professional actor, photographer and now, beauty range mogul
Derby-born actor Andy Coxon trained at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Once graduating Andy landed a role in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, marking his professiona…