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Open House Ep. 1: Swings, Standbys and West End Covers with Cliona Flynn and Brian Ó Muirí
141 Plays4 months ago
What happens when the show has started, the audience is in, and suddenly you’re told you’re going on in a completely different role?
In the first episode of Open House, the official NYMT podcast, host David and NYMT Young Company member Hannah Stobart are joined by NYMT alumni Cliona Flynn and Brian Ó Muirí to explore the fast-paced world of swings, standbys and West End covers.
From Mean Girls and Back to the Future to Cats, Book of Mormon and 42nd Street, Cliona and Brian share what it takes to stay performance-ready, cover multiple tracks, handle last-minute changes, and protect your confidence, voice and mental resilience in the world of musical theatre.
They also look back on their time with NYMT, how youth theatre helped prepare them for professional life, and why the people around you can make all the difference in building a career on stage.
A must-listen for aspiring performers, NYMT members, theatre lovers and anyone curious about what really happens behind the scenes in the West End.
In this episode:
- What swings and standbys actually do
- How performers prepare for emergency covers
- The difference between ensemble tracks, cover roles and principal covers
- Cliona’s experience covering Katie and Regina in Mean Girls
- Brian’s experience swinging in Back to the Future, Cats and beyond
- How NYMT helped shape their careers
- Advice for young performers entering the industry
Guests:
- Cliona Flynn – NYMT alumna and former standby in Mean Girls
- Brian Ó Muirí – NYMT alumnus and currently swing in Back to the Future
Hosts:
- David Grant – NYMT Associate Producer
- Hannah Stobart – NYMT Young Company member and co-host
Follow / find out more:
- NYMT: nymt.org.uk
- Instagram: @NYMTuk
- TikTok: @nymtUK
- David: @david.z.uk
- Hannah: @hannah_stobart
- Twain socials: @TwainTwins
- Brian: @itsbrianmurray
- Cliona: @clionaflynn01
- CADA: cadaperformingarts.ie
Recommended
Transcript
The Life of Swings and Standbys
00:00:00
Speaker
The audience are in, the show's started, the music's playing, and you get a tap on the shoulder. There's been a change of plan, and you're going on for a totally different role. Act one as one role, act two as a totally different track, or even a combination of the two. Or perhaps you've left the house and you get a call.
00:00:19
Speaker
Yep, you're going on, sometimes with little or even no rehearsal. This, my friends, is the world of swings and standbys.
Celebrating NYMT's 50th Anniversary
00:00:28
Speaker
And welcome to our official NYMT podcast series, Open House. It's the very first episode, and we're so excited to share it with you today, our listeners. It's the podcast that brings you insight and inspiration from a whole host of incredible guests, friends of NYMT, and the world of musical theatre, in celebration of our 50th anniversary, more than 50 years of musical theatre for young people. My name's David and I'll be your host. And while I've not been around for all of those 50 years, I've been around for a fair few. And you can find out even more about our 2026 season on the socials at NYMT UK or online, nymt.org.uk. And don't forget to like, comment and subscribe.
00:01:16
Speaker
Now, before we meet our first two guests, it gives me great pleasure to introduce our co-host for today's episode and an NYMT Young Company member themselves. Hannah, welcome to the show. Hello, David. How are you? I'm really well, thanks. How are you? I'm amazing. I'm feeling so good. Now, for all our lovely listeners, Hannah is a NYMT YCM, which stands for Young Company Member.
Hannah's NYMT Journey
00:01:41
Speaker
Hannah, tell us a little bit about what you're up to at the moment and what you've been up to with NYMT over the last few years. Yes. So NYMT has been a massive part of my upbringing. I did loads of workshops, summer skills workshops before lockdown.
00:01:55
Speaker
And then in 2025, I was in the company of Carousel. Fabulous. That was Carousel that was performed actually on a carousel. That amazing. It was a gorgeous production. How was it for you?
