Jeevan Braich; Singing to ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & Olivier Awards!! 😱😱😱 | Life In The wings

Hosted By Charlotte Neale. In this weeks' episode we chat to the wonderful Jeevan Braich. Talking all things 'Starlight Express' , to Olivier awards, to singing in front of the one and only Andrew Lloyd Webber. We discuss outfit inspirations, award season, and much more!! X 

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:10

Hi everyone and welcome back to Life in the Wings podcast. I am joined by the I always want to say the wickedly talented. Wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Adeline. Adel Dazim.

SPEAKER_05 0:21

What an iconic moment. That's him. No, I am joined by Gemin Bray. How are you?

SPEAKER_00 0:28

I am so good. Thank you for having me, Donald.

SPEAKER_05 0:30

When was the last time I saw you?

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Um, probably on a night out. We keep bump we bump into each other in like Sophie's or something.

SPEAKER_05 0:36

Do you actually I think the last time I actually saw you was you were like near stage door at Wicked. And I think it was your birthday. Or it was probably Sophie's. I don't know. We literally bump each each into each other all the time.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

And I'm very grateful for that.

SPEAKER_05 0:52

No, me too. So um we always start this podcast with a quick fire question. Let's do it. AKA the 16 bar cart, as I like to call it. Oh, I like that. Thank you. Uh ready?

SPEAKER_00 1:02

I'm so ready.

SPEAKER_05 1:03

Audition or self-tape?

SPEAKER_00 1:05

Audition.

SPEAKER_05 1:06

Original work or revival?

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Revival.

SPEAKER_05 1:08

Ooh. Pop song or MT. I was really intrigued with this one with you. Because you love a riff.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

I love a riff. There we go.

SPEAKER_05 1:19

We're not even a minute in. We've got a riff already.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

I'm gonna do a blend of both.

SPEAKER_05 1:24

Of both. Okay. He's not gonna pick.

SPEAKER_00 1:26

An MT with a pop influence. What about that? Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:29

Also, question. When you do pop songs, do you like act through them? I always find it. Oh, that's a good question. Sorry, we've gone completely off topic. But I always go through song with a little, you know, because yeah, some I was like I was in a studio the other day and I was singing some pop and I was like, I naturally go to act it, but because that's the musical theater. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

But then sometimes it's I think it depends on like the song. If I'm doing like a like, for example, like a Die on This Hill, like there's gonna be a, you know what I mean? I love daysing that. Ah, well, there'll be a bit more like of an emotion part of the thing. And then if I'm just doing like uh, I don't know, like a chill. You got me feeling funny, power, and the music you know, I don't think I'm gonna be like doing a different chance. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:15

I love those TikTok videos where people do that. You know what I mean? They take pop songs I make on the fellowship. Um sorry, we digress. Yes. Uh feedback or no feedback from audition.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Feedback, please.

SPEAKER_05 2:27

Please. Yeah. Town to get better. BAFTA or Olivier. Oh, did that stamp you? Ooh, I thought that was gonna be a straight answer.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

Um I'll just say Academy Award.

unknown 2:44

I love that.

SPEAKER_05 2:44

He's a PR trained. Um, and then just last but not least, morning person or late night owl.

SPEAKER_00 2:50

Oh my god, I am a late-night owl.

SPEAKER_05 2:52

I feel that for you.

SPEAKER_00 2:56

That's good for me.

SPEAKER_05 2:57

I couldn't function. Are you not a m uh like a morning person?

SPEAKER_00 3:00

No, I am that as well.

SPEAKER_05 3:01

Oh, are you?

SPEAKER_00 3:02

Let me tell you something. My sleep schedule hates to see me coming. No, no, no. Um this is what I did last night at maybe three o'clock until maybe five. I sit on my sofa, I put a blanket down, I have a glass of red wine with a chocolate bar.

SPEAKER_05 3:15

He's sophisticated. Well, wow, god, I would not be here if I had two hours' sleep. Let me say that. Um, okay, so you are originally from Birmingham. Birmingham. Oyoi. My family's from Birmingham, so I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

No one, no one does that. Oy-oi. Oh, such like that's a Londoner thing, and I'm like, oi-oi, no. I love that. Sorry about that.

SPEAKER_05 3:36

Um, so let's go to the beginning of so for people that sorry, my brain's like, do you do that? Um we met at a musical theatre course that ran. Did it run every Sunday?

SPEAKER_00 3:49

Every Sunday, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:50

Yeah, every Sunday, um, called West NMT. So that's where we met.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

That was years ago, wasn't it? Like years ago.

SPEAKER_05 3:56

But also, that was the exact moment that you were auditioning for Starlight.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Was it?

SPEAKER_05 4:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

Oh my goodness. She knows another than that.

SPEAKER_05 4:03

No, no, no, I remember it. So take me back to You're gonna have to take me back. So take me back to the start of your career. You you didn't go down the conventional route.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

No, no. I feel like I I feel like I always so I did a very an orthodox route. I feel like there's like maybe 15 videos of me saying the same thing, and everyone's like, Were you trained to say that? I was like, no, that's just how my room sounds like that's just No, you're so right. It was uh it was an unconditional route. It wasn't like the drama school sort of way, it was like um yeah, I was putting covers out, stuff like that, and then I was also um at this place, and like there were videos of just me singing online.

SPEAKER_05 4:42

Yes, because it's sorry, you've just clicked something in me. Did you get an audition for Starlight because of your TikTok presence?

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:51

Yes, yes, okay. I didn't know that at the time, but I think that's something I recently found out.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

Yeah, and it was through one of the videos that we were doing, I believe, I think. I know like since then I got told like it was also like they looked at my page and went through my covers and stuff like that. But I think one of the videos that uh they saw was me, literally, and I'll do it for you, it was literally just this. Let me tell you what I wish I known when I was young and dreamed of cry with no control. That was it.

SPEAKER_05 5:19

I love that. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

But like literally that segment was that was it.

SPEAKER_05 5:23

I remember, I remember this moment so clearly. So I'm not sure. I'm towards the end of the process, you and I were downstairs at the uh was it Fourth Monkey where we did it? Yes, and I remember specifically we were at the front door and you were like, Charlotte, like I'm I'm into the starlight, yeah. I'm getting quite far.

SPEAKER_00 5:45

I couldn't really I was just expecting it to be like a very like first-time audition type, they were just gonna go in for a round.

SPEAKER_05 5:51

Yeah, because it was it one of your first time like big auditions.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

Ever, ever. And then yeah, and then at the same time.

SPEAKER_05 5:57

And sorry, how old were you?

SPEAKER_00 5:58

Uh I was 17 at the time.

SPEAKER_05 6:01

17. I was still basically in the womb at that point.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

Like But now I'm not now I'm old and haggard.

SPEAKER_05 6:07

So I was gonna say he is. No, you're not haggard, but you're older mature, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:10

Oh, I'll take that.

SPEAKER_05 6:11

But um, I remember you being like so confused and you being like, like I'm getting through the rounds. And I remember thinking, babe, you're gonna get this. And then the week after you came up to me and you were like, Sha, Andrew Lloyd Webber was in the room. I was like, you are Yeah, I remember this.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

I remember we were outside. Andrew was in the room.

