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From NYMT to Britain's Got Talent: Magic, Musical Comedy & Making Your Own Lane with Rafferty Coope and Anna Hale
86 Plays3 months ago
What do you get when a golden buzzer magician and a sell-out musical comedian walk into a podcast? This week's Open House.
In Episode 3 of Open House, the official NYMT podcast, host David and NYMT Young Company member Toby are joined by two exceptional NYMT alumni who have carved out truly unique paths in the performing arts.
Rafferty Coope recently received KSI's Golden Buzzer on Britain's Got Talent 2026 for his jaw-dropping fusion of magic and live music — and he's just been invited to perform in Las Vegas this August. Anna Hale is a musical comedian and songwriter whose debut solo show Control Freak sold out, and who has co-written material for RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World.
Together, they talk about breaking out of the box, combining unexpected skill sets, and why following your curiosity might just be the most important thing a young performer can do.
In this episode:
- Rafferty's behind-the-scenes story of the BGT Golden Buzzer moment
- How Anna found her voice as a musical comedian and songwriter
- Why performers are often pressured to "pick a lane" — and why you shouldn't
- The art of keeping an audience on their toes with music and comedy
- Collaborating with Kate Butch and writing for RuPaul's Drag Race
- What it really takes to produce your own solo show
- How NYMT helped both guests build the confidence and professionalism to reach these moments
- A Vegas exclusive — heard here first
Guests:
Rafferty Coope – NYMT alumnus, magician, musician and BGT 2026 Golden Buzzer act
Anna Hale – NYMT alumna, musical comedian, songwriter and creator of Control Freak
Hosts:
David Grant – NYMT Associate Producer
Toby – NYMT Young Company member and co-host
Follow / find out more:NYMT: nymt.org.uk | Instagram & TikTok: @NYMTuk
Rafferty: @raffertycoope
Anna: @allhaleanna
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Musical Theatre & NYMT Podcast Series
00:00:00
Speaker
So musical theatre has been around a fair old while. However, variety and cabaret has arguably... Let's start that again. That's a good tongue tongue. Easy for me to say. Good start, David. Here we go.
00:00:14
Speaker
Musical theatre has been around... So, musical theatre has been around a fair old while. However, variety and cabaret has arguably been around even longer. But what happens when multiple art forms merge?
00:00:32
Speaker
Comedy meets musical carnage and magic enchants the masses. This is what we're chatting about on this week's episode of Open House And welcome to our official NYMT podcast series. It's the podcast that brings you insight and inspiration from a whole host of incredible guests and friends of NYMT in celebration of our 50th anniversary. And don't forget, you can find out even more about our 2026 season and how to get involved on the socials at NYMT UK or online, nymt.org.uk. And please don't forget to like, comment and subscribe.
Meet the Co-host & Guests: Toby, Rafferty Coop, and Anna Hale
00:01:10
Speaker
So I'm delighted to be joined today by my co-host and young company member, Toby. Toby, welcome to the show.
00:01:19
Speaker
Thank you. How are you doing? I'm all right, actually. I'm a bit tired. for weeks brilliant yeah um Brilliant. It's good to have you. Now, tell us, you are pretty much fresh from an NYMT residential course yourself. How was the residential? How are rehearsals going? I mean, obviously it's MIMT, so was it was incredible, but it's all a very new take on the show. It's very exciting. It's very new. What project do you, what what production are you involved in?
00:01:43
Speaker
Apparently Just So. Just So. Exciting. Gorgeous Styles and Drew musical. Amazing. Just So. We all know who's who. Yeah, absolutely. Well, listen, we can't wait to see it. That's on this summit at the Birmingham Hippodrome. But please, come on. I know you know who our guests are. Tell us, who have we got on this week's episode? Perfect. We've got two brilliant guests this week. Super exciting episode. We've got ah Rafferty Coop, who we all know, obviously.
00:02:08
Speaker
here size golden buzzer on BGT recently going to semifinals soon mixing you know magic and music and live entertainment everything um also a previous MYMT young company member we've also got Anna Hale with us today she's a brilliant musical comedian she just did Control Freak I think a debut show it's just sold out which is incredible and and she's with us today also previous young company member super excited chat with us today a terrifically talented duo I can't wait to hear what we're going to talk about
00:02:45
Speaker
Rafferty and Anna, welcome to the show. Hello. Thanks for having Hello. How are you both? Great, thanks. Amazing, thank you. So excited to be here. oh it's delight to have you. It really is an absolute delight to have you. Two tremendously talented individuals, each with your own fabulous flair and unique talents that you've merged into the world of musical theatre that I cannot wait to hear
Inspiration and Performance Styles of Rafferty and Anna
00:03:11
Speaker
about. But my first question to you both is I need you to cast your mind back. Rafferty, potentially not too far for you, but, you know, do cast it back a little. What was your first memory of theatre when you were younger? Anna, you can go first.
00:03:26
Speaker
Because I'm the old one. Maybe. i have I'm so lucky because I have so many memories of theatre when I was a child. um that I remember the first musical I was ever in.
00:03:41
Speaker
um was a production of, do you know the jukebox musical Disco Inferno? Yes. Yes. It's absolute campus health, I loved it so much um and I was, I think I was probably nine years old and I just joined and the youth theatre that I then would stay in until I left school when I was 18 and I was just one of the little um ensemble kids and they'd bring us on with like if there was a love song we'd just come on holding cardboard hearts everyone would go oh that's so cute um but I just remember being such a kino was just so excited to be there and I just wanted to impress everyone I was so obsessed and so we were like we're doing some choreography to a song called um a can't keep out the night where the main character's having a bit of a a meltdown and I was doing the choreography and I'm going can't keep
00:04:31
Speaker
like Keen bean. Such a keen bean. They put me at the front because I was so keen. I'm here for it. Front and centre. Speaking of front and centre, Rafferty, what is your first memory of theatre or being front centre stage?
00:04:45
Speaker
hu I guess my first sort of memory, which I can really vividly remember, is going to my first lesson show, which was Matilda, the musical.
00:04:55
Speaker
And I remember i was i always listen I listened to the soundtrack before I saw it. And I'd never quite realised that it was actually people around my age performing in that show. ah and I remember just watching that and just being so inspired by every single person. every like All of the Young Company members and that were amazing. And I just thought, wow, like this this is something I would love to do. So i just continued listening to all the soundtracks, getting into other musicals and stuff. And I sort of signed up to a local sort of youth theatre group straight away. But no, and my love has not died down ever since...
00:05:36
Speaker
I love it. I absolutely love it. What a show as well. What a show for your first taste theatre. How fabulous. Listen, you both have quite a unique take on performing within your various skill sets. And for some artists that don't know, Anna is a fabulous singer, songwriter and comedian. And Rafferty has merged magic with performance and being a musician all into one. But if people stop you and ask you how to describe what you do, how would you describe it yourselves? Because, you know, it's all very well me saying it, but I want to hear it from the horse's mouth.
00:06:11
Speaker
Anna, how do you describe it now with such a wide combination of talent? If someone asks me that question, I panic. I go, I'm a performer and I do. i'm a definite um I feel like, yeah, i it's...
00:06:26
Speaker
um It's lovely now that I can sort of introduce myself as a comedian. That feels very special. It's not something that I thought I would do. And then when I started doing musical comedy, I just fell in love with it. So it's really nice to say and I'm a musical comedian, which sometimes is my answer. um But I also, having done comedy, that was kind of the first time I'd written stuff and really put it out in front of people and could say, I'm a writer. Because it feels it feels like a big thing when you say you are you are that thing.
00:06:54
Speaker
um But my first instinct is panic. I like it. You don't need to panic. But you talk about it's a big thing when you're able to say it. I guess there were times when you were still doing exactly the same thing, but felt like you didn't quite have that validation to announce it to the world yet, which of course is, that's not true. You can shout about it from the rooftops from the get go. What was it for you that gave you that validation, that opportunity that now was the time to shout it from the rooftops?
00:07:20
Speaker
That's such a good question. I think because you're absolutely right. I, I'd written songs for years, but I'd never called myself a songwriter. But it was, it was taking that leap of putting it in front of other people and sharing it with other people and realizing that what you were making, what I was creating was valid and was new. And it was original. of something that I'd, I'd done and that was mine to share. And um it It felt really lovely to to present it to other people and to you know, it's nice when people clap. It's a really lovely validation. um But yeah, it was just taking that leap of putting it in front of other people, um which you can
Rafferty's Experience on BGT & Handling Performance Nerves
00:07:56
Speaker
do at any point. You can write a song and post it on the internet and that that counts. You can do anything you like. Rafti, how would you describe yourself in one sentence?
00:08:05
Speaker
I would describe myself as just a performer because that's what I love doing. It doesn't matter whether it's music, magic or more. I just absolutely love giving that sort of experience and joy to other people because five minutes of my time can end up sticking with someone else for a lot longer.
00:08:23
Speaker
Yeah. Do you ever think like such a random question? I know for me, especially whenever we're like, i don't if you ever did like devising and stuff in like GCSE drama. Is there ever a point do you think where it's like,
00:08:35
Speaker
you kind of reached a point with you mixing music and magic and everything. It's like, this is actually really incredible. Am I actually just completely delusional? And this is insane. It's a vendor. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's been so many sort of sort of highs and sort of lows. um the The main sort of the way I started out of wanting to mix both my passions of music and magic is I, because I've always loved magic. um It's just been a thing which I've just been so sort of obsessed by, by seeing my first magic trick. I just remember the feeling that it gave me. of I didn't care how the trick was done. i just was so, I loved that feeling and I wanted to just share that as many people. So i just practiced and practiced and practiced. um But my combining both music and magic,
00:09:25
Speaker
because i I also did music, lots of music when I was younger. um I went to all these magic conventions and met some of my idols of in magic and all these other magicians and found out that they were also musicians. um And it all almost clicked into place for me. And I realised...