00:02:07
Speaker
Oh, it was just incredible. was some of the best weeks of my life, actually. I love it. I absolutely love it. And your drama school at the moment, university, where you're at, what are I am currently at university, second year at the University of Birmingham, doing drama and English. And I'm also a musician. so I'm in a band with my twin sister called Twain. We just supported Jules Holland on his winter tour, 2025, performed at the Royal Albert Hall, which was insane.
00:02:34
Speaker
I love it. Tell me, if our listeners want to have a listen to you and your sister's band, where can we find you? Where can we listen? We are on all streaming services under Twain. And then if you want to give us a follow on socials, then it's at Twain Twins. T-W-A-Y-N. Not messing around there, getting that plug straight in there. Of course. But listen, we are here for a fabulous episode with two fabulous guests. Tell us, tell us, tell us, tell us, who do we have on the
Introducing Kleena Flynn and Brian O'Meary
00:03:00
Speaker
show?
00:03:00
Speaker
So the two guests joining us today, since being part of NYMT, have absolutely taken the industry by storm. Our first, Kleena Flynn, graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama back in 2022 and very swiftly made her professional debut on a West End stage at the Savoy Theatre, no less, as Katie Heron in Mean Girls. And our second, Brian O'Meary, is currently in his last month at Back to the Future. at the Adelphi Theatre, also on the West End, and was part of four NYMT productions from 2013 to 2018. And he's also a teacher at the iconic Pineapple Dance Studios in London. Oh my goodness, two fabulous guests. Let's get things started. This is Open House with NYMT.
00:03:56
Speaker
Brian and Kalina, welcome. How are you? Hi, are you? Hello, David Grant. How are you both? Amazing. Good, good, thank you. Honestly, it is such a pleasure to have you both on this podcast. You are both smashing your musical theatre careers and you've both been such fabulous alumni of MYMT as well. It's so great to have you. But listen, Hannah gave us a little tease as to what you guys got up to with MYMT way back
Kleena's NYMT Experience
00:04:24
Speaker
when. But let's hear it from you. Let's go with Kalina first. Kalina, what was your NYMT journey? What were your projects did you get involved in?
00:04:33
Speaker
So first thing I did with NYMT was a workshop with um Jake and Pippa. We like wrote a musical in a week, which was really fun. It was like a devised musical workshop week. And then I did the 40th anniversary concert at the Adelphi.
00:04:50
Speaker
And then after that, I did Billy the Kid and Superhero. I love it. How old were you on your first project? Remind me. um I think I was 14. fourteen 14 and absolutely smashed it. So like 10 years ago. 10 years ago, way back when. Brian, how about you? When was your NYMT first project? How old were you? And what other shows did you get involved with since?
Brian's Path from NYMT to Theatre
00:05:17
Speaker
Well, the funny thing because myself and Cleen are from the same place. We're both from Cork in Ireland. And basically, I hadn't heard of and NYMT because obviously it was based in the UK mostly at the time. and with no auditions in Ireland, but there is now. And i went to see 13 the Apollo on Shaftesbury Avenue um in 2012 because it was one of my favourite musicals. And from there, I stalked all the cast on Twitter at the time and was like, what is this? How can I get involved? And then they said...
00:05:50
Speaker
We're NYMT. We're doing a show next to year, your West Side Story, um if you'd like to audition. So then in 2013, did audition and I did West Side. And then I did the hired man in the company.
00:06:02
Speaker
And then after that, I took um on the role of like assistant choreographer in Spring Awakening. And also Anything Goes and The Beautiful Game. So actually five projects. Five projects. And then I also was pastoral care for many years as well. That's amazing. I stand corrected. Not four, but five NYMT shows. Well, to be fair, let me jump in again and say that the fifth one, Anything Goes, I only did Easter because I was actually employed by the summer. so Yes, you were. You absolutely were. Technically, you're right, but equally, you're wrong. You've got to get it in there. Well, listen, youth theatre, I think, plays such a big part in in all of our journeys and all of our careers. And I'm going ask you guys the question that we ask all of our guests. First question, what is your first memory of youth theatre or even just theatre in your
Impact of Youth Theatre on Careers
00:07:01
Speaker
youth? Well, my favorite memory that I love to like remind myself of now, especially nearly 10 years into professional theater, and is when I auditioned for NYMT's West Side Story. Nicolai Foster was the director and we sat down at the final and had a chat. And he was just like, oh, like, where do you see yourself in the show? Like, blah, blah, blah, blah. blah And basically, I was so desperate to be involved.
00:07:26
Speaker
that I literally said, I will literally pull the curtain. I will do anything to be in the show. And he was just like, okay, stink desperation off you, we'll give you a part. So I think like when I look back to that, that's kind of my earliest memory that does kind of still jog me on now when I'm on stage. It's like,
00:07:44
Speaker
you literally said you'd pull the curtain in a youth production, so you could do that. um So I think that's like my favorite memory if I look back, regardless of the actual show, which was amazing. I think I look back to like me before it even all started just to say i really, really wanted to do it. So yeah, yeah that's kind of my earliest memory.
00:08:02
Speaker
And Kalina, how about you? i'm Well, I started off in dance when I was like a like in a little, tiny little ballerina. My mom put me in ballet.
00:08:13
Speaker
And she always used to say to me, i was like four, and every time our dance was done, i would like try and like circle back and then head back onto the stage. And they would always have to like run after me and be like, no, no, no, no likely know you're done now. And so got off the stage yeah, I was kind of like, I think addicted from a really early age. I just loved it um I love the feeling of being on stage. And like Brian said, it's always nice to remind yourself like why you're doing it. And um to like remind yourself of like that kid who just didn't want to leave the stage.
00:08:42
Speaker
you know yeah absolutely amazing and i think you both you're both in the same area um from court right and am i right i've done some done some research you are both part of kada is that right kada kada kada how do you say well kada my car that'll do my me email address for years was kada till i die at hotmail.com i i was like i am Like no one sent any emails for that because it's been disabled by now. but The Court Academy of Dramatic Art.
00:09:13
Speaker
Till I die. and And you both part of that when you were younger. So you've almost, your career's sort of started there and you both went through MYMT, which is amazing. And for any of our listeners that don't know, Kalina, you just finished a fabulous stint in the amazing musical Mean Girls.
00:09:29
Speaker
um As ah one of the standbys in that show. Tell us tell us about that role. who What roles were standbying? And um what does a standby actually mean? For someone that's listening and thinks a standby, what does that mean?
Role of a Standby in Mean Girls
00:09:43
Speaker
i'm Okay, yeah. So a standby is basically an offstage understudy. and so i'm not in the I wasn't in the ensemble. I didn't play any parts other than the two leads. So i covered Katie and Regina. And so it basically meant being the standby for both of them meant I was essentially the first cover for both. So I would wait backstage and I had had to go into the theatre every night. And then like I had to be there in case something happened or...
00:10:13
Speaker
you know, if somebody fell sick during the show and get thrown on. You wouldn't get thrown on mid-show, surely? Oh, I did. i absolutely did. Only once, though. ah tell us Tell us about that. um Well, it was... i forget even what day it was, but... um I was just upstairs chilling with the other swings and we were all just like hanging out in our dressing room and our um resident director like ran up. There's like hundreds of stairs to get up to our room and our um resident director ran up and she like swung open the door and she was like, Kleena, it's happening. You're going on. And I was like, for which one? Because I was like, it could be either characters. I could have been going off for Katie or for Regina. So um i ended up going on for Katie and I did the second half of the show. And it's really funny because in the beginning of the second half, um there's a line about Katie like being a new version of herself. And it's like, we're introducing Katie 2.0 and then the the doors open and it actually was a different person. So that was quite fun. um But yeah, it was exhilarating. Like I i loved it. I had the best time. and I think... having to just like jump in at last second it was um yeah it was super fun yeah and how do you keep that fresh having to keep these tracks in your head all the time but not necessarily doing them every night how do you manage to keep the tracks fresh and in your head
00:11:38
Speaker
Um, well, I was very lucky. Like I went on quite a lot. I did 153 shows over the whole contract. wow So I was on like a lot of the time, um which helped it. I didn't go a long period of not being on and then panicking saying like, oh my God, do I know my lines? Like, um, I felt like I was kind of consistently getting practice in, but I think at the beginning,
00:12:00
Speaker
um It was just about like watching that we would record parts of rehearsals and just keeping going over my script and just like running, running, running, running lines. um I don't think you can run your lines enough when you're doing a part, like a job like this, when you have to...