SPEAKER_00 6:32

And I was like, Andrew Lloyd Webber was in the room. Meanwhile, like to me, like, so Andrew Lloyd Weber was one of the first songs that I had on my Spotify when I got Spotify, like one of his songs. So like, and obviously, as theatre kids, everyone knows Andrew Lloyd Webber.

SPEAKER_02 6:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:47

But then I was like, when I saw an email be like, yeah, in this round, um, the people in the room, da da da da da, Andrew Lloyd Weber, I was like, wait, pause. Yeah, sorry. When you mind, um, I walked into that room, I was like this, I felt like I couldn't look at him. I was like, I couldn't look at him directly.

SPEAKER_05 7:03

What was the scene? When he walked in and he was there.

SPEAKER_00 7:05

Surreal, so surreal. He was like just sitting there, like, and I was like, oh my god. Like I I remember for the first time, I was like, I see what people mean when they say if I don't get this, I will still be happy. Because the fact that I got that far at that age and I got to meet and sing for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Yeah. Are you kidding me?

SPEAKER_05 7:25

I like speechless, right? I I remember you actually uh saying that or something similar to that, where you were just I remember you being just being so grateful for every round that you did.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

I think partly because I was just so shocked.

SPEAKER_05 7:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

I was just like, really? Like me again?

SPEAKER_05 7:43

Like me, little old me. How many rounds did you do?

SPEAKER_00 7:51

You know what? I think it was something like Wow.

SPEAKER_05 7:56

And that's that was quite daunting for someone who works like your fastest.

SPEAKER_00 8:00

Yeah, because you know, I was just in a room with um oh my god, I've got something to tell you.

SPEAKER_05 8:06

Tell us, tell us at least a tea guy.

SPEAKER_00 8:09

Um obviously I was in the room with like not just people who had been through drama school, so they had at least six years of prior experience, you know, but also people who were like in the industry, becoming close. So I remember there was this one guy. I can't say.

SPEAKER_05 8:25

I love how all whispered is it now. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

Um and you know what? If you see this, okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

I'm so intrigued.

SPEAKER_00 8:32

So basically, there was this one guy who, you know, lovely guy, but you know, there's there's a kind of like stigma, and I a lot of like music creators make TikToks about this. Like that one experienced person in the waiting room who's like trying to like intimidate you.

SPEAKER_04 8:48

Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

So I had this first hand. Meanwhile, I'm there 7 TB, like, yeah, you know, all green, and this one guy, like he was lovely, really talented, and I know he'd worked a lot before. Okay, and um he was just you know telling me like what the industry's like and da da. And I was like, I'm just trying to go over, you know, Starlight Express, you know, I'm still trying to love the words here. Um and he's like, um I was just like, yeah, no, yeah, I really, yeah, I really want it, it'll be great. And he was like, I just remember him standing up while I was sitting there, he's like, Well, don't worry, babe. When I get the part, you can be my understudy.

SPEAKER_03 9:24

No, you're joking. And I went, No, you're joking.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

But not even in the joke. Like it was never experienced. It was said with conviction, it was said with chest, it was said with gumption. I was shocked!

SPEAKER_05 9:38

I was like, that's so incredibly rude.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

But let me say the way it was said, it was like, oh, but don't worry, babe. Like, when I get the part, you can definitely be my understudy.

SPEAKER_05 9:48

I can't say that.

SPEAKER_00 9:49

As if it's up to you!

SPEAKER_05 9:51

Have you seen this person since? No, not once.

SPEAKER_00 9:53

Sorry to that man.

SPEAKER_05 9:54

Are they in the industry still?

SPEAKER_00 9:56

I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 9:57

Interesting.

SPEAKER_00 9:58

Sorry to that man. He could walk past me on the street, I wouldn't know a thing.

SPEAKER_05 10:01

That's crazy. I'm sorry. That's all that's actually.

SPEAKER_00 10:04

But no, but you know what? I'm so glad that I had something like that because it it made me straight away click. It actually helped me get the part because um I clicked out of this bubble that everything's sunshine and rainbows, and da da da. Because as much as the industry is, when it comes to auditioning, as much as people will be there to be like, oh babe, like da da da da da. They're still going in for that same part, and they still want it as much, or if not more, than you do, and you've got to want it more. And I remember before I went into my audition, the door was slightly open, and I was giving myself a little pep talk right in front of the casting. I was like, I just said to myself, right, I'm gonna go in and I'm gonna smash this. And I went in, and I remember um a while after, I think was the director told me, you know, one of the reasons why you got the job was because we we overheard that.

SPEAKER_03 10:52

And I went, No way! Yeah, they're like they heard your pap talk.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

They were like, we heard you say something like outside, like, yeah, I'm just gonna go in, I'm gonna give it my own, I'm gonna smash it. And they were like, that is exactly the character that you know Rusty, who I played in Starlight Express with was.

SPEAKER_05 11:07

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

So thank you to that.

SPEAKER_05 11:10

That's a little like a little Easter egg, a little sprinkle on the show. I don't think I've I've uh ever shot that, yeah. Exclusive.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Exclusive, exclusive.

SPEAKER_05 11:18

So um talk to me about how Starlight changed your life. I mean, first of all, it has got a huge fan base. Like I came to see your last performance.

SPEAKER_04 11:30

You did.

SPEAKER_05 11:31

Stage door was basically like you couldn't tell the difference between who was the cast and who wasn't. They cosplay, like they cosplay, no other.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

Like next next other level. And you know what? I was fine with it until they started getting better at me than the makeup.

SPEAKER_05 11:52

That's funny.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

And then I'd be at Station, I'd be like, oh, you look so good. Meanwhile, I'm like writing pointers on my hand.

SPEAKER_05 11:59

So how did you contour that?

SPEAKER_00 12:00

Yeah, I'm like, um, that's great. Um, what product did you use? Just asking for a friend, you know? Like, I I'd see like them tag me and stuff, and then then they put themselves, and I'm like, or I'd see them in the audiences. I'd be like, we can't stand close together because you're kind of outdoing me here. And I don't like it. Um like we're obviously we've got Gabby Slade, two-time Olivier Award winner costumes, my queen. Um, but these people are making it out of whatever they've got.

SPEAKER_05 12:29

Yeah, they make it themselves, like most of them make it themselves. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 12:31

Like that is insane. Like some of the bigger costumes as well, like Electra, like with the spikes and stuff like that. Let me tell you something. I can barely do paper mache. I I can't do five-minute crafts. Yeah, no, on the same. These guys are like creating full blend all of this. It it baffled me every time I saw it. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:52

Talk to me how Starlight changed your life.

SPEAKER_00 12:54

Yes. Um, I mean, for one, like packing up all my stuff and moving to London at 17 was You didn't even live in London. No.

SPEAKER_05 13:01

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

Brammy through and throat.

SPEAKER_05 13:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Um, and so it was very, very, very scary. Like, I lived in this adorable, lovely family's attic. Mm-hmm. Like, they had like an attic room, um, not too far from here, actually.

