Queer Theatre’s award-winning The Show People Podcastwill welcome acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Martin Sherman (Bent,West End & Broadway; Rose,Broadway) and actor Jack Holden (KENREX, The Other Palace; Cruise,Duchess Theatre) as special guests. Each insightful session of The Show People Podcastis hosted live by award-winning theatre director and Queer Theatre Artistic Director Andrew Keates at The Two Brewers in Clapham. This winter will also see the release of The Show People Podcast’s episodes with Doctor Who’s Pearl Mackie and Star Trek’s Marina Sirtis.
This unique live podcast experience provides audiences with the rare opportunity to hear candid stories, industry insights, and reflections from leading guests in the performing arts.
Widely recognised for his award-winning career, Martin Sherman’s acclaimed work has been produced across major stages in over sixty countries. His early work includes Tony-nominated play Bent, successfully showcased in the West End starring Sir Ian McKellen and Broadway starring Richard Gere. Martin’s celebrated Broadway runs also include Oliver nominated Rose and The Boy From Oz. He continues to create phenomenal theatre with I’ll Be Seeing You premiering at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in September 2026. On screen, Martin wrote the BAFTA nominated Mrs Henderson Presentsand is currently working on LGBTQIA+ film Frank and Percy,featuring Sir Ian McKellen and Roger Allam. During his episode of The Show People Podcast, he will delve deeper into his celebrated career and share insight into telling queer stories throughout the decades.
Audience members can also purchase Martin’s latest memoir, On The Boardwalk, published by Inkandescent, and have an opportunity to have it signed by him after the session.
Fresh off the back of his sold out, critically acclaimed run of KENREX: A True Crime Thrillerat The Other Palace, which is set to transfer to Off-Broadway this April, Jack Holden joins the live podcast on Wednesday 11th March. After training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Jack made his debut in Olivier Award nominated Cruiseat the Duchess Theatre, and his following production, KENREX: A True Crime Thriller,earned him the UK Theatre Award for Best Performer in a Play. Alongside acting, Jack is developing exciting stage and screen projects, and in conversation with Andrew, he will delve into his journey across acting, writing, and making original work.
February also marks the release of 2 episodes featuring Doctor Whostar Pearl Mackie, with part one available February 1st and part two on February 15th. This heart-warming conversation explores how she went from being a little girl in Brixton to flying the TARDIS as Doctor Who’s first openly gay companion.
March 1st also sees the release of an inspiring episode with iconic British Greek actress Marina Sirtis, recognised worldwide as Counsellor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In dialogue with Andrew, Marina reflects on her work across blockbuster movies, hit television and her celebrated West End production of Dark Sublime, which was directed by Keates, with part two released on March 15th.
Taking place every month at the Two Brewers, The Show People Podcastwelcomes a new special guest for each session, making every live show unique and insightful. The evening will include an interval and complimentary access to the venue’s cabaret and DJ event after the recording. All profits from the night will support Queer Theatre’s work across its wide-ranging programme, including 2B: Acting Classes, OutCast showcases, the Queer Play Reading Club, theatre trips, parties, and new productions.
Artistic Director, Andrew Keates comments, This spring,The Show People Podcast releases episodes with two extraordinary working-class women who grafted their way to the stars: Marina Sirtis fromStar Trek and Pearl Mackie fromDoctor Who. They were hilarious, yes, but also painfully honest about grief, typecasting, discrimination, and what it means to mature in an industry that’s always trying to define you. I know their stories will inspire the next generation. I’ve known Martin Sherman for over 20 years and my career began with directing his landmark playBent. His quiet wisdom and wicked sense of humour have been constant in my life, and I cannot wait to record the stories he’s collected as one of the most vital gay playwrights of our time. Jack Holden is equally extraordinary – a brave, electric theatre-maker whose work is already inspiring others to tell the truth onstage. Together, Martin and Jack are bright queer lights in our industry, and I hope people will join us at The Two Brewers to hear how they see the world. The podcast has grown into a platform for the world’s great theatre-makers to tell their stories and help us raise vital funds for Queer Theatre.
The Show People Podcastis produced by Queer Theatre and generously sponsored by Theataccounts, Jake Waby Productions and The Two Brewers. As the UK’s leading theatre podcast shining a spotlight on the performing arts industry and those dedicated to their craft, The Show People Podcastcan be listened to on all podcast platforms, across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music. Video Production services by Jake Waby Productions and Boyan Georgiev Creative also present a filmed video version available on Spotify and YouTube.
Main Image: Jack Holden, photo by Harry Livingstone
This post was last modified on February 15, 2026 7:25 am