00:12:16
Speaker
You have to know your lines. Obviously, anyone has to know know their lines. But when you're playing two characters who are often in scenes together, you have to know them back to front and inside out. Almost having conversations with yourself, almost. Honestly, sometimes I used to run the lines with myself. I would just... I have to share the story. It can be so last minute that in fact, when I went to see Mean Girls and I knew Kalina, it was a date that Kalina was due to be on. ah We were expecting to see Kalina on as Katie.
00:12:43
Speaker
So we got our seats, we sat watching. On comes Katie. It's not Kalina. What's going on? I couldn't believe it. I'm checking the programme. Is it the wig? Is it the makeup? ah Sure enough, few minutes later, no, she's on as Regina. Change of Last minute. It is so last minute. Well, no, Brian, you were there another day because what actually happened the first day that I made my Regina debut, yeah i left the house to play Katie and it was a Sunday matinee. Brian was coming, like a lot of my friends are coming. It was like, because it was my first week on and I left the house and my company manager rang me and she was like, Colleen, I'm so sorry, but like, there's been a change of plans like you you actually need to do Regina today for the first time. And so I just got to the theater. I had already left the house planning on playing one part and then I was like, oh God, I've just got to switch to the other. Yeah, it was it was mental. And so Brian got to see my first ever Regina where I was just like, he was there.
00:13:38
Speaker
I only found out literally an hour ago that I was doing this. And then sadly, I came back about ten times after that. Yeah. To see her do anything. She would open an envelope and I'd be there.
00:13:48
Speaker
Oh, I love it. My number one
Brian on Being a Swing
00:13:51
Speaker
supporter. Listen, Brian, Cleena's told us about the role of a standby, but currently you are very much in the world of a swing. Swing, standby, what's the difference? How does a swing work?
00:14:03
Speaker
They're kind of similar in the nature of them, but basically a swing is someone who can traditionally like jump into any role in the ensemble. But nowadays, and swings are also taking cover roles, so like principal parts as well. So currently, um on paper, I cover six ensemble tracks and I also cover two principal roles.
00:14:24
Speaker
But that doesn't mean that I haven't done more. I've done three female tracks as well in this show at Back to the Future. So I've totaled on 11. So like that's kind of they don't really clear you for those until you've done all of your um male representing tracks. So I've done eight of those and then I did the three females after depending on whatever covering we did that day.
00:14:46
Speaker
That is amazing. How do you manage your time as a swing backstage? Like what what are you doing when you're not on stage for a night? um I mean, i'd love to remember because honestly, since Christmas, I've been off for one night. I literally you just said that to my housemate this morning because I meant to be off tonight as well for the second night since Christmas. But I don't think it's going to happen.
00:15:09
Speaker
I'm taking bets. But I mean, if we're not on stage, like some of my best friends are also the swings as well. So. we would like at Christmas time, like very early on Christmas time, we'd play like a board game or like we would potentially go through some things or like go out to the front and watch the show and get a slush poshie, slush slush puppy. A slush poshie. Easy for you to Easy for you to say. A slush poshie. Say that. That's a good one. Slush puppy, say it three times fast There you are, for anyone listening that wants a new vocal warm up Slush puppy, slash puppy, slash puppy, slash puppy, three times Pause this podcast and do a vocal warm up, they're quick Drop the front of the house and get a slush puppy And just have a laugh, really Tell me, so when you talk about doing like six tracks in ensemble Does that mean that you know Six different, you know, movement Blocking, choreography, harmonies The head, the tail The whole damn thing
00:16:05
Speaker
all six different versions. is yes Am I right? Yes. And sometimes as well, like if we're in a cut show, which we often are at Back to the Future, like I could be doing three parts at the same time. So there was in one number, there's three solos.
