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
Ep19: Nicola Dawn Brook, West End and Canadian leading actress.
Nicola grew up in Manchester, England. She became a professional actor at 14 when she performed in The Little Matchgirl with Roger Daltrey (the Who). She started touring with musical th…
Ep18: Ionica Adriana, British stage and screen actress and presenter.
Ionica is a British stage and screen Actress. She was born and adopted from Romania at the age of 2 and a half years old. Ionica trained at East 15 Acting School in 2008. Ionica is curr…
Ep17: Cassidy Janson, Actress, West End leading lady and recording artist.
Cassidy Janson is a British actress, best known for her work in musical theatre.
In 2005 Janson appeared in Tick, Tick... Boom! at the Menier Chocolate Factory. She played Susan, alongsi…
Ep16: Rachel Stanley, West End lead and professional actress and singer.
Rachel Stanley is a British actress and singer.
She has had an amazing career in musical theatre playing Mum in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve); lead vocalist in The Song Book of Judy …
Ep15: Kate Graham, West End leading actress and vocational tutor
Kate hails originally from the North East. She qualified with BAHons in History from Durham University before moving to London to pursue her dream of becoming a performer, beginning wit…
Ep14: Nick Winston, international director and choreographer.
Nick Winston is an international Director and Choreographer working in Theatre, Opera & Television.
Nick's theatre credits includes, as Director & Choreographer: the first UK revival of…
Ep13: Tara Overfield Wilkinson, performer, choreographer and West End director.
At the time of recording, Tara had finished as director for Falsettos at the Other Palace theatre, which was the winner of the Whatsonstage Best Off West End Musical. She is currently a…
Ep12: Bill Deamer, Olivier award winner, West End, stage and television choreographer.
Bill Deamer is one of Britain's leading choreographers whose extensive training is grounded in ballet, jazz and tap. He is the first-choice go-to choreographer for period choreography.
H…
Ep11: Norma Atallah, West End, television and feature film sensation
Norma has had a long and amazing career in theatre, film and TV.
In theatre, Norma played Emily Whitman in Follies at the National Theatre directed by Dominic Cooke also Liesl at the p…
Ep10: Stephan Ulberini, opera star, musician, vocal teacher and musical theatre performer.
Stephan is a Welsh Italian Tenor who trained at The Royal Academy of Music London, graduating with a Masters Degree in Opera, under the tutelage of Ryland Davies. Prior to this, he gain…
Ep9: Loliya Harrison, Nutritional therapist, personal trainer and pilates teacher
In this podcast Loliya talks to Craig about her initial training as an athlete, teaching science in various London secondary schools and then her passion about the importance of good nu…
Ep8: Ian Meeson, performer, signer, song writer, teacher, examiner and now board of directors for the IDTA
Ian was born in Blackpool and at the age of twelve was lead singer on the re-recording of the Queen song, Who Wants To Live Forever, for Brian May and EMI records.
After dance training w…
Ep7: Ashley Andrews, West End and Broadway performer and associate choreographer.
After training at Laine Theatre Arts in London, Ashley has gone on to have an amazing career in theatre, TV and film.
He has appeared in numerous musicals in the West End including Fame,…
Ep6: Rhys Antoni Yeomans, previous Billy Elliot and now cast member of the English National Ballet company.
Rhys was born in Manchester and played Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End at the age of 12. He then went on to train at Centre Pointe in Manchester.
In 2017, bec…
Ep5 Lisa Gorgin, West End leading lady and Los Angeles BAFTA Newcomer.
Born in Whitechapel, raised in Essex, Lisa attended drama and ballet classes from an early age. Going onto train at the Italia Conti Academy before graduating and venturing into the big…
Ep4. Pip Jordan: Theatre, TV and film associate choreographer
After her training at Laine Theatre Arts, Pip went onto to have a very successful career in musicals such as Mack and Mabel, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Thoroughly Mod…
Ep3. Stephen Mear, HonDArt, CBE: Performer, award-winning choreographer and director.
Honorary Doctor of Arts and two-time Olivier award winner Stephen Mear has been described by the Telegraph as “the old-style master of the modern chorus line”. Stephen’s prolific career…
Ep2. Jennifer Haley: Ex theatrical producer and international adjudicator.
An informative interview about theatre producing, performing arts training and current trends of adjudication.
Jennifer trained in London from the age of five with Tony Morgan, Maude Wel…
Ep1. Alan Burkitt: West End lead and choreographer.
In this first episode of in the 'House Seats' Craig Bartley interviews West End lead and choreographer, Alan Burkitt.
Alan has a huge wealth of professional credits to his name from play…
In the 'House Seats' welcome introduction
An introduction to our up and coming 30 minute chat show podcast about all aspects of the entertainment industry from onstage performing or backstage in theatre, television and film pro…