SPEAKER_05 13:18

Um I've never even thought about doing that.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

It was like I found it on Theatre Diggs, like it was the best, best, best, best first experience to London I could ever get because the family were lovely. Yeah. Um, and then I also lived with someone else who was in Starlight who she then came into one of the other rooms. And like, it was just, yeah, it was it changed my life like in such a scary way. But like, I knew full well I'm never gonna be a doctor, I'm not gonna be a brain surgeon, I shan't be going to the moon. And so like my thing is jazz hands. And so my parents knew that. And when we when I got the the job, they were like, but you've got to move, like, you've got to do what you gotta do, because you know, we're in a talent-based industry at the end of the day, and we're in an industry of opportunity and luck. Like, I'm not gonna be naive. Yes, there's loads of talent involved, but a lot of it is being at the right place at the right time.

SPEAKER_05 14:08

I say that all the time. Like, it is it is of course talent-based, you have to have that talent, but sometimes it's who you know, who can get you in the room, sometimes it's just about like being in central and bumping into someone, and then they it's all just like butterfly effects. So there is a sense of luck, but I think there's a stigma around that. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 14:26

It really is, but like why? Like at the end of the day, that's what it is, and that's what it is throughout this whole industry. Yeah. Like, there's always gonna be someone who's better than you. There's always gonna be someone who can sing better and dance better. It's just about you being at the right place and showcasing that talent at the right time.

SPEAKER_05 14:44

Yeah, but I think it's about timing, isn't it? You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Yeah, and what's meant for you at that time won't pass you by.

SPEAKER_05 14:50

I fully, fully believe that. I think if something's not meant for you, it won't happen. If something is, it will. I also think that's it reminds me of you know when people do really well and get a social media following on TikTok and stuff, but are still super talented and get opportunities. There's a lot of like haters towards that.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

I mean, I I mean, you know I'm I'm not one to, you know, beat around the bush. They're jealous. That that's that's what it is. I think that's that's what it is.

SPEAKER_05 15:18

I think that's what it is. I think it's the same with like bullies as well. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

It just comes from a sense of Because how are you going to be mad that someone has followers and talent? Let's make it make sense. Like if we really put it on paper, you're actually just mad that they get to have it both.

SPEAKER_05 15:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

In this industry, it feels like you have to have one or.

SPEAKER_05 15:39

Yeah, it's like it's people pin. I I think I said this in another podcast. People put you in a box. Yes. And it's like you have to be one thing.

SPEAKER_00 15:46

Like you can be the musical theatre creators that like, you know, that have that massive online presence. But if you have that online presence and that following, you are not allowed to be in a show with that following. Otherwise, it's oh well, it's just stunt casted and they didn't do it for talent, they just did it to get the followers. Well, pause. They didn't get these followers out of nothing.

SPEAKER_05 16:07

Do you know? I haven't even thought about that either. They literally got it from talent.

SPEAKER_00 16:12

They got it from perseverance and grinding through the industry. And it's like, how are you going to be mad that someone is doing what they want to be doing? And like you're just mad that people follow them? Come on. Oh, I have that bookshelf. Sorry. Do you? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 16:29

It's actually Josh's. Shout out, Josh.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

Love you, Josh. Um, but this is what I mean. It's like, it's not a one or we're in we're in a multidisciplinary industry. Yeah. You know, where it's like there are people who are actors who are musicians, and there are people who are singers who are also dancers and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_05 16:45

And having mul having like multi-skills is more employable. Well, this is what I mean!

SPEAKER_00 16:50

It's but again, that's what it means. Because they're more employable, people are more jealous towards that.

SPEAKER_05 16:55

Crazy.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

It's like, how dare you get to have it all?

SPEAKER_05 16:58

And ha I bet half the people that have opinions on like, oh, they only got it because of this or that haven't even like seen them in the show. Like, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 17:06

Speak on it. Or like they will judge the first curtain call they see, they will judge any little bit of like drama and stuff like that. And I'm like, realistically, my love, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. If you were in that show, you would hate if someone was there saying, Well, I think da-da-da, and I think da-da-da. And I know that we're in an industry where we just have to accept the fact that people are always gonna have opinions, but you know what, I've got opinions right back.

SPEAKER_05 17:33

Yeah, so true. Love that.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

So cop that.

SPEAKER_05 17:35

Talking about social media, you like to dabble in a bit of uh TikTok and Instagram. I used to love your videos, you used to do cooking videos like with me, didn't you?

SPEAKER_00 17:44

Yeah, so I'm not really on TikTok anymore, which is not! I don't know! I feel like what if that? Like, oh my god, you use TikTok and I'm actually.

SPEAKER_05 17:51

You know what? Good for you, because I doom scroll. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:53

And it takes up I'm still on TikTok. I'm just not on TikTok. Because I'm Doom Scrolling until five in the morning.

SPEAKER_05 18:03

It's so bad. It's really bad. I try and delete it and then I just redownload it.

SPEAKER_00 18:07

I yeah. I'm one of those like, I'll go off the app because I'm bored, and then go back onto the app because I'm bored of not being on the app.

SPEAKER_05 18:14

It's just it's hard.

SPEAKER_00 18:16

It's just like I'll literally go off the app and just get it You know what I mean? That's exactly what it is.

SPEAKER_05 18:20

So how come you don't post anymore? Because you were quite active on it.

SPEAKER_00 18:23

And when I was active, I was getting like really big. I was like, oh my goodness, we're gonna get it.

SPEAKER_05 18:28

Oh your videos are doing really well.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_05 18:31

Um it's hard to keep up though, I think.

SPEAKER_00 18:33

You know, I've just kind of got a little complex of like I don't like to be I don't like to feel like a jester in a way.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 18:45

And like we're in an industry where we have to we're we perform for others, we put on a show for others. And it's like when it comes to social media as well, I felt like I was doing both of them. And how do I say this? Oh, screw it, why not? Um when I found that I gave so much of my presence online, it opened up the floodgates for people to assert themselves in my business when realistically, when I if I'm scrolling, and I if even if I've got like a favourite creator, I follow them, you know? If they follow me back, that's great, but like that doesn't mean we've been best mates since primary parasocial relationships.

SPEAKER_05 19:30

That's fun!

SPEAKER_00 19:32

And obviously I hear I hear I hear a lot of that word. Yeah. Um but because obviously it comes with the territory, but it's like, yeah, and like I found I got really active when I was doing TikToks about the show that I was in.

SPEAKER_04 19:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

And that was great. And then I was like, okay, but if I do TikToks about like like you actually kind of like make yourself a bit insecure because I was like, anytime I wouldn't do a TikTok about the that show, I felt like it wouldn't be received as well. You'd be like, oh maybe this is a good thing. They only like they only want me for this, and so anytime I'd do like a video to do with that, it would be getting like it could get like a hundred thousand views at a time, like just on a normal day. But then I could do some other video and it would just slowly go down, down, down, down, down. And then I found myself caring about that. And I was like, wait, pause, because as much as I love social media, I like that's not really my like my industry. Like, why am I caring so much about how many views I get now? Or well, will people hate me because I've not posted this in costume and da da da? And I was like, that's not my job. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like I'm not getting paid for that. I get paid to be on stage and give my all. I don't get paid to be on social media and give it if I was getting paid, like how some of these content creators were, I'd be, I'd be, I wouldn't be caring about that. But I just found with me, I'm so easy to like get wrapped up in giving everything. Yeah. And you know, when you give people everything, it leaves you with nothing.

