Ella Karuna Williams is playing Patty Newby in Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Ella is from the US and previously played Patty in multiple workshops of Stranger Things. She moved to London to make her West End debut in the show which opened at the Phoenix Theatre in December 2023. Stranger Things just won two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design.

On screen, Ella appeared in The Equalizer. She is also a singer/songwriter and recently released her debut EP, Silent Noise.

At 18 years old, Ella is our youngest ever In The Frame guest! In this episode she discusses moving to London, taking Stranger Things from workshop to full production, her path into theatre and lots more.

Follow Ella on Instagram @ellakarunawilliams and for info about Stranger Things: The First Shadow visit www.uk.strangerthingsonstage.com

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Whilst taking a hiatus from her run as Anne Boleyn in Six, Laura Dawn Pyatt is currently part of the ensemble of 42 Balloons by Jack Godfrey.

Laura first joined the cast of 42 Balloons when the musical had a concert run in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre. The show is now receiving its fully staged premiere at The Lowry in Salford and Laura is reprising her performance for this new iteration of its journey.

42 Balloons is inspired by the highly improbable true story of how Larry, and his partner Carol Van Deusen, convinced their friends and family to help Larry achieve his dream of flying. Featuring an 80s pop-inspired score, 42 Balloons questions how far you would go to make your dreams come true; is the sky actually the limit, and what happens if it doesn’t all go to plan?

Laura joined Six The Musical’s UK & International tour cast in April 2023, starring as Anne Boleyn. She has taken a break from the show to do 42 Balloons and is set to return to the company to finish off her run later in the year.

Some of Laura’s other theatre credits include performing with Bat Out Of Hell at the Big Night of Musicals (AO Arena Manchester), playing Claire in Ordinary Days directed by Julie Atherton (Cockpit Theatre), Dick Whittington and Jack & The Beanstalk (Royal & Derngate) and Eliza in Brass (Bernie Grant Arts Centre).

Laura has worked as a choreographer, performed in concerts, appeared on screen and been part of many other projects.

Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Laura discusses what it's like to be back in 42 Balloons, conquering her confidence with Six, navigating her career after leaving drama school without an agent and lots more.

42 Balloons runs at The Lowry in Salford 18th April - 19th May 2024. Visit www.42balloons.com for info and tickets.

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Fresh from her runs as Elphaba and Fantine, Lucie Jones is preparing to play two solo concerts at Cadogan Hall in May.

Lucie is renowned for her solo shows; in recent years she has performed solo concerts at the Adelphi Theatre and His Majesty’s Theatre in the West End as well as on tour with the 50-piece Fulltone Orchestra.

Lucie has also launched the Lucie Jones Academy and is busy teaching workshops alongside industry friends across the UK and beyond.

Lucie burst on to our screens in the 2009 series of The X Factor (ITV) and has gone on to become one of the most renowned leading ladies in British musical theatre. She made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Misérables and went on to play roles including Meat in We Will Rock You (International Arena Tour), Victoria in American Psycho (Almedia Theatre), Molly in Ghost (Asian Tour), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve & UK Tour), Holly in The Wedding Singer (UK Tour), Maureen in Rent (St James Theatre & UK Tour), Lou in Girlfriends (LMTO), Heidi in Title Of Show (Digital Production) and The Ghost Of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (Dominion Theatre).

Lucie had an acclaimed run as Jenna in Waitress (Adelphi Theatre / UK & Ireland Tour). Her most recent credits include starring as Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre) and Fantine in Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre). Lucie also recently starred in the workshop of 13 Going On 30, the staged concert of Super You (Lyric Theatre) and is about to play Catherine in the Pippin 50th Anniversary Concert (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Lucie represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2017 and released the album Lucie Jones Live At The Adelphi in 2020.

Marking her third time In The Frame, in this episode we rewind to Lucie's early days post X Factor and how she took control of her career early on. Lucie also discusses her final Elphaba show, her run as Fantine, hustle culture and the friends she has picked up throughout her career...and so much more!

You can see Lucie in concert at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 12th May 2024. Visit www.cadoganhall.com for info and tickets. For details about The Lucie Jones Academy visit www.luciejones.com/academy

Hosted by Andrew Tomlins
@AndrewTomlins32

Thanks for listening!

Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk
Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify