In a decades spanning career, Danny Sapani has become one of the most revered actors of his generation. After recently starring in the titular role of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre, he is currently playing Walter "Pops" Washington in the UK premiere of Between Riverside and Crazy at the Hampstead Theatre. Having previously worked on the Hampstead stage in Anderson's English, Danny tells us about the full circle moment of getting work opposite his drama school: Central School of Speech and Drama. Having gained considerable success on screen in dramas such as Killing Eve, Harlots and The Crown, we also get to hear him talk about his love for theatre and the excitement around getting to work during a particularly exciting time for the industry.

In our interview, Danny Sapani talks to us about the parallels between Lear and Pops, and his love for the intellectual challenge of getting to play unlikeable characters. Between Riverside and Crazy sees him playing a retired policeman struggling to maintain control of his home, estranged from his son and dealing with demons from his past. The Pulitzer Prize winning play was first performed in 2014 in the United States and we hear Danny reflect on how the themes of the play are just as relevant now in a British context as they are in America. We also hear him talk about how the themes in the play speak to him in his current stage of life and share his gratitude to Stephen Adly Guirgis and Michael Longhurst for developing such a relevant piece of drama.

Between Riverside and Crazy runs at Hampstead Theatre until 15 June.

Since leaving RADA in 2016, Jamael Westman has led productions at the Royal Court, Shakespeare's Globe and of course took on the title role of Alexander Hamilton in Lin-Manuel Miranda's blockbuster musical in the West End's premiere cast. Now, he is starring in the National Theatre's production of London Tide, an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend by Ben Power with songs by PJ Harvey. The show is currently playing in the Lyttleton Theatre and is directed by Ian Rickson. In the show, Jamael plays Eugene Wrayburn, a character that he particular admires and feels proud to be playing alongside a delightful cast of actors that includes Peter Wight, Tom Mothersdale and Bella Maclean.

In this brand new interview, Jamael Westman speaks passionately about the importance of love and empathy in a world that feels increasingly apathetic. After starring in politically themed works like Hamilton and Patriots, he tells us about how he sees being an actor as a political act too and he encourages those around him to be more empathetic and show love to others. We hear him reflect on the parallels between Dickens' London and modern London where the gap between the rich and poor continues to widen. Still, he remains positive about the world we live and shares his hope that people will come away from his latest show wanting to take action and decrease inequality. He also tells us about his desire for diversity and representation in theatre, to showcase a London which he loves and comes from in the hope more diverse talent will enter the industry as well. It's a fascinating conversation which leaves you with plenty of food for thought and we hope you enjoy listening.

London Tide runs at Lyttleton Theatre, National Theatre until 22nd June.

Since her debut in Godspell on tour in 1994, Anna Francolini has cemented herself as one of the most respected actresses on the UK stage. In a remarkable career now spanning 3 decades, she has since earned a TMA Award for Best Actress for playing the title role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and worked on landmark productions of both plays and musicals. Some of her most notable credits include working on acclaimed productions of Stephen Sondheim's musicals such as Sam Mendes' Company, Michael Grandage's Merrily We Rolle Along, both at the Donmar Warehouse as well as Jamie Lloyd's Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory. She is now currently starring as Olivia in William Shakespeare's classic comedy Twelfth Night (Or What You Will), working opposite the likes of Julie Legrand and Richard Cant, under the direction of RSC Associate Artist Owen Horsley.

In our interview, Anna Francolini talks candidly about the struggles of working in the theatre industry and tells us how grateful she is to be able to still find meaty roles 30 years since her debut. She tells us about her admiration for Shakespeare having previously worked on The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream to great acclaim although remains humble about her knowledge about approaching his work. We also hear her share her excitement at getting to play in Regent's Park Open Air Theatre for the first time and getting to share in the magic of outdoor theatre. Over her career, Anna has also gained considerable credits on screen too working on House of the Dragon, Vera and Roadkill just to name a few. Still, she remains committed to theatre and live audiences and we hope to see her continue to share her incredible theatrical talents for 30 more years.

Twelfth Night runs at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 8th June with tickets available NOW!