Thespie announce new online concerts and artist talks

Theatre streaming platform Thespie has announced a new concerts and artist talks for February.

Premiering on 19 February, Break Free will mark LGBT+ History Month in the UK with an empowering musical celebration with LGBT+ theatre artists, sharing their personal journeys and performances of musical theatre and pop songs that have inspired them.

The cast includes Natasha Agnew, Paul Baker, Allie Daniel, Eloise Davis, Andrew Derbyshire, Nick Hayes, Mark Inscoe, Eleanor Kane, Millie O’Connell, Alex Thomas-Smith, Courtney Stapleton, La Voix, Andrew Patrick-Walker, Shona White, Layton Williams and Charlotte Yorke. Proceeds will go to LGBT+ charity Stonewall UK.

Later in the month, The Road to Prominence will stream from 26 February. Marking Black History Month in the US, the show will celebrate Black musical theatre creators, from the early twentieth century to today, including performances and interviews with leading UK theatre performers. Proceeds will go to Black Lives Matter UK.

The filmed concert is directed by Dominic Powell whose musical Cases is featured in the concert, alongside works such as The Wiz, The Color Purple, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Shuffle Along.

The cast includes Zoe Birkett, Adrian Hansel, Waylon Jacobs, Aisha Jawando, Bobby Little, Maiya Quansah-Breed, Alex Thomas-Smith and Andrew Patrick-Walker.

Tickets for Break Free and The Road to Prominence cost £8 and will be available to watch for 72 hours on demand after purchase.

Meanwhile a series of stars have been confirmed for new free artist talks in two separate series: In the Room, conversations with performers and creators about writing, rehearsal, and collaboration; and Thespie Thursdays, informal artist chats designed to show artists in a more personal light.

The In the Room will feature Everybody’s Talking About Jamie movie star Max Harwood (3 February) and cast members from the Leicester Curve production of The Color Purple in conversation with Dominic Powell (10 February). Further names are to be announced.

Thespie Thursdays will welcome Eloise Davis and Courtney Stapleton (4 February), Millie O’Connell (11 February), Genesis Lynea (18 February) and Melanie La Barrie (25 February).

You can watch the artist talks for free on Thespie’s YouTube channel.

About the author: Rachel Wise

UK based freelancer journalist Rachel contributes regularly to Stageberry with features and interviews from the hottest new shows and stage stars.