00:09:43
Speaker
To be a a magician, a magician, you've got to have very similar mindsets. You've got to be prepared to practice. You've to have finger dexterity. You've got to be a performer. So I hadn't seen it really...
00:09:55
Speaker
like actively combining the two because they both go so hand in hand just like I mean music and comedy um they I just wanted to create an act and a few tricks that combine both my loves um and but there were as to answer your question yes there were points where I thought I'm on to something and then realize wake up the next day and realize yeah that is really not very good but it took many many like months of Honestly, Rafferty, it's surprising you're so passionate about magic because when that golden buzzer was hit, you just seemed so chilled about it. I've never seen i've never seen anyone so chilled. i mean, and if there is, if there is i doubt there is, but if there is anyone listening who doesn't know what we're referring to, golden buzzer, BGT, Rafferty absolutely smashed to his audition on Britain's Got Talent, which was aired this year, 2026. He got KSI's golden buzzer, which means straight through to the semifinals.
00:10:55
Speaker
Just, I know there's going be people that want to know. i want to know. Talk us through that moment and those 30, 40 seconds and what it was like for you on that stage.
00:11:07
Speaker
So it was a completely mad experience, the whole whole process. um And basically i I created this act and i worked on it so so hard, practiced it every single day. And then I went up to Blackpool Opera House um and it was, I wouldn't say I'm normally like a really nervous performer because it's what I love.
00:11:33
Speaker
But I remember just feeling, oh, and the the thing about Britain's Got Talent is those those red buzzers that you sort of see when an act's bad. um You don't just hear those, you feel them. Like the whole hold a Blackpool could feel one of red buzzers. And I'm pretty sure like the three acts that went on before me all got red buzzers. And I actually thought, I'm going die out here. I'm literally, I'm walking to a guillotine. I wish I had a red buzzer right now. Editing the sound. um
00:12:05
Speaker
but the I just walked out there but I knew what I needed to do. and I remember just looking out into the audience of 3000 people and I felt the support of every single person there. And I was so grateful for that. And it's the show which I've literally grown up on every single year. It's been a sort of a staple part my childhood. um, it's what got me into magic. It was watching magicians on, on VGT. So just standing on that stage was a,
00:12:34
Speaker
massive full circle moment for me and then looking at all the judges and then starting the act um i I was so happy of how it I was performing it and each trick i sort of i got through and I went yes that was went good and there was lots of high risk of it not working like magic is not Every time it it works, it's almost the complete opposite. um But the desk ah sort of cut off half my legs, but you couldn't quite see. I looked very calm and sort of holding myself together above the desk, but beneath, my legs were jelly. Oh my gosh, i've met they were literally... I was like a swan. It was nice and elegant up above here, but under the water, it was going crazy. little like bad But no, it went so well, and sort of seeing...
00:13:25
Speaker
everyone's reaction once it finished once once the act finished um I wasn't expecting it at all um everyone got on their feet the judges and at no point in my mind in this whole process or ever did a golden buzzer even sort of thought go like occur to me not at all so when i saw ksi who i was actually the judge who i really wanted to impress out more because i knew he was also into music and magic um not only just press the golden buzzer stand on the desk walk to it and stamp on it i actually couldn't believe it and i think what's actually really lovely
00:14:04
Speaker
is at the beginning I got asked the question of saying, do you think you could win this whole show? And I said, i answered it very honestly, which I still believe, which is, I mean I would like to hope so. there' was actually KSI who ended up saying, no, have some confidence, believe in yourself, which actually tied in really nicely with the act. So for him to give his Gordon Buzz, though,
00:14:27
Speaker
was so special and getting to sort of hug him on stage. I've loved his YouTube channel like all my life. Was it a good hug? Was it a good juicy hug? God, it it it was a good hug. That's good. He smelled nice as well. always but think It was i insane.
00:14:44
Speaker
dealing with those You talk about dealing with those nerves in that moment. I think whether you're a
Creative Freedom in Performance & Advice for Young Performers
00:14:48
Speaker
magician, a musician, a comedian, a singer, songwriter, nerves are something that everyone has to deal with. And is there any more nerve-wracking position than to be a comedian up on that stage where your sole responsibility is to make people laugh?