SPEAKER_05 21:09

That's some oh my gosh, that's even away from the industry. You know what I mean? That's something I learn in my mid-20s, and it took me a really long time to learn because as you know, like I'm quite honest, open, wear my heart on my sleeve, but that then can make me a target.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Thank you. Hello.

SPEAKER_05 21:30

That can make me a target, and I realized by giving people a hundred percent, I then became a shell because I gave it all.

SPEAKER_00 21:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:40

And people don't give it back.

SPEAKER_00 21:42

Thank you. Now this is the thing, like you you can't I this might sound controversial, but you can't give a hundred per sp uh uh well hundred per spirit, controversial. Um, but you can't give a hundred percent and get a hundred percent back from others, especially not in An industry where we are performing for them.

SPEAKER_05 22:04

Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

And so I just found myself being like, oh, but this hasn't performed as well, so now you know they must hate me and da da da da.

SPEAKER_05 22:12

It sounds like you put your worth on it in the end, you kind of were putting your worth on how well the video did. And then you recognize that I was.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

Because they were doing so so so well that anytime like I I found myself competing with myself for that, and I'm like, wait, pause. Why am I even doing this? Why am I doing that? Like, as much as I like, and don't get me wrong, I'll do the odd video here and there. But like not only was I finding what not only was I competing with myself for that, but then on top of that, I was just getting like messages and weird, weird comments from people who thought they could say stuff, which Which they absolutely couldn't and was none of their business.

SPEAKER_05 22:50

Thank you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:51

And so I was just like, you know what? Let's like I'm Instagram's my thing. Like I'll I'll sneeze and I'll be like this on my Instagram. I'll be like, guys. But you know why? Because like the thing is with Instagram, it's like you're putting your story up. So I'm just like, if people find me annoying or something like that, block me! Please blockka blockka blocker. Find that button because you don't have to see this is me documenting my life, but with TikTok, it felt more like Oh, it comes up, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_05 23:17

So even people don't have to follow you to see your ah, yeah, that makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 23:20

So like with TikTok, it felt more like a show, it felt more like an obligation eventually. And I was like, you know what, I'm not obligated to do that. And I love the videos, and I I'll post every so often with like my friends and stuff like that. But um, I don't want to put unnecessary pressure on myself when when it comes to being on stage, that's where I want to be competing with myself. Yeah, that's where I want to be like, how can I make this better? How can I do that? Did they like this performance? What can I do better? Yeah, um, stuff like that. That's that actually brings me joy as well. That's something that I'm getting something back from.

SPEAKER_05 23:51

Yeah. Talking about being on stage, um, we have to talk about the Olivier.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

Yes! Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_05 23:58

And I was there! Oh myriad! I was there in the audience watching you. Oh my god, I had tears in my eyes.

SPEAKER_00 24:04

I think, yeah, I mean it was that like you know what? It was crazy because I'd performed at the Royal Abbot Hall before. Oh had you! Yeah, yeah, we did the royal variety as well.

SPEAKER_05 24:16

Of course, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:17

And that was with the whole cast, that was such a good day. That was such a good day.

SPEAKER_05 24:21

All these amazing opportunities.

SPEAKER_00 24:23

Uh I know, I know, right?

SPEAKER_05 24:24

Incredible.

SPEAKER_00 24:25

Um, but the Olivier's was next level. It was like, and it was just myself and Jade Marvin who played mama on the stage, and oh my god, I could feel the eyes on me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 24:37

Like I because also it's a room full of industry professionals, fashion.

SPEAKER_00 24:41

I look I remember like the week hore graphed of that, I went like down to my knees straight away, and I did this. I looked up and I just saw Adrian Brody looking at me like this, and I was like, Don't look, don't look at me, don't or like Paul Beskell was like right there, and I was like, Insane. I was like, ah like it was it was it was crazy, and it was such like it was such a heightened day, it was such a like it was such a scary day for everyone involved. Um, and like the red carpet and all that was so much fun. Yes, I wore an outfit that I will never be able to top now. But you're sorry, but I have to your outfit people people talk to me about this, and I'm so so so glad that people enjoyed it because yeah, it was from America and it was like modeled after me and da-da-da-da.

SPEAKER_05 25:29

Even today I was like, I have to dress somewhat nice. Like I can't just be in like a jumper and leggings because it's summer outside and I'm in all black like a weirdo. But honestly, your outfit. Do you so do you have like designers that design your outfits? Or are you just naturally good at choosing?

SPEAKER_00 25:45

I seek them out.

SPEAKER_05 25:47

Oh, do you think?

SPEAKER_00 25:48

It's like the second I um I know there's an event coming up, I'm like, my first thought is okay, what's my outfit gonna be? Because you know what? Like, we our body is a canvas in our industry. We're like a walking self-tape.

SPEAKER_05 26:03

Wow. Someone write that down. Yeah, wow someone write that down. Oh my god. That shocked me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:10

I'm gonna say it one more time. Our body is a canvas, we are a walking self-tape. Because, like, when you're in a room with people like that, they're not blind. And they do remember people. And even if they don't look at you and talk to you, if you're in a casting call, even months later, they'll see that headshot and go, where do I know that person from? And they'll think, Oh, I remember them because of maybe their performance, maybe this. It can be an outfit, something that like like, for example, on that day, um, we were doing the red carpet and I walk past Tom Hiddleston, and I said to him, One day, you and I are gonna be in something together. And he went, You look amazing, so I'm not surprised.

SPEAKER_05 26:58

And I went, see, like it They always say dress the part, dress the part you wanna be.

SPEAKER_00 27:01

Thank you. Like, it's just practice. It's just practice. Practice makes perfect, and we're practicing to be massive stars. So why not put that into practice, you know?

SPEAKER_05 27:12

When you um when you did your final line at the Olivier's and then you got I just remember there was this just moment and then the applause, I've got shivers. What was that like? So it was like it, doing it.

SPEAKER_00 27:30

Yeah, I'm not gonna lie to you. I it's really weird. So, like, obviously, so much was going on, like we just had uh uh loss of my mom, and like grief is so weird because it will block stuff out. So like I can't remember so much of that performance. Because that was really Yeah, because it was like it was two weeks like to the day, and I was like, you know, like we had an empty seat up there where you know she bought tickets for.

SPEAKER_05 28:02

No, yeah, like it was like Oh babe, I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_00 28:06

So it was one of them that like Grieve just kind of blocked that whole day out. Like I told myself, do the Olivier's, get through it, get through it. And then once I got through it, kind of trauma blocked in a way, and it's not until I re-watch that back, like my dad loves to watch that. Um I mean we all end up crying when we're watching it.

SPEAKER_03 28:24

That's a nice thing as well, because it's filmed. Yeah, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 28:27

You can see it on YouTube, guys. Um or like, for example, I was just at someone's house and they wanted to put it on, and it's not until I watch it that like it comes back, but I can't I actually can't sit here right now, think what it was actually like performing the song because I just can't remember it. Like I think and I just feel grey.

