Episode notes
Izzie Rush grew up performing in professional child choirs before finding her true home in technical theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. We chat about her transition from performer to Head of Sound, the balance between technical precision and invisible artistic mixing on major productions like Les Misérables and We Will Rock You, and the creative energy required to mix the immersive West End revival of Cabaret. The post Izzie Rush appeared first on Putting it Together .
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S2 · E486 · 15 Sep 2026 · 54 min
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“Very rarely does my original idea or concept end up being what’s on stage, it’s a negotiation, a collaborative experience. That’s when the magic happens.” Steve Lauder-Russell has choreographed pantos, directed youth theatre productions, and worked as a movement director on everything from Edinburgh Fringe shows to brand new Scottish musicals (currently Wallace the Musical). But when Cole asked him about his process, it was this idea – that the best work happens in the gap between your concept and what the performer brings back to you – that cut to the heart of what he actually does. The…
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S2 · E485 · 9 Sep 2026 · 34 min
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Cole and Brian do the Glasgow to London catch-up! The post Down the Line appeared first on Putting it Together .
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S2 · E484 · 3 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Stephen Matthews
“I started at a drama school in London. I left after four days.” Stephen Matthews has been a jobbing actor for over 30 years, but he’s never forgotten who’s in the seats. We talk about the trap of long running shows, how easy it is to slip into autopilot when you’ve done 500 performances and how he fights against it every night. He also reveals why he walked away from a four year stint in The Lion King after a moment of brutal honesty backstage. “An actor I was on stage with looked at me and said, ‘Sorry mate, I wasn’t listening.’ And in my head, that was when I went. I’ve got to go.” It’s a…
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S2 · E483 · 25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Yana Harris
Yana Harris spoke to Brian about her West End debut in Trainspotting: The Musical. She learned firsthand how quickly things shift in commercial theatre from having her main song cut hours before the first preview to finding out the national tour was cancelled mid-run. They talk about handling industry heartbreak with grace, avoiding the trap of cynicism, and finding joy in the work anyway. The post Yana Harris appeared first on Putting it Together .
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S2 · E482 · 19 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Tyler Collins
Actor Tyler Collins soundproofed his home studio with leftover meal kit packaging stuck to acoustic foam, a trick he found completely by accident. We sat down with the Alaska-raised, Glasgow-trained actor (you’ll know him from panto stages across Scotland, plus voice work in Eiyuden Chronicle and Forza Horizon 5) to talk comedy technique, industry awards culture, and why he thinks actors should make their own work. The post Tyler Collins appeared first on Putting it Together .
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S2 · E480 · 4 Aug 2026 · 30 min
The Reason and the Topic
Brian reflects on his first ever sick days and how it impacts his spreadsheet… The post The Reason and the Topic appeared first on Putting it Together .
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S2 · E479 · 28 Jul 2026 · 47 min
Jo Freer
Jo Freer joins Cole Stewart to talk about two decades in Scottish theatre, becoming "the Dormouse" after a memorable Tron panto role, and her unexpected move into BBC storylining — training at EastEnders before working on River City until the show ended. A candid conversation about panto, industry change, and choosing to build a career in Scotland.
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S2 · E478 · 21 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
Ben van Tienen
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S2 · E477 · 14 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Baker Mukasa
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S2 · E476 · 8 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Fred Gray
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