Call To Stage with Amber Davies

On this episode of Call To Stage, we're joined by the sensational Karen Mavundukure - Amber's Paulette, partner in on-stage comedy crime and self-described forever sister.
Karen's journey into musical theatre came almost by accident. After moving to the UK from Zimbabwe as a child and studying straight music at LIPA with no intention of going into theatre, she stumbled into the industry via The X Factor and a chance audition, going on to play alternate Effie in the original West End cast of Dreamgirls.
She has since starred in The Color Purple (UK Tour), Stranger Things: The First Shadow (West End), and now stars as Paulette in the UK Tour of Legally Blonde.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Karen talk about the unconventional route Karen took to landing Paulette, unique creative freedom of director Nikolai Foster's rehearsal room and the comedic chemistry between Paulette and Elle that has become one of the heart-and-soul moments of the show.
There are also brilliant stories from Dreamgirls, The Color Purple and Stranger Things, as well as a candid conversation about the toll of pushing through illness on tour, touring digs gone wrong, and letting go of vocal-health rituals that had become more of a burden than a help.

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On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber is flying solo — and this time it's a full Q&A, straight from her Instagram.
With a phone full of questions from her followers, Amber settles in for one of the most fun, frank and wide-ranging episodes she's ever recorded. This one covers everything!
Amber opens up about the realities of touring in a leading role for the second time — how it compares to Pretty Woman, what she's learned about looking after herself, and why playing Elle Woods still genuinely doesn't feel like work. She gets candid about managing mental health on the road, dealing with drama (or choosing not to) and the hard-won wisdom that comes with doing this job for over a decade.
There are behind-the-scenes moments too — including the story of the quick change that went spectacularly wrong on closing night in Sheffield — as well as heartfelt reflections on the co-stars who have shaped her most, from Louise Redknapp teaching her the ropes of the public eye on 9 to 5, to Corbin Blue showing her what it means to truly give in a scene, to the unspoken comedy rhythm she has found with her Legally Blonde co-star Karen.
Amber also answers fan questions on her dream roles, her favourite theatres, Strictly, long distance relationships, blanking on stage, and — inevitably — which kind of potato she would be.

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On this episode of Call To Stage, we're joined by the wonderfully warm and completely charming Laura Baldwin.
Laura has built one of the most varied and impressive careers in British musical theatre. A natural comedienne with a voice to match, her credits include Lena Lamont in Singin' in the Rain (Royal Exchange Manchester), Dawn in the original West End cast of Waitress, Danielle in the London production of 101 Dalmatians and a stint in the original West End cast of Cinderella — where she found a lifelong soul sister in co-star Georgina Castle.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Laura talk about the surreal experience of landing Lena Lamont after a single audition, the door-flinging moment of being cast in Waitress and stepping into the West End for the first time, and the beautiful chaos of being bridesmaid at the wedding of the season.
There are also brilliant stories from 101 Dalmatians, Shrek and Cinderella as well as an honest and funny conversation about imposter syndrome in the rehearsal room, the agony of first day read-throughs and the importance of learning to fill your own cup.

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On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber is joined by the effortlessly charming, brilliantly funny and refreshingly down-to-earth Jacob Fowler.
Jacob has had one of the most unconventional and exciting paths into musical theatre - after discovering a love of performing doing Into the Woods at school, he left drama school early to compete on Little Mix: The Search — the BBC talent show that changed the course of his life — before going on to win the competition and support Little Mix on their final arena tour at the O2.
He made his professional theatre debut as JD in Heathers at the Other Palace, went on to play the Addams Family on tour alongside Alexandra Burke and Leslie Joseph, and most recently starred in in the eleven-time Olivier Award-nominated production of Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Jacob talk about the surreal bubble of filming Little Mix: The Search during lockdown, the unexpected joy of being a standby and the unconventional routes into the industry.
There are also brilliant stories from Heathers, the Olivier Awards and life with the Into the Woods company, as well as a lively debate about touring versus the West End and Jacob's dream role...

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On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber is joined by the extraordinarily talented, endlessly wise and brilliantly warm Killian Donnelly.
Killian is one of the most decorated and versatile performers of his generation. A GRAMMY Award nominee and two-time Olivier Award nominee, his remarkable career began — with no formal training — as a swing in Les Misérables in the West End, a show he has returned to time and again, eventually playing Jean Valjean in the West End, World Arena Tour and the iconic 40th Anniversary Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
His other landmark credits include Charlie Price in Kinky Boots in the West End and on Broadway, Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Hughie Calhoun in Memphis The Musical, Tony in Billy Elliot, and Deco in The Commitments under the direction of Jamie Lloyd.
On this episode of Call To Stage, Amber and Killian talk about the extraordinary moment he performed at the Academy Awards in LA, what it was like standing on the Royal Albert Hall stage surrounded by 400 amateur theatre performers for the Les Misérables 40th Anniversary Royal Variety Performance and how he went from no training to becoming one of the most sought-after leading men in British musical theatre.
There are also brilliant stories from Kinky Boots, Memphis, Billy Elliot and his time on Broadway, as well as a masterclass in acting — the power of the pause, honouring the most important thing in the room, and why banging a table always means you've lost the argument.

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