SPEAKER_05 28:48

Let me tell you what it was like as an audience member, Cena, especially knowing you. I obviously knew what was going on in your life personally, um, and there were some words in the song that were really apt.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

The last, yeah, the last, I mean, also it's such it's a maternal figure song singing to you, um, being like, believe in yourself, da da da da da um The last line is I won't let you down.

SPEAKER_03 29:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:15

And they were like, Jeeven, can you look up to the sky and say that? And I was like, Did they So you really want me to be a wreck? Because I do that anyway in the show. Like it's always it's always been choreographed that way, and it's a beautiful moment. In the show, we've got like all these like lights and stuff like that. It's it's really cool. It's really cool.

SPEAKER_03 29:34

And you like lift off.

SPEAKER_00 29:35

Yeah, it's like even before anything had happened, even in tech like a year ago, I was crying when when I when I was seeing it and hearing it. Because it's a moment. And so on the rollout hall, like when I when I was looking at it, I was like, I could not get through that line.

SPEAKER_05 29:49

I was like, And you could see, but what what we could see as an audience was obviously talent, strength, determination, thank you, acting through songs. Like it was just honestly, I the minute it finished, I was like, right, YouTube. Like, do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 30:07

Yeah, it felt really, it felt really, really, really, like, really special. And you know what? I felt so happy that I got to do it and I got to be there for it and through it, you know?

SPEAKER_02 30:17

Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 30:18

You know, it was Angelina Jolie. I saw an interview of hers, and it was like, she said something about like when you go through a tough time, go through it, allow yourself to feel every emotion. And like for me, I was like, I want to go through this, and I want to do it with a vice that helps me. And for me, that was singing and you know, and acting and being on stage.

SPEAKER_05 30:41

They say it's a form of therapy, and it really was for me, it really was.

SPEAKER_00 30:45

Um, so yeah, that was honestly, I think that's gotta be like one of the highlights that I've ever done in my life. That's amazing. Just because oh my goodness, I that that felt so insane.

SPEAKER_05 30:57

Like a real special moment for you.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

You know what I mean? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 30:59

And um, from Starlight, you have gone on to do some wonderful things and had some awards. Oh. Ladies and gentlemen, and everyone in between. Um, best performer in an off-west end show. Also, about that, I didn't know Starlight was off-west end. Well, let's get up to it. Okay, because I was like, wait, what?

SPEAKER_00 31:20

So it's one of them where it's West End, but technically, like on paper, it's not. Because obviously it's Wembley Troubadour. Um, we just needed somewhere big enough. Yeah, and so we just went a few miles out. Um, but because the Wembley Troubadour is a Society of London theatre, um actual theatre, it counts as like what you'd say a West End venue.

SPEAKER_05 31:44

Yeah, because I was like, wait, this is West End. Like I always thought it was on today ticks, and if it's on today ticks, it's West Ticks.

SPEAKER_00 31:50

West End, my love, yeah. Um yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 31:53

You got best newcomer in Panto.

SPEAKER_00 31:55

Oh yes, I did! Yes, I did. That was like last week, yeah. That was Panto because my first, that shan't be my last.

SPEAKER_05 32:04

Mark Mike was fun, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 32:05

I so obviously everyone was like, oh when you've done spelling inspiration. I said, Panto can't be hard. Lies. Panto was hard.

SPEAKER_04 32:12

The schedule.

SPEAKER_00 32:12

The schedule is crazy. It was two shows every day. Um, but you know what? Um it felt so good. I loved it. Like, I made such good friends. I belly laughed on and off stage every day.

SPEAKER_04 32:26

And just to be silly. Yes, and like so.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

I did mine in Norwich, which was. Let me tell you something about Norwich. Let me tell you something right now.

SPEAKER_05 32:34

Do you like it?

SPEAKER_00 32:34

I would move there in a heartbeat. No way!

SPEAKER_05 32:37

Like, seriously, I don't know much about it.

SPEAKER_00 32:39

I mean, and you know what, it's not even that far from London. Like, you can go straight from Liverpool Street to Norwich. I'm being so serious when I tell you I would move there, I would live there. I love Norwich. It's East Anglia, so it is a bit cold. But apart from that, like it's a nice area. And I'm like, it's small enough to be like a quaint like sort of place, but it's big enough to still have like hustle and bustle. It's not like London.

SPEAKER_05 33:06

I love for me. That's what my hometown kind of feels like. So we have like the city, but then we also have the country and then we have the sea. It's like a bit of everything.

SPEAKER_00 33:14

See that because also it's it's by the coast and it's nice. Like, you know, living in London and Birmingham, it's like skyscraper. Here's a skyscraper there.

SPEAKER_05 33:23

That's something I really struggle with living in London, is the no-sea.

SPEAKER_00 33:26

No see.

SPEAKER_05 33:27

I'm like, there's no like fresh air.

SPEAKER_00 33:30

See, for me, it's more like no like actual like fields and countryside. Like you've got a few in Birmingham, but like so I I'm not really a big fan of the sea. Oh, you're not, fair enough. Well, you I got I got scared when I saw Jaws, and like since then I've just not been a big fan. Fair enough. Um, but like, yeah, Norwich was near there. Like, I'd walk past people on the street, they'd say hello, I'd say hello back, and I'm not used to that.

SPEAKER_05 33:53

Darling, we're not in London anymore.

SPEAKER_00 33:55

They'd say hello, I went, What do you want? I was patching my pals, I was ready. Um it was really cool.

SPEAKER_05 33:59

They were just nice. There's there's a sense of community.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

Yeah, and the theatre was great. Like, I really, really loved it, and yeah, I just went with some great people. Like, it was such a highlight. Like I just find myself just thinking about it every so often, just like, oh, I miss. I'm like, oh that have a little dressing room, just like chatting with everyone. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_05 34:18

You also won a what's on stage awards. I do. That's huge. What was that like? Also, I saw sorry again, Degress. I saw uh did you go to the Panthe Awards with your sister? Yes. And like your reaction to when you won, because you went to clap for someone else.

SPEAKER_01 34:33

I went to clap. You can see it for a little split second.

SPEAKER_05 34:36

I went, Yeah, is that what you were like on the What's on Stage Awards as well?

SPEAKER_00 34:40

Yes, yes, that was like, so I mean, I'm I thought I'd kind of like had my luck when it came to like awards and stuff like that, because the What's on Stage Award is like a public vote. Like and I was like, what do you mean people voted for me? For little old me. Little old me, little 17-year-old me, my love. Um No, I was 18 at the time, I think. Um but I was just of age. I was of age, but I was just like, what? Really? I was shocked to my very core. Um and then recently with these Panto Awards as well, I was like, I'm in a category, like it's best newcomer, and like newcomer, like celebs are in pantos. So like that's so true. There was so and like so many of them are doing it for the first time. There were so many of them in there. There was a BAFTA winner, there was like Sarah Hadland, who is my queen.

SPEAKER_05 35:30

Um did you think, oh, I've got no chance? No chance!