00:16:19
Speaker
And i one day I sang all three, but like on different parts of the stage. So I literally was just running around the back of Marty. singing like everything and i was like this hilarious and then also there's like um we have to know all the harmonies but there's a moment in Cake which is one of the numbers where like different characters enter and there's one part that the boys are in four part harmony so if if I'm playing a different track but we're missing one of those I'll sing it behind the curtain and that's when I call myself Kathy Selden from Singing in the Rain I'm like I'm doing a Kathy today because I'm just singing behind the curtain Keep our atmosphere so fresh and clean. Like to singing in the back.
00:16:54
Speaker
So, yeah, it's kind of, it's crazy, but also like being a swing is crazy. But I think once you're into the swing of it, same as Kleena, like once you kind of know what you're doing and you know, like the general what's happening on stage, I think it becomes a lot easier.
00:17:10
Speaker
I think it's fair to say that there's a huge amount of work that come with both roles, swings and standbys. You really, really have to you know know your know your track inside out and backwards. What would you say is that would be one of your biggest tips, Brian, for for someone that's you know wanting to look at or train their their swing or standby skill set and being able to handle that amount of information?
Advice for Aspiring Swings and Standbys
00:17:35
Speaker
How do you prepare for that?
00:17:38
Speaker
Like, honestly, eat, sleep and breathe it in the sense of like, you have to like, for example, Back to the Future was a big cast change in the ensemble. And there was only two new swings, myself and another girl called Phoebe. um So like, basically, we weren't used at all during rehearsals. And I think probably the same for Klina because it was an original cast. Like the ensemble were up on their feet learning the stuff.
00:18:01
Speaker
And then we weren't doing anything at the sides. Like we were just taking notes and filming. So I think like the main like advice I would give to be a swing, because everyone does it different ways. My notes were nothing like Phoebe's, was basically just to take as much as you can in. And um like what I like to do is like get up on the side and like try everything. Try it on the right, try it on the left.
00:18:25
Speaker
And then I try and make little kind of fusions in my mind, like reach, reach in, turn in stage, turn in stage. And then I'm like, OK, turn in stage. That means that's my left. So then that must mean that's the right.
00:18:36
Speaker
You kind of like try and like help yourself and give yourself little tricks. And like a Rubik's Cube. Like a Rubik's Cube of blocking. Yeah. Like I have a lot of. um like moments where I would like say like this, oh, this is this part of the choreography. And they're like, that's not what that's called. And I'm like, I know, but for me, that is called that.
00:18:55
Speaker
yeah So like, you know, just don't even ask me a question on it because I've made so many different links in the tracks because of the way I've learned it. And basically film them everything and then just watch them religiously down to like the hair of like,
00:19:09
Speaker
which track they're going on, like on the stage. Like we have tracks on our stage because of all the car and stuff. Like if they're passing a certain bit, I just don't want to be in the way of anyone else. And I think it's such an important point is that being a swing or standby, it's not just the onstage track, it's the backstage track. The costume changes, the wigs. And I guess for you, Kleena, you know, all those different roles you play, that backstage track must have been quite something. But you didn't actually get into Mean Girls that long after graduating from Central. So, you know, you must have been in this world, three years of training.
00:19:41
Speaker
um And then, wow, you're you're on a standby, you're covering those different tracks. What's the preparation and that training like for you to help you prepare for the role of standby Mean Girls?
