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.
Episodes
Loraine Hastings serves as the President of the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) for the 2026–2027 term. Her lifelong dedication to dance began at age three within IDTA schools, leading to a prestigious career spanning over 45 years as a qualified teacher, senior international examiner, and choreographer. In addition to her role as principal of the Carlo Rossi School of Dance, Hastings is a form...
Anna-Jane Casey is one of the West End's most celebrated performers, with a remarkable career spanning more than four decades. She made her professional debut at just 16 in Cats and has since starred in many of musical theatre's most iconic productions, including Cabaret, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Chicago, West Side Story and, more recently, Fawlty Towers, where she delighted audiences as Sybil Fawlty. A TMA Award w...
Simon Green, better known by his iconic stage name Betty Legs Diamond, is a legendary British drag artist, dancer, and choreographer. Best known as the longtime star and co-creator of Blackpool’s world-famous Funny Girls cabaret, Simon has spent over three decades dazzling audiences with jaw-dropping routines and flawless comedic timing. Trained at the Royal Ballet School, he seamlessly blends elite dance tech...
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 listen to some interviews with competitors and parents on what this event means to them and their hopes and aspirations for their future in the performing arts profession.
The British Association of Teachers of Dancing was the first profes...
These student give there feedback on their experience, the fantastic atmosphere at the theatre and also the support and camaraderie that all the competitors share with each other.
Miss Dance of Great Britain is a long running theatre dance competition for ...
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 understand what makes this festival different from others and what the dancers perceptions are of festivals.
This is billed as a "supportive, friendly and encouraging" festival that has had wonderful feedback from all who take part, so ...
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 10,000 BC. On stage, he is famous for playing Simba in The Lion King musical, Kevin J, Ali and various other roles in Come from Away and is currently playing the part of Sargeant Paine inthe musical adaptation of The Third Man directed b...
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 vocal coach Phil Wisdom and attended Songtime Theatre Arts.
He moved to the United States in 2006 where he studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.
After graduating he went on to appear as Marchban...
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, wiggery, pattern cutting and much more. She also gained a range of technical skills in machine sewing.
Since graduating she has worked her way up from a costumer at Chessington World of Adventures to working as assistant wardr...
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, film, TV and radio.
His West End credits include: Sing a Rude Song, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Black Mikado, The Travelling Music Show, The Secret Life of Cartoons, Run for your Wife, Dry Rot, Aladdin, Snow White, Babes i...
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 it was inevitable at an early age that Ria Jones was destined for stardom.
At 19 she became the youngest actress ever to play the role of Eva Peron in 'Evita', followed shortly by her West End debut in the musical 'Chess'...
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 hugely successful, five star reviewed musical, Crazy For You.
He was assistant musical director of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical UK Tour and previously was music assistant to Alex Lacamoire, Ben Cohn, Benj Pasek & Justi...
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 ‘crowdfunded’ by local individuals and businesses: a theatre built by the community for the community, an ethos which still stands today. Between 1962-65, under its first artistic director Laurence Olivier, CFT provided t...
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 Theatre in 2021 and has just completed his position as company stage manager for Crazy for You at Chichester Festival Theatre this summer 2022.
Graham is also an accomplished photographer turning his hand at photographing perform...
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 he was offered a part in a musical in Germany and from there his career took off.
Matthew's theatre credits include: Singin’ in the Rain, 42nd Street (Chichester Festival); Chicago (Cambridge); The Car Man (London...
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 character, in Crazy For You. This brand new production, which celebrates the work’s 30th anniversary, is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.
After growing up in Stoke on Trent, Kate went on to train at Arts...
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 in relation to the dance world, customer services, finances, planning, social media, team nurturing, leadership, systems, processes, the list goes on. She read over 30 business books, went on business retreats, attended summits, webi...
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 Excel.
Craig interviews Move It Event Creative Director, Tia Hassen and Lucy Newton of Cogo Travel.
MOVE IT is the World’s biggest and best dance event, celebrating all forms of dance and the performing arts across...
Craig is at it again! Adjudicating at this year's Thanet Dance Festival which is based in Birchington in Kent.
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 for students to compete again and for parents and teachers to get together and share experiences.
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