SPEAKER_00 35:33

I didn't have the speech, I was on the wines. I was like, those free drink tokens. I was like, another one, thank you. Thank you. I was chugging those red wines down, and then my phone died, and then I was like, let me do my gracious loser face. And I was like, because I've got it planned.

SPEAKER_05 35:49

I was like, no way it's practiced.

SPEAKER_00 35:51

But I was just like, Wait, what? When I heard that, I was like, Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_05 35:56

That's insane though. Like what achievements you've had in your career at so like such a young age and such early in your career as well, like most deserve him, most deserve him. So we're gonna go into uh another section, which is called Backstage Drama. And um, it's basically just a space where I say to guests, like, Do you have any funny stories, unhinged moments, anything that we could just have a little laugh at?

SPEAKER_00 36:21

I have a few.

SPEAKER_05 36:22

Love it. I need to do that.

SPEAKER_00 36:24

I have one, I have one that I have to tell you off camera.

SPEAKER_05 36:26

Oh, I'm I'm intrigued.

SPEAKER_00 36:28

Um okay, what about backstage drama?

SPEAKER_05 36:32

It could be like on stage mishaps, or it can be, oh my god, I went into the audition and just absolutely like screwed it up, or or just anything, or like I've gone into an audition, prepared the completely wrong role. Do you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 36:47

Love, love.

SPEAKER_05 36:48

But it wasn't my fault, they sent me the wrong role. Um yeah, anything like that really.

SPEAKER_00 36:55

I'm gonna edit out my thinking time. Being at one point on a show on wheels, like the the falls were I was gonna say, okay, let's talk about that then. Like I start the show like with the second like what am I saying? Um the second song is a solo song called Crazy. Um not solo, other people are in it, sorry. Um and at one point I go down this massive six-foot ramp or whatever it is. Oh god. Um and like we do what's called a whoop-de-doo. What's up? Um it's like a ty a way of stopping. Um so it's like um if I were to this is me here. Okay. This is the ramp. So if I were to go down like this, I then have to like sort of jump backwards to break.

SPEAKER_02 37:50

Oh. Uh-huh. Oh.

SPEAKER_00 37:52

I just completely misstepped, I guess. I just didn't break. And you know what? It wasn't even a slam, it was just a roll. I rolled into the girl playing Grease Ball who's standing there. And meanwhile, I was supposed to be singing, and I was just sliding non-stop. And I just remember looking down, and for a good two seconds looking up, and she was like this, looking over me, like, were you on the floor? On the floor. This is my first song. She was like, Are you okay? And I just remember standing up, and all the audience were looking at me, and I just went, I'm okay. Oh good, and then I just carried on, and I was just like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 38:27

The audience must be like, must know that that can happen because it literally is a show on wheels. You know what I mean? It's it's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_00 38:33

Yeah. I think I was like, I sometimes would get a bit naughty with like stuff, like for example, with my riffs. I yeah.

SPEAKER_05 38:42

He loves a riff!

SPEAKER_00 38:43

I do, I do. I would get I would get told off a lot. But you know what? Like, ask for forgiveness, not for permission.

SPEAKER_05 38:50

Oh my god, I used to live by that. Yes. I forgot about that. I used to live by that. Yes. Never ask for permission, always ask for forgiveness. Sorry, I didn't know.

SPEAKER_01 38:58

Yeah, I wouldn't know you didn't want that new, improved, extra ad lib.

SPEAKER_05 39:04

Something that I've really worked on. Yeah. Um You just wanted to give it your own flair.

SPEAKER_00 39:09

You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Like, yeah, there's been there's been a lot of that. Like, there's been there's been so many times where like small stuff has happened, and then like I will be corpsing on stage, like, for a good minute. And I I'm really bad at like like I have to say to myself, get it together, Jeeven. Get it together. Like, there was I I recently did a new musical workshop of a show called Mona Loser, which is um the writers of Two Strangers Carry a Cake.

SPEAKER_05 39:45

Oh! Oh, I love that musical.

SPEAKER_00 39:47

Oh, if you love that musical, I do. Mona Loser is like the musical. I didn't know that was happening, okay. And um obviously we'd just like, you know, because it was a workshop the day before we'd like cut through lines and like we had new scripts and all of our highlights were like in different places, and there was just one scene that just wasn't really working, I think, and everyone just kind of like kept just saying one like a little little thing wrong or something. And I was sitting down at the back and someone said one word. I don't know why I've already laughed. Someone said one word that like because there were wait, can I swear on her? Yeah. Okay, there were, thank God, uh, because I've been holding it in this whole time. There you go. There's been like there was like one character that has to say like, oh, do the fucking something or fucking whatever, you know?

SPEAKER_01 40:39

And like he used the F-word too much, and there was just one line where I could tell he just got it wrong, and he was like, Oh, do the fucking fucking fuckers fucker thing, and I was sitting at the back and no one else was reacting, and I kid you not, this was me at the back. I was like, like your shoulders just get I was laughing so much at the back that someone recorded because I was laughing for that long to myself. I was crying with laughter.

SPEAKER_05 41:05

I was just like, I was like sometimes things just really tickle you.

SPEAKER_01 41:08

And then I I literally looked to the side and I saw another cast member looking at me, and I was like, no, no, don't start, don't start, don't start.

SPEAKER_05 41:15

It's when you're at that point where it's beyond, and then you're like, I can't even have icons.

SPEAKER_00 41:19

I have to zone out, I have to zone out, I have to zone out. That was the one.

SPEAKER_05 41:22

That's so funny. See, that's a good story. That was that was worth the thinking time. Um, I always like to talk on this podcast uh about real moments in this industry. Um, because as much as we have fabulous times and we enjoy and we are passionate about what we do, there's all there's also times where it is hard and there are struggles and there are misconceptions about this industry, I think. What do you think is um one of the most um common misconceptions in this industry?

SPEAKER_00 41:53

That the life of like a musical theatre performer no matter what scale or what level is like people the amount of people who are like, oh my god, I wish I could like like just have your life. I just get to be on stage and do a little song and then go home, and you know, you must be so like it's so nice being rich and famous. I went, I'm nothing of the sort. Like at the end of the day, so many people, we lose so many great talents purely because people can't afford to stick through this industry, and that is absolutely their prerogative. I think such a big com misconception about the industry is that it is like once you get the job, once you get a job, it's like sunshine and rainbows. It's not like and I think because social media makes it look that way sometimes, like I'll see other people's story, I'll be like, oh wow, like you know, they're doing a show, then they're going to like a yoga class, and then they're going out with their friends, and then they do another show, how lovely their life must be. And I'm like, no, actually, like a lot of the time, like people are you know, this industry is so it's so uh hard because, you know, yes, we're singing, acting, and da da da, but like think of how much money theatre brought in to the industry, West End alone last year. Now think about how much people are getting paid for that.

SPEAKER_05 43:24

I was gonna say is think of how little we get from it.

SPEAKER_00 43:26

Yeah, you know what I mean? It's it's awful.

SPEAKER_05 43:29

I think people think it's because I get it a lot, even myself, and oh god, your life must be amazing. And it's like, don't get me wrong, my life is amazing, but but not because of the industry. My life's amazing because I make it amazing and I have lovely friends and you know, I have this podcast and and I do things. Um so yeah, I I massively agree. And we've both no doubt have had muggle jobs.

SPEAKER_00 43:52

We've Well, I'm trying to get one right now and it's nigh on impossible.

SPEAKER_05 43:57

There you go. So we talk about the musical theatre industry being impossible.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

Well this is my thing. This is my thing. Like if like like oh this is so honestly like I I say to myself no matter what's going on I'm living I'm healthy and there is someone in this world who even if I'm at my lowest would still want to trade lives and so I have to be grateful for what I've got. However, sometimes I'm just like, you know, I um I just wanted like to give my CV in like I've got two years hospitality experience. I was like, let me work in a cafe between jobs. I can have a nice, simple like just make a little money, make some coffees, have some fun, make some friends. And that's impossible. Like it's actually impossible.

SPEAKER_05 44:45

There's like no jobs about in whatever industry. My friends also struggle it as well. But also as well, we and like people think once you've got your one big job, it just keeps rolling and rolling and rolling. But how we get so many no's. Like even the people that you see online that are so successful, whatever success is, get no's.

SPEAKER_00 45:09

They get no's.

SPEAKER_05 45:10

And sometimes don't even get past the first round.

SPEAKER_00 45:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 45:12

It it it's just about the job.

SPEAKER_00 45:14

And it can be something that like, because I'm I'm guilty of like fan casting myself and something and then imagining my life, and I'm like, and then like I'm like, yes, and then I'll have the job and I'll be in the show, and then I imagine my life in the show. And then and then when I don't get the role, I'm like, no, that's not supposed to uh sorry, I've already made my Instagram post. Yeah, yeah. I've got it in my drafts. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_05 45:39

It's so true that I'm gonna be.

SPEAKER_00 45:40

Um what's on stage is actually messaging about this right now? What do you mean?

SPEAKER_05 45:44

Sometimes it's good to be Delilah though.

SPEAKER_00 45:46

Yeah, but you yeah, but you know what, like, especially that, like, you know, I was recently in for something which I was like, come on, like surely, surely. It I and I I think it didn't help that I saw other people commenting about it under like posts and stuff like that, being like, oh my god, this is gonna be Given Bridge.

SPEAKER_01 46:06

And I was like, uh Yes! Yes, it's gonna be me! It's me, it's me! I think I know what it is, but okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:13

And then I was like, wait a minute, pause. I've done that to myself. Like I've built up this thing in my head, and that doesn't mean that I didn't work hard for it because I did, but it's also like people really think it's like one thing to another, to another, to another, and it's nothing of the sort at the end of the day. Like someone who is m like suited better to that role got the part.

SPEAKER_05 46:36

And who am I to I remember that happening? I won't mention who it is, um, but it's someone well known in the century, and it was many years ago, and it was very telling on their social media that they were really wanted this part, and it was and then the show came and everyone was commenting. Yeah, everyone was commenting like this, this, this, and this, and then I I can't I don't remember what happened or whether they they basically didn't get it, and there's this like huge pressure that comes from people, right?

SPEAKER_00 47:07

And then you felt like not only have you let yourself down, but you've let them down. Yeah, that's how I felt recently because I was like, wait, God, I was like, shit, there's a hashtag. There's a hashtag, and I was like, And I've not got it, you know? Um Yeah, it's it's just But you know, but you know what, like like this is what I mean. Like we said it early in the episode. If it's not meant for you, then it'll go by. Then it will go by. And that is okay because you know what you know, I think also it's so easy for us to tell other people this, but then, you know, as actors, it's so like we're we don't take our own advice. You know what I mean? And it's it's like we're we're very like, you know, the no's that we get now will make the yeses that we get later down the line so much more worth it.

SPEAKER_05 47:52

Oh, absolutely. And nothing beats a a good graft.

SPEAKER_00 47:56

Thank you. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_05 47:57

So then you feel like I've aren't this.

SPEAKER_00 47:58

Yeah, and and and if you're going from job to job to job, great for you. And it means that those jobs were right for you at that time, you know? But if you've gone from one job to nothing to maybe a job in the future, or if you've gone from no job to maybe something virtual, that means that that job was right for you at that time. Because you know, you don't know what else is gonna happen in your life in the meantime, and it's just so important to just remember that life is not as you see it on like social media and stuff like that. And I think that's that's the biggest misconception that I've learned about. Love that. Yeah. See how I linked it back to the question at the end.

SPEAKER_05 48:37

Well done. It's like you're a podcast host yourself. What baby? Let's plug your podcast. What is it?

SPEAKER_00 48:44

Um the DRail podcast. Um guys, guys, guys, guys, guys, let's get into it because I cannot tell you that like I get more messages about the podcast than I do about me, how I'm doing, anything like that now. Which is great, but I am sorry. Um because we kind of did say that we are coming back. And we are coming back. We're coming back. We did this originally with the first, like, we put some episodes out just for fun, and then we were very surprised that like um the response was great. We got some stats at the end of the year, and they were like, and we were like, oh wow, okay.

SPEAKER_01 49:17

And people are actually listening.

SPEAKER_00 49:18

Yeah, oh we were just doing it for shits and giggles, you know? Um so and then we advertised it, and then we just like kind of left it alone for a bit because it's just hard. We're three people with very different schedules, but the second our schedules align. Align, you shall be getting like awesome stuff. We'll get Charlotte on.

SPEAKER_05 49:39

And I'll be oh please get me on. I've never been on a podcast. What? No, babe, why would I be on a podcast?

SPEAKER_00 49:44

Why wouldn't you be?

unknown 49:45

Thanks.

SPEAKER_00 49:45

Period. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 49:46

I've never been on a podcast.

SPEAKER_00 49:47

Right, if you like this duo, if you like this duo.

SPEAKER_05 49:49

Oh my god! Comment below if you love it. Period. I love it.

SPEAKER_00 49:52

I love it too.

SPEAKER_05 49:53

Um, talk to me about your dreams. What do you want? Uh and it could be musical theatre related or not.

SPEAKER_00 49:58

Like Well, before I talk to you about my dreams, I will tell you about a dream I had last night.

SPEAKER_05 50:02

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 50:03

I dreamt, oh, this was the best dream I've ever had in my life. Um and I'm gonna write this on my notes app so I never forget it.

SPEAKER_05 50:10

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 50:10

Do that with your dreams, guys, because your brain is is programmed to forget your dreams.

SPEAKER_05 50:14

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:15

Hello.

SPEAKER_05 50:15

You ever woken up and then it's like, I'm gonna have a stream. Five minutes later, you can't remember. Boom! Go. Yeah, really well.

SPEAKER_00 50:19

I have that with not just dreams, but just things in general, just day-to-day life.

SPEAKER_05 50:23

You're gonna walk out of here and be like, what did I just do?

SPEAKER_00 50:25

Yeah. Where am I? Who are you?

SPEAKER_05 50:28

Where am I? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:29

Um, I had a dream where I was um taken in by Beyoncé, and I was her daughter Blue Ivy's best friend, and we just had we spent the whole summer like in her mansion.