Transitioning from TV to Theatre
00:19:52
Speaker
Um, well, it was actually kind of crazy because after Central, I did like, I was doing like film and TV stuff. So I did like Doctors on BBC One. and I did like a Hallmark Christmas movie. I was kind of like in that world. And Mean Girls was only like the second musical I had been auditioning for. So I felt like I was really out of the loop with this whole world. and um
00:20:15
Speaker
Like, even the audition process was crazy because I was in for Regina the whole time. And then at my final, that's when they asked me to... They were like, could you maybe come back in tomorrow and do some Katie stuff? And that's when my role kind of started to form a bit. um So the whole thing was...
00:20:32
Speaker
was kind of chaotic and I think i'm I was really thrown into the deep end and it was great like having someone like Brian in my corner and in my life that I could like ring and be like oh how do how do I do this how do I do that like what's the best way to go about it but like Brian says you kind of have to throw yourself into it and just figure it out for yourself like what method works for you and it's all like trial and error so like I when I first started of rehearsals I'd never even been in a professional musical rehearsal room not to mind like having to try and remember the two lead roles that were happening in front of me and I at the start was like writing everything down like notes notes notes And then when things started getting changed in like the creative process, then I'd have to like start my notes again. so the it was very much like, okay, this isn't working. So instead I'm just going to try and be present. And I think that was the biggest thing that like helped me was like being present in the moment of rehearsals and actually watching and being like, if I'm...
00:21:30
Speaker
present in this moment I will be taking stuff in and sometimes you have to trust yourself and calm your nervous system to be like i am taking this in even if if it feels like I'm not doing enough or I'm not doing this I'm not doing that sometimes you just have to let yourself absorb it and kind of just trust that it it will go in yeah yeah that's amazing what you had both you had to lean on each other that's so nice yeah I know it was great in in hearing Kaina say that we kind of work in the same way now, like, because like the the girl next, the girl next to me that joined as well, Phoebe, like wrote, wrote and wrote and wrote. And I'd say she had a whole dissertation written by the end. And i I literally like looked at her one and I went,
00:22:11
Speaker
What are you writing? Please. like Yeah, because you're looking at everyone else being like, oh my God, should I do that? felt I was doing nothing. yeah like Because she'd be like working through the lunch break. She'd be like, this is just how I do it. She could be doing her Tesco shopping list. You know, she could her shopping list, right? I'd be like, what are you writing now? I'd just be sitting there taking it in.
00:22:33
Speaker
So um controversial question for you both. um is Two questions for you. It's like a double edged sword. Good luck.
Challenges and Value of Swing Roles
00:22:40
Speaker
Is being a swing harder than being a lead? And do you feel that swings or standbys are undervalued amongst audience members? Who's going to take this one first? Let's go cleaner. Go for it.
00:22:55
Speaker
Okay, so my hot take is I can't fathom being a swing. I can't even imagine it. I think because like with me playing two different characters, i could really commit to like acting and like finding their different physicalities and being in those different costumes and saying those different lines. That made sense in my brain. But if doing choreography and then swapping sides and coming on in different sides and changing the direction that you're doing a certain choreography, I think is unbelievable. And also like when I went to see Brian in Back to the Future, he was like a swing and he was he was swung on. And i think this was for your like 30th birthday, actually. And I like showed up and I was like so excited. And I was like, oh my God, I'm so excited. Happy birthday, Brian. And it looks like he was in the show forever.
00:23:44
Speaker
for years, like for years and years and years. And he had just been swung onto that track. So I think that swings are completely undervalued and I think they're amazing, but I could never, i could never do it. How about you, Brian?
00:23:57
Speaker
Well, now that Tina's given away my age,
00:24:01
Speaker
I'm trying to get the puns here like I've taken the potion. i you um so I'm still 22. I'm 17 and I'm new here today. Literally I'm Kim from Miss Saigon. So the the my hot take on it is actually um because I have done both. Like I've been in the ensemble. And I've also played a role. Last year, I played my first principal role. I played Billy Lawler in 42nd Street. Wow. And what about recently as well? I believe there was a a recent role in Back to the Future. oh yes, yes, yes. I played George McFly just over a week ago now, which is my... Yeah, how did the two compare? Wow.
00:24:