00:15:05
Speaker
Anna, tell us about that that side of things from your side. And how do you deal with nerves when you step out on that stage? is the nerves for me i are always before I get on the stage once I'm on the stage there's nothing I can do about it everyone's looking at me now so I have to put on a show um but the what I love and about what I do is when I combine music and comedy um I'm I'm at my happiest when I'm singing and it's when the minute I open my mouth and I make a noise, I feel calm and I feel centered. and And also I have the hack of having a little keyboard to hide behind. So it's like a little shield between me and the audience. um
00:15:46
Speaker
But I think my yeah, I get most of my nerves before I go on stage. and But once I'm there, it's actually a really comfortable place for for me it's where I feel very happy so which is such a treat because I know not everyone feels like that um but yeah also just Rafferty I want you to win this competition so bad man that's all I can think about really want you to win for our listeners that are listening you'll be able to vote you'll be able to find it on Rafferty's socials I'm sure NYMT socials will share a link make sure you vote vote vote and let's see Rafferty get through those semis into the final right Toby yes well obviously um
00:16:26
Speaker
Anna here, obviously we know your stuff is like absolutely hilarious. It's insanely good, but also so like musically incredible. It's absolute genius. Are there like any kind of times where you think people maybe under may underestimate comedy? which is with Does that make you more nervous? you underestimate Like the the combining of the two? That takes so much skill and like talent. I think like that's insane. Like how do you how do you think people maybe do underestimate that? And maybe does that add to your level of nerves in a sense?
00:16:51
Speaker
um Well, firstly, thank you. Thank you very much. and I think it depends on... who your audience is because there are some people that will really care about the music and there will be some people that will really care about the jokes and there will be some people that kind of sit in the middle and I think part of it is about making material that suits everybody or that can be enjoyed by everybody regardless of whether they're in it for the jokes, they're in it for the music. And so I get really excited when I can write a joke and weave it into an interesting melody or make an engaging song. Because I think that's partly what keeps people listening as well, is that you always, and that's the art of great stand-up, no matter how you present it, is keeping people engaged by not letting them guess where you're going go next. And it's the same thing with theatre. It's always just never never let the audience catch up with you. um and I think if I have the opportunity to
00:17:47
Speaker
keep them guessing with where a song is going um as well as where I'm going to go with a joke. I just, I find that really enjoyable. um And it's a treat that I can give myself something lovely to sing.
00:17:59
Speaker
Yeah. Cause I love it. Is that kind of how it feels with like writing? Cause obviously I know you've written lots for others as well. Like I know you, think you've worked with Kate Butch. Am I right in thinking that? I have. Yeah, I have worked with with Kate Butch. We wrote, and we've written two songs together. We did a song for their show, um what what I feel like I can't say the title because it's almost a swear word, but it starts with Wuthering and it rhymes with heights. um Fabulous. Sounds lovely. Great. um So we wrote a song together for that. That was like ah a mashup of ah various parodies of Kate Bush songs. And then we also wrote a song together for their recent appearance RuPaul's Drag Race UK versus the world. um Again,
00:18:42
Speaker
I can't swear, so I can't say too much about this. But we it's really fun working together. And I think, yeah, it's different, very different writing for myself than writing with other people. and I really enjoy collaborating and having someone to bounce ideas off. And you, think, put more ideas into the space, whereas i' when I'm writing...
00:19:02
Speaker
I might have an idea in my brain. I don't know if you do this, Rafferty, if you're making up a magic trick or a set. You have an idea in your brain and you go, nope, before you've even said it out loud or wrote it down. go, no, absolutely not. No one's going to talk about that. I'm I think there's a lot to be said that as creatives, as performers, as young artists, it's very rare that we ever have one idea in our brain.
00:19:23
Speaker
It's very rare that we're just a singer or a musician or a magician or a writer or an actor. There's always other elements there. And you two have just both embraced those other elements and look where it's taken you.
00:19:37
Speaker
Anna, do you think do you think there's an element that for young performers, there's a pressure to fit into just that one box? Yeah. Yes, I think definitely, because I felt that pressure as well. and before Before I'd found comedy, because i I wanted to write and I wanted to perform and I wanted to have creative input. And there were so many different things that I wanted to do.
00:19:58
Speaker
And a lot of people's attitude is, well, pick a lane. Which one are you? Even though... The industry, as we all know, most of the time there isn't enough work to just do one thing all the time. It's not viable. and But also it's way more fun to do whatever you want to do in a particular moment. And I felt so fortunate when I found comedy and realised that that was a space where I could really comfortably write and perform and write words and write songs and Be creative and work with other people and do all of those things that my my heart wanted to do and be celebrated for it.
00:20:33
Speaker
But yeah, I think there is a huge pressure on young people to do what they're told to do rather than doing what excites them. And more importantly, for our listeners at home, what tips would you give Anna for someone that's listening and thinking about taking that step of merging and making their own lane, breaking out of that one box and bringing two different skill sets together, but literally on the edge of taking that very first step?
00:21:00
Speaker
Do it. My advice is just be curious and follow what you want to do. If you've got something inside you that you want to share, if you want to try something out, just try it. The worst, literally the worst thing that could happen is you try it and it doesn't work. And that will make you a more resilient, more interesting person. That's the worst thing that could happen.
00:21:21
Speaker
Rafferty, how's that box for you? How's that? How's that one box that all young people fit into? I'm not sure you're fitting into that box. no moment my friends none exist in the most In the most fantastic, fabulous way. How is it? How is it for you at the moment?
00:21:35
Speaker
It's mad. well'm I'm drawing my own box. Yes, you are. I don't think it's a box. I think it's a hexagon. I think pentagon. No, yeah, it's it's... I'm just loving what I'm being able to do and what i can't believe is the amount of people that are also enjoying it because quite frankly, just...
00:21:55
Speaker
going stepping on that stage and getting to perform what I love was winning to me, this full stop. um so But what I just haven't, I can't get my mind around is with with BGT, what happens is you get prepared by sort of the press team saying that you've expect lots of like lots of love, um but also you've got expect lots of hate. And especially with the Golden Buzzer, you almost get more hate from a Golden Buzzer because people think, oh, you need to learn that. um ah um But the...
00:22:25
Speaker
What we none of my family can quite comprehend is the sheer amount of love that it's got and it for the act, for for it all. And people can see that it's not just sticking to one thing.
00:22:40
Speaker
When things overlap, that's when the real magic happens. um So, no, it's been it's been amazing, and I just can't believe that people... People have been like something that originated in my bedroom, which I've just had like stupid idea. you know what? on It's interesting you say that originated in your bedroom, because I think when you talk about stepping onto that stage, the BGT stage and Anna taking her show onto, you know, professional theater stage in front of a huge audience, those stages are fabulous.
Impact of NYMT on Careers & Upcoming Opportunities
00:23:06
Speaker
But actually there are those smaller stages. And for, I think nearly everyone, I reckon you as well, Toby, that first stage can literally just be at home in the lounge, in the kitchen, friends and family, right? Yeah.
00:23:20
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Stuffed animals. Yes. how was What were you performing to your stuffed animals, Toby? Oh, gosh, too much. My own cabaret act, I think. in Insane. Well, listen, Toby, if you need a magic act or some music written for your for your cabaret, I know couple couple of people that would ah be keen keen to get involved. Anna, tell us, what the challenges as far as producing and actually putting on your own one-woman show? You've got the act, you've refined it, the creative side is ready to go, you couldn't be happier with it, and then actually you've got to get the logistics together of producing your own show.
00:23:57
Speaker
How does that happen? Well, I find logistics quite overwhelming, to be honest, sometimes. I'm very lucky that I've worked with um several collaborators while working on my show. and so at the moment, and for one, I did Control Freak at the Edinburgh Frindan on tour earlier this year. I've worked with a company called Big Head Comedy, and and they know a lot about the industry. And it's about like finding venues and talking to the right people and just knowing the right things to say. So I'm really lucky to be working with Charlie and trying to soak up as much of his experience as I can. um And I've worked with, so I've got a wonderful director on board, also NYNT alum, Elizabeth Stevens. So she's my director, but also um very, very close friends. And so we've kind of worked things out together. She's done a lot of work in the comedy industry as well. um And then it's just, I think, having that belief in what you're doing, even if you don't quite believe it, showing that it looks like you do to
00:24:56
Speaker
To show it you've got to make things look like they're a finished product and everyone has to come and see it, even if you're terrified, um which I have been many times. um But just having having that confidence to share what you're doing and keep reminding people that you are doing something and that you exist and you've still got something to show them and they really should come along.
00:25:16
Speaker
and get other people involved absolutely you talked about um your director also another nymt alumnus your time at nymt was as a performer and a young director tell us how does your time nymt link or what part does it play in where you are now my mt was a really special experience for me i think it gave me such a sense of confidence that i don't think i had in in either discipline um i'd i didn't it gave me such a yeah a sense of confidence that I don't think I'd had before. and And I learned so much while I was doing it. I think part of that is the the residential experience where you are completely consumed with the people that you're working with and the show that you're working on. And you are allowed to do, i think what many of us
00:26:03
Speaker
you're allowed to follow that instinct that I think so many of us have, which is I want to spend every second thinking about this, talking about this, dreaming about this, and you're allowed. And it's absolutely wonderful. And I think being in a space where everyone else feels the same and you can all be so excited together, and just let you can let yourself pour your heart and soul into what you're doing.
00:26:25
Speaker
um i just found that such a beneficial way to learn and grow and understand how things are made and how I can be a part of that. Amazing. And it's such a warm community of people, isn't it? Just that love for performing and a sense of family. Rafferty, aside from showing magic tricks and practicing on your fellow castmates day in, day out in the evenings, what what role has NYMT played for you up to this point? And of course, hopefully, we're going to have you back in the future as well. Fingers crossed. Very much so, I hope so. um Yeah, I actually truly believe that I probably wouldn't have been able to achieve what I did on that stage without without the help of NYMT, even though i've been a part of NYMT for two years. um
00:27:11
Speaker
I think the first week when I came back for my first week of rehearsal, I was just, my jaw was on the floor on just how professional everything was, how we all got treated as professionals. And this is what...
00:27:24
Speaker
the industry is we work hard and we practice and we spend all of the hours doing it. And i did that with magic before, but never to that level and being surrounded by people. And I just remember just that geek sort of gave me the drive to really think I'm going professionally sort of work at this magic and the stuff and do it and it also gave me the confidence just spending stage time just doing with that it i felt far more relaxed on that big stage than i would um would have if i hadn't done nymt um so it's massively massively helped and i just love it so much
00:28:03
Speaker
I mean, it must be weird for you thinking about going back to NYMT after all this massive BGT explosion and then just going back to, you know, even going back to, like, school, I'm assuming, going back to normal life. Yeah, yeah. it How do you stay so normal about it all? I think i just sort of...
00:28:18
Speaker
just treating it very sort of, I can't believe that this is happening to me. And I e i don't feel why I deserve any of the success that is sort of coming from, but I'm so grateful for all of it. um I mean, i cannot wait to to go back into NYMT, honestly. I was gutted that I couldn't do it this year due to the overlap of the the BGT stuff. Small overlap, just just just a small overlap. Yeah. But no, going back to school has been crazy. i've I've absolutely loved it. And things have happened from BGT, which i is mind-blowing. So my i can't quite believe it, but I've actually been invited. You made a joke earlier about a show in Vegas. I have actually been invited to do a show it this August in Vegas. Incredible.
00:29:11
Speaker
ah So it's opportunities. And that is hot off the press for our listeners. That's not on the Instagram. That's not on TikTok. You heard it here first. Speaking of hearing it here first, any um any inside sneak peek gossips, what we can look forward to in the semifinal?
00:29:30
Speaker
Well, a magician never reveals a secret. Oh, I thought we had you then. I thought we had you. Well, what what I can say is expect more. it's spen i've It's such a... I feel like I only scratched the surface on what music magic can be in the in the audition. So we're going to peel back a few more layers and sort of uncover stuff, but...
00:29:54
Speaker
Yes, can't wait. Oh, I'm so... Those lips are sealed, but I'm so excited to see what's next. um In this next section of the podcast, titled One Singular Sensation, little musical theatre pun for you there, it's acquitted the questions, quickfire questions that require one word or one short, snappy answer. And Anna, we're going to come to you first. Here we go. One word to describe your journey so far.
00:30:22
Speaker
In my life. Yes. That's three. Thrilling. Thrilling. i like it. Thrilling. Rafferty, one word to describe your journey so far?
00:30:34
Speaker
Madness. Takes its toll. um Anna, back to you. One risk that paid off.
00:30:46
Speaker
She's thinking, she's thinking, she's thinking. No, they're thinking. My headphone fell out. I overthought too much. and One risk that paid... Come back to me. I'm being rubbish. We'll come back to you. Rafferty, you're going to... She's she deferred. She's passed. One risk that paid off, Rafferty.
00:31:02
Speaker
I think... How do i put this into one word? BGT. Yeah, that'll do. It doesn't have to one word. It could be a short answer. But yeah, that's fair enough. I'll take that. Anna, we're coming back to you with one risk.
00:31:14
Speaker
going to keep this as few words as I can, but the Musical Comedy Awards... Yes. Tell us about that. What was it like to be a part of that amazing competition? Oh, it was very special. ill tell you why it was a risk. It was because I hadn't done comedy gigs before.
00:31:28
Speaker
I'd done my show and that was the first time I'd done comedy. And then I thought, I'll enter a competition. And I hadn't, I didn't have the experience. I hadn't like practiced just performing in front of people. So it was absolutely terrifying. and But I couldn't have been in safer, more welcoming hands. The MCAs are such a generous community and I didn't realise that I would have the chance to just meet other musical comedians and realise that we're we're all very different, but we're all really excited to get to know each other and support each other. And the community of of musical theatre performers in this country um and musical comedians even, it's just really friendly and really lovely. And actually, even though it is a competition and it is competitive because everyone is there because they want to do well, and
00:32:13
Speaker
everyone wishes the same for everybody else as well. And it was such a pleasure to be part of that and to then um come second, my first time trying and win the audience favourite prize was incredibly overwhelming and a memory that I really think will stick with me for a long time.