SPEAKER_05 50:40

No, sorry, that's iconic.

SPEAKER_00 50:42

It was the best dream I've ever had.

SPEAKER_05 50:43

Are you sure that was a dream or not a daydream?

SPEAKER_00 50:45

That was a manifestation, in fact. Yes. Forget dream roles. That's the role I want. Um I love that. Okay, dreams in the industry.

SPEAKER_05 50:52

It doesn't have to be in the industry, it could be like I've had people just say happiness.

SPEAKER_00 50:56

No, I shan't be saying that. Okay, fair enough.

SPEAKER_05 50:58

Fair enough. Fair enough.

SPEAKER_00 51:01

Um You know why? Because if I get these roles, that will bring me happiness.

SPEAKER_05 51:07

Okay, fair enough.

SPEAKER_00 51:09

Did that work?

SPEAKER_05 51:10

Well, it it depends what your version of happiness is.

SPEAKER_00 51:13

That's fair. Um Beyonce. Beyonce tickets for act three.

SPEAKER_05 51:18

Just to be Beyonce Beyonce.

SPEAKER_00 51:19

Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce. Um I I have a bunch of dreams. I really want to be on screen. Um one day I want to be in Doctor Who.

SPEAKER_05 51:29

Oh my god. Love it, it's specific.

SPEAKER_00 51:31

I I've been and people don't think it about me. Um but yeah, I love, love, love Doctor Who, like, with all my heart. Like. Oh, ever since the good old days, like seriously.

SPEAKER_05 51:42

I've never seen it, I can't lie. What? I know, I've never seen it. Never seen it. I just about know what a TARDIS is. It's really bad, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 51:52

Christ Alive. Okay. That's for another day. So I'm gonna get Charlotte hooked on Doctor Who. Nice. Um Doctor Who, um I have some dream musicals that I love. Oh, do you?

SPEAKER_05 52:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:04

Can you share? Yeah. Um one I'd love to be Orpheus. In Hades Town.

SPEAKER_05 52:10

I've never I've never seen it.

SPEAKER_00 52:12

Me neither.

SPEAKER_05 52:12

Oh when you looked at me and was like, me neither.

SPEAKER_00 52:18

Um no, but I just know it.

SPEAKER_05 52:20

Do you know the soundtrack? How is it your dream? I don't know what it's happening.

SPEAKER_00 52:24

Because it is. I just know it is. I'm Okay, fine. I know full well that that is something that I want to do, and I know it's something that like in a weird way I keep stopping myself from like watching it and listening to it because like I want to experience it for the first time. Like, you know those sorts of shows where you're like, I wish I could go back to the first time I ever watched this. I want to do that knowing that I'm gonna be in it.

SPEAKER_03 52:46

Wow. Oh, I rate that. Thank you. Good for you.

SPEAKER_00 52:50

Yeah, it's kind of self-sabotagey because I may never be in it, and then I've just deprived myself. We don't say touch wood. Um rent. Oh, what a shame. Right.

SPEAKER_05 53:01

What a shame. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:03

That that that's a dream.

SPEAKER_05 53:04

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:04

That's a dream. Um, and I think, to be honest, stage-wise. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 53:12

Maybe original work.

SPEAKER_00 53:13

Oh, I'd love an original work. Yeah. Or a Philip in Hamilton.

SPEAKER_05 53:18

Nice. I've still not seen that either. No, I've got to be. No, no, no. Because I've worked for the company like for DMT Front of House, I've seen bits and bobs. And because I've seen bits and bobs, I'm like, I'm not paying over £10. No, that's bad. I'll pay £10 of that.

SPEAKER_00 53:34

Any theatre I go to now, like, I want to pay more than like, you know.

SPEAKER_05 53:38

Because nowadays, yeah. Literally, I will give you my left shoe, and that's about it.

SPEAKER_00 53:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 53:43

Not even.

SPEAKER_00 53:43

Um they cost a kidney nowadays. They really do. It's crazy. Um, but yeah, no, for me, stage and screen, I really want to be in. Yeah. Sitting on your screen.

SPEAKER_05 53:52

No. On my screen.

SPEAKER_00 53:53

On your screen. Wow. Specifically.

SPEAKER_05 53:55

Um we're gonna go into our final question of the podcast, and it is a listener question. And the question is when you get an audition, talk to talk us through your process leading up to the audition. So say you've got an audition in your inbox. What's next?

SPEAKER_00 54:09

Oof, that's the dream. Um maybe one day.

SPEAKER_05 54:13

Uh see, this is our lives.

SPEAKER_00 54:16

Uh I know, right? Um okay. Oh Google the musical, Google the parts for the next 20 minutes. Malapedative daydreaming.

SPEAKER_05 54:28

That's a big word. I don't even know what that means.

SPEAKER_00 54:30

I probably not even said it right. I don't know, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_05 54:32

I'm convinced.

SPEAKER_00 54:33

I will basically just do what I did earlier and just imagine myself in the character and convince myself that I'm playing the character. Yep, love it. Uh and then obviously if it's like a self-tape, oh do the self-tape. I hate self-tapes. Um, but when it comes to auditions, I like I think about okay, what can I wear that slightly like essence. You know what I mean? But not shoves it down their throat. Yeah. Like, yeah, I'll think of a little hint. And then um Anthony and Sweeney Todd, that's another dream. Just came to me. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_05 55:06

Um Do you um watch the musical like online? Do you find a bootleg? Or is it just like you research the scene, the song?

SPEAKER_00 55:12

No, no, no. I I I um not unless like I was getting further into it, further into it. And then in the audition room, I have to make them laugh. If I've not made them laugh, I know I I know I'm not like my best. Yeah, because because that's like that's like my thing. Like something like I usually tell them a story when I walk in or da da da and it will probably be fake. But you know what? Like you know what?

SPEAKER_05 55:37

If it gets some laughing, laughing the way by fake I mean my name, you know. I love that. Okay, cool.

SPEAKER_00 55:43

Yeah, that's that's pretty much that's pretty much my I I think at the end of the day, all you can do in an audition is actually just be yourself and be your own talent.

SPEAKER_05 55:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 55:51

Um, but there's definitely things you can do to accentuate it.

SPEAKER_05 55:54

Yeah, 100%. Yeah. Well, thank you. We've come to the end of the podcast. With all my guests, I literally say the same thing. I'm like a broken record, but I honestly could just chat to you for hours. Because even now I'm like, oh I gotta have this question.

SPEAKER_00 56:04

This question is No, I so get you, Babe. I so get you.

SPEAKER_05 56:06

No, thank you so much for giving me your time. It's been an absolute dream. It's so nice to just hang out again as well. Likewise, it's been years. So yeah, he's been Jeeven. I've been Charlotte.

SPEAKER_02 56:15

She's been Charlotte.

SPEAKER_05 56:17

Thank you so much for watching, guys, and please like, subscribe, and comment. Um, comment if you enjoyed this duo, because maybe we'll make a reappearance. Who knows?

SPEAKER_02 56:25

Who knows?

SPEAKER_05 56:26

Well, see you next week.