Life After Jazz Hands is a podcast that celebrates the many paths our lives can take, and the diverse stories and characters who are - or have been - drawn to the performing arts.
My name is Matthew Russell-Jones and 20 years ago I graduated from musical theatre college. Back then, I had ideas about how my life and career would look, what constituted success, and what I wanted from the decades ahead.
But I’ve since realised that our lives can take many unexpected twists and turns. And this got me thinking: what were my classmates & others I met along the way professinally? So now, I’m sitting down with them individually to hear about their stories and to understand where they are now, 20 years or so on.
From performers and directors to doctors and barbers, Life After Jazz Hands charts the diverse careers of a single graduating class across two decades. Along the way, it also explores the moments and experiences that shape us: loss, parenthood, relationships, ill health, and opportunities in the most surprising places. Join us as we navigate the highs, the lows, and the unexpected encores in the lives of those who once shared a stage.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Life After Jazz Hands is a podcast that celebrates the many paths our lives can take, and the diverse stories and characters who are - or have been - drawn to the performing arts.
My name is Matthew Russell-Jones and 20 years ago I graduated from musical theatre college. Back then, I had ideas about how my life and career would look, what constituted success, and what I wanted from the decades ahead.
But I’ve since realised that our lives can take many unexpected twists and turns. And this got me thinking: what were my classmates & others I met along the way professinally? So now, I’m sitting down with them individually to hear about their stories and to understand where they are now, 20 years or so on.
From performers and directors to doctors and barbers, Life After Jazz Hands charts the diverse careers of a single graduating class across two decades. Along the way, it also explores the moments and experiences that shape us: loss, parenthood, relationships, ill health, and opportunities in the most surprising places. Join us as we navigate the highs, the lows, and the unexpected encores in the lives of those who once shared a stage.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anna Jane-Casey has recently finished playing the iconic 'Sybil Fawlty; in the sell-out run of 'FAWLTY TOWERS' at the Apollo Theatre and prior to this she originated the role of 'Fraulein Fritzie Kost' in the award winning production of 'CABARET' at the KitKat Club/Playhouse alongside Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley.
You can hear Anna Jane Casey on the Charity Single 'I'm a Woman' for Ovarian Cancer as part of 'Woman' alongside Kerry Ellis, Mazz Murray and Gina Murray featuring the one and only Brian May - https://myslink.app/womantheband
Anna was born in Manchester, and grew up in Rawtenstall alongside her sister Natalie Casey. After receiving her dance and performance training at ‘LUPINOS’, at 16 she booked your first job in the West End Production of ‘CATS’.
From here she went on to appear in the Original West End casts of ‘CHILDREN OF EDEN’, ‘JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT’, ‘OUT OF THE BLUE’ and ‘GREASE’, and from here include Buffy, Dinah & Pearl in 'STARLIGHT EXPRESS', Anita in 'WEST SIDE STORY' , Velma Kelly in 'CHICAGO' , Mickey in 'MY ONE AND ONLY', 'ON YOUR TOES' with Adam Cooper, Charity in 'SWEET CHARITY' at the Sheffield Crucible which earned her a TMA nomination.
She was then invited back to the Crucible to play the title role in 'PIAF.'
Following on from this she appeared in 'SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE' (Menier Chocolate Factory), 'HOBSONS CHOICE' at the Watermill , an award winning performance as 'Mabel' in 'MACK AND MABEL', 'ALADDIN' in Hackney Empires iconic pantomime, 'COMEDY OF ERRORS' at Regents Park, 'BELLS ARE RINGING' at the Union Theatre , 'RADIO TIMES' (Watermill), 'COMPANY' (Sheffield Crucible), Lady Of The Lake in 'SPAMALOT' (The Playhouse Theatre), 'STEPPING OUT' (Vaudeville Theatre), Mrs Wilkinson in 'BILLY ELLIOT' (The Victoria Palace) and on tour, 'FORBIDDEN BROADWAY' (The Vaudeville Theatre and Menier Chocolate Factory), 'JERRY’S GIRLS'and once again 'MACK AND MABEL' (UK and Ireland tour).
She returned once again to the Sheffield Crucible to appear in 'FLOWERS FOR MRS HARRIS' and Annie Oakley in 'ANNIE GET YOUR GUN', and shein UK and Ireland tour of CALENDAR GIRLS playing the leading role of Annie Clarke.
She appeared in the Toronto and West End Revival of ;GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY', featuring the music Bob Dylan, 'STAGES' at the Vaults festival London. and 'THE BAND PLAYS ON', which was streamed online by the Crucible Theatre during the pandemic. She won the 2023 British Pantomime Award for Best Supporting Artist as 'Cilla Quack', the goose that lays the golden eggs, to Sir Ian McKellen’s MOTHER GOOSE at the Duke of Yorks theatre and across the UK. And she was invited to appear in 'Stephen Sondheims Old Friends' Tribute Concert which was screened on the BBC.
Her screen credits include ‘Eastenders’, ‘Doctors’, ‘Coronation Street’, ‘The Bill’ ‘Silent Witness’, ‘Heartbeat’, ‘Holby City’, ‘The Royal’, the motion picture ‘Beyond the Sea’ and ‘Family Guy’ as Stewies British Mother.
She has sung all over the world with orchestras including the 2010 'Roger’s & Hammerstein Prom' with the John Wilkinson orchestra, and ‘BBCs Hollywood Swinging Christmas’ alongside Seth Mcfarlane and Curtis Stigers. and has just appeared on the BBC Big Band for Radio 2 in Belfast.
If you have been affected by any of the topics discussed in todays show please see below for some helpful resources
Mixed Race Faces - https://mixedracefaces.com/
Samaritans - 116 123 (24/7 phone service)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