00:32:30
Speaker
Cheers to that. Yeah, that was that wasn't so bad, was it? Look, that's a great answer. I love it. did it, guys. But um how with that with the moments like that, how do you deal with the pressure to keep achieving more, to keep pushing forward to to the next step? How do you manage that and take that in your stride on a day-to-day basis?
00:32:51
Speaker
It's hard, I think the the more you do it, I think it's just practice. is The more you can just try new things. And I think that is the trick, is just try something new. never trying to recreate a success that you've had in a slightly different way. i think trying to reinvent something that you've already done is never going to be exciting for you or exciting for anyone watching it. um And what i try and do and what I really admire other people doing is to just try something new and see what happens. It's almost like starting again and having a go and say, I want to do comedy. Okay, I'll try it. And now going, I'm going to do something different and just see how I feel about it. But as long as
00:33:27
Speaker
it's entertaining me as much as it's entertaining other people, then it should be a good thing. Rafferty, is your magic still entertaining you as as much as it's entertaining other people? Absolutely. I love, I just love yeah it all.
00:33:44
Speaker
I enjoy it. Well, magic has so many positives. I mean, it does make you look pretty cool, but that's not the main reason I do it. It is cool. It is cool. I just do it to see people's reactions. And like, if I can just make one person smile, then that's, that's all the practice has paid off.
00:34:03
Speaker
I love it. Now, you talked about the practicing earlier. How much practice do you do with your magic? Or how much practice have you been putting in over the last few years? Because I think there are people at home that think, oh, it might be the odd 10 minutes here, maybe 10 minutes there. I've got a sneaky suspicion they might be a way off.
00:34:23
Speaker
Yeah. um So try minimum practice an hour or to two hours a day. um But I use my lockdown pretty well because just like like on on a Zoom call, it sort of cuts off half your body uh i was spending all of my time during lockdown just handling a pack of cards so i was giving direct eye contact to my teachers and they thought i was completely concentrating because magic's super important because you should be able to do sight of hand moves without anyone seeing so i was just doing this eight hours a day pay attention pay attention at school kids pay attention oh yeah Well, I was just spent all my time doing that and I came out of lockdown far better magician than I was going into it. But I just practiced as much as I can. But the good thing about is I enjoy practicing it. And I i don't think there's really been one point where I felt, oh, I've got to go practice this but because it's
00:35:23
Speaker
what
Mastering Skills & Listener Q&A
00:35:24
Speaker
I love to do. And I know that the work that I put in now will benefit much. And I think what I would say as well, which I think so important, the world of social media is amazing. We can see so much, so much talent at the click of our fingers, at the drop of a hat. But I think it's important to know that 30 second video didn't just happen in those 30 seconds. There's years behind it. The same for Anna's shows, Anna's music, Anna's songs. Hours, days, years, weeks, months of of meticulously writing, rehearsing and finessing whatever it is that's part of your act that you then might share to the wider world. And you both are phenomenal.
00:36:05
Speaker
absolutely phenomenal at it and we are coming to the end of the episode which i can't believe because i could talk about it for hours and we could get rafferty doing some magic we get anna sing a song but before before we do i know that toby has got some questions from some of our listeners which is going to fire at you we're going to one each one and to anna one to rafferty toby over to you Perfect. I've got a question from Hannah here, who's 16, and she's asked for um for Rafferty, what's something that people see on stage like a trick that you this this seems effortless, but it's absolute chaos and carnage trying to learn it?
00:36:42
Speaker
um Pretty much all of it, honestly. There's so much... Well, magic's all about the things that you don't see, right? that All the moves that I spend hours practicing basically make me look... makes is My goal is to make it look like I haven't done anything.
00:37:00
Speaker
So when I sort of show my parents a move that I've been practicing, i'm like, oh, take a look at this. And they're like, but what did you do? And that means I've done my job right. um So, so much goes unseen. um But I guess, yeah, it's it's the secrets.
00:37:18
Speaker
But yeah. Sounds like when I say to someone, watch me do the splits and they say, what did you do? And I say, oh, and that's that's the trick, guys. go on, Toby, fire away with the next one. Final one for Anna here. and We've got a question from Emma, who's 18, fellow Drag Race fan, like I am. She's asked her, are any other drag queens that you have worked with in the past or ones that you're planning on working with in the future? If you can say.
00:37:44
Speaker
I have not worked with other drag queens or have any plans to, but I would love to work with some other drag queens. I think the drag queen that I would love to work with next is Bimini Bomboulash because they are such a lyrical genius. And I think it would be so exciting to just...
