Before the Applause Podcast
by David Watson
Latest episode
Ghostwriting the Greats: Legacy, Lights & the Language of Spectacle…
Ghostwriting the Greats: Legacy, Lights & the Language of Spectacle…
About this podcast
Before the Applause Podcast – hosted by David Watson – is your backstage pass to the creative industries. This audio deep dive uncovers the real stories behind the arts and cultural experiences we all enjoy but rarely think about before the curtain rises.
Each episode brings you candid conversations with the people who make it happen—dancers, producers, designers, actors, DJs, photographers, costumers, marketers, publicists, data analysts, and many more. From the triumphs to the challenges, David lifts the lid on what it truly means to build a career in this dynamic and ever-evolving industry.
Whether you’re an aspiring creative, a seasoned professional, or just curious about the work behind the magic, Before the Applause is here to celebrate the people who bring ideas to life.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 21 episodes
- Ghostwriting the Greats: Legacy, Lights & the Language of Spectacle with Dan Shipton · 45 min · Season 2 Episode 15Step behind the curtain with Dan Shipton, the visionary creative director whose spectacular work has dazzled millions worldwide. As co-founder of Black Skull Creative, Dan has…
- Midlands to Main Stage: Leaps, Lashes & Limitless Ambition with Harvey Bowen (aka Naya Thorn) · 1 h 3 min · Season 2 Episode 14Meet Harvey Bowen – the 23-year-old creative force behind the fierce fashions and perfect paint of rising drag sensation Naya Thorn. In this intimate conversation, Harvey takes…
- Ballet to Bridgerton: A Life Beyond the Barre & Breaking Through with Max Westwell · 1 h 6 min · Season 2 Episode 13When Max Westwell stepped away from a successful 12-year career with English National Ballet, many thought he was making a catastrophic mistake. But Max has always been driven by…
- Blue Circles and Breaking Boundaries: The Art of Drag & Self-Discovery with Pip Doran / Sister Sister · 1 h 2 min · Season 2 Episode 12Creativity blooms in unexpected places. For Pip Doran - better known to fans worldwide as the blue circle-wearing Scouse drag superstar Sister Sister - early inspiration came…
- Spectacle with Substance: Rooted in Community, Built on Vision with Niccy Hallifax · 1 h 1 min · Season 2 Episode 11Meeting Niccy Hallifax feels like encountering a whirlwind of creative energy. This extraordinary producer and artistic director has shaped some of our most memorable cultural…
- From Wishbone to World Stage: A Life in Performance, Purpose, and Passing It On with Helen Thom · 1 h 16 min · Season 2 Episode 10What happens when your childhood wish on a chicken wishbone shapes your entire life? For Helen Thom, that wish for ballet lessons at age six sparked a journey from passionate…
- Storytellers Wanted: No Gatekeepers Allowed as the Stage Belongs to Everyone with Suzie Henderson · 1 h 1 min · Season 2 Episode 9Meet Suzie Henderson, a fierce advocate for community-driven creative leadership who's helping rewrite the rules of cultural spaces as Creative Director at Storyhouse in Chester…
- Chaos Demon in a Tailcoat: When Illustration Meets Drag with Sev Heyn / Franz Genau · 57 min · Season 2 Episode 8Step into the captivating world of Franz Genau, a self-described "German drag king chaos demon" whose white-faced, mustachioed persona has become a striking presence in…
- The Renegade Journey: From Digital Disruptor to Bestselling Author with Maya Gabrielle · 1 h 19 min · Season 2 Episode 7Maya Gabrielle, better known to millions of young readers as bestselling children's author M.G Leonard, takes us on an exhilarating journey through her remarkably unconventional…
- From Darkness to Finding Light: Shooting Icons & Shaping Culture with Magnus Hastings · 1 h 2 min · Season 2 Episode 6Magnus Hastings carries the rare distinction of being a photographer whose work you've likely seen even if you don't recognise his name. From capturing President Bill Clinton and…
- Crafting Characters: The Art & Business of Creative Partnerships with Shep & Chris · 1 h 40 min · Season 2 Episode 5What makes the perfect creative partnership? How do character designers breathe life into the magical beings that captivate audiences? And how can creative professionals maintain…
- When Hearts Synchronise: The Healing Power of the Arts with Emma Nowell · 1 h 1 min · Season 2 Episode 4Emma Noel's creative journey reads like a masterclass in artistic resilience and reinvention. From backing vocals at Eurovision 2003 (with the infamous "nil points" Gemini entry)…
- The Dance of Revolution: Resilience and Adaptability with Laura Harvey · 1 h 21 min · Season 2 Episode 3What does it mean to choose fulfilment over happiness in a creative career? Laura Harvey, Head of Creative Programmes at English National Ballet, shares her powerful journey from…
- When the World Is Watching: Creating Moments That Matter with Martin Green CBE · 55 min · Season 2 Episode 2What does it really take to create cultural moments that captivate millions? Martin Green CBE pulls back the curtain on his extraordinary career spanning the London 2012 Olympic…
- Dance Like Everybody’s Watching: Community, Creativity and the realities of a dance career with Paul Doyle · 48 min · Season 2 Episode 1What does it take to build a thriving dance career against the backdrop of dwindling arts funding and disappearing courses? Paul Doyle reveals exactly that, sharing his…
- Experiential marketing, innovation and empathy with Dawn Payne · 56 min · Season 1 Episode 5Join us for an enlightening sit-down with marketing visionary, Dawn Payne. Dawn takes us from her modest beginnings in Bootle to her influential role at Nintendo, where she…
- Pushing Boundaries in Costume Design and Igniting Creativity with Tahra Zafar · 58 min · Season 1 Episode 4Get ready to journey into a world where creativity meets ergonomics as we chat with Tahra Zafar, a remarkable costume and creature puppet creator. Tahra's work has graced films…
- Exploring Community Engagement & Arts from Education to UK City of Culture with Louise Yates · 1 h 10 min · Season 1 Episode 3We're thrilled to host the pint-sized powerhouse, Louise Yates, a luminary in the arts renowned for her pioneering approach to community engagement. Prepare to join us as we…
- Understanding Human Minds to Revolutionise Arts Marketing with Wesley Thistlethwaite · 59 min · Season 1 Episode 2The glow of the chicken shop might seem worlds away from the grandeur of the box office, and audience insights and analysis, but not for our guest Wez Thistlethwaite, who credits…
- Navigating the Evolving World of Creative Arts with Kate Scanlan · 54 min · Season 1 Episode 1Have you ever wondered what it's like to navigate the constantly evolving world of the creative art sector? We spent a captivating hour with our guest, the multifaceted Kate…