00:38:02
Speaker
fire away ideas about lyrics and can get excited about words. I mean, if you can create the name, biy bomboola you really can do anything. Right? The Welty Royster. Fabulous stuff. Well, guys, thank you so much for your time. Thank you for your insight, your generosity, your kindness. Having you both on here has been absolutely glorious. Before we do go, I'm going to finish with the final question. We've asked it to all our guests on the show so far.
00:38:30
Speaker
NYMT 2020...
00:38:33
Speaker
NYMT 2026 season is the season of dreams. Tell us what is a dream of yours?
00:38:43
Speaker
um I would say that my dream, i slightly cringe, but I really truly believe that I am currently living my dream. i wouldn't change anything.
00:38:54
Speaker
My dream is just to inspire as many young people to get into music, magic, theatre. doesn't matter what sort of creative art form, just having something that you can love
Dreams and Future Aspirations of Rafferty and Anna
00:39:07
Speaker
do.
00:39:07
Speaker
doing and sort of having that as a sort of a thing that you can keep coming back to but um my dream is to sort of get into into this industry this is what i love to do whether music i love again and acting i'd love to of because also musicians sort of write my own album produce um uh so really wherever the wind takes me after this ah like hectic madness journey of bgt i'm just so grateful for uh and thank you everyone who's listening for the support and the i messages because truly they have been made my day every single time i read them so yeah
00:39:44
Speaker
We are really, really rooting for you every step of the way, Rafferty. And I've got a feeling you might be running out of days in the year if you want to be going along with all of those three, four career paths. But why not? we're We're really rooting for you and wish you best of luck in the semi-final. Don't forget, if you are listening, don't forget to stay tuned. Watch the Britain's Got Talent semi-final where you can vote, vote, vote, vote for Rafferty. He wants your vote to hopefully get him through to the final of 2026 BGT.
00:40:13
Speaker
<unk>t But Anna, Anna, tell us what is a dream of yours? Honestly, I feel like my dream right now is for Rafferty to win BGT. I've watched that show for years and now I'm going to. I'm much less sensible. I just want to be on The Masked Singer.
00:40:33
Speaker
I am obsessed with that show I have a I have a notebook and I write down all the clues and then me and my mum phone each other in the ad breaks and go who do you think it is and then we stalk people and that's my not sensible dream um but I much like you Rafferty I think just doing what we're doing is already amazing and consistently just trying to keep following whatever we want to do in that moment not like setting one firm goal but just to keep being excited about being creative and making new things. um And if I had to be specific, I do get a really lovely little feeling when I see the faces outside the London Palladium.
00:41:11
Speaker
So that's a bit of a dream would be to perform there and maybe even have my mug on the building, and but Marsinger first. for real mask singer first get your priorities right if you were to go mask singer um what what creature animal or or puppet item would you be if you could choose what your what your mask would be do tell us yeah you're asking like i haven't already got this planned oh sorry sorry i mean obviously now i've said this everyone's gonna know it's me when i'm Sure. Well, you know, you can tell us this and come with another one when you get the call. Yeah, exactly. You know, um outside car warehouses, they have those tubes that sort of wave and flail in the wind. That would be me. And so I think my character would just be called Tube.
00:41:50
Speaker
um And it would just be this big stick. And then I think I'd chat with the designers, obviously, but I would like to have sort of wind machines inside the costner. So I hit a big note, then my arms would go like whoosh. That's the plan. Yeah.
00:42:03
Speaker
ah As I'm like cracking out Defying Gravity in the firebers I'm sold. If anyone knows a producer or one of the team on Masked Singer, please, please get Anna Hale on it. And now you wait. You wait to the next series and they've got a tube character. And then I get on Masked and also Your social media is going to go ballistic. um Well, honestly, it's been an absolute pleasure having you
Conclusion & Listener Engagement
00:42:31
Speaker
both. Thank you so much to Toby for being a fabulous co-host. course
00:42:35
Speaker
It's been great having you on. And to our two incredible guests, Rafferty and Anna. Honestly, it's been an absolute delight having you on the episode. And I think, you know, Anna, you talked about never letting the audience catch up with you. One thing's for certain, the audience are certainly not catching up with you two.
00:42:55
Speaker
And I guess, well, the future performance, it isn't just one path, is it? It isn't one box. It isn't one lane. It can really be whatever you want it to be.
00:43:06
Speaker
And you two a testament to that.
00:43:12
Speaker
That's it for today's episode. And thanks so much for listening to Open House. If you enjoyed the show, please don't forget to like, subscribe and comment wherever you're listening from. And hey, why not tell a friend? The more the merrier.
00:43:25
Speaker
Check out nymt.org.uk to learn how you can support us, get involved and what's on throughout the season. Or find us at NYMT UK on the socials. And why not drop us a message with what guests you want to see and hear from in a future episode. So, so long, farewell,
00:43:42
Speaker
Auf Wiedersehen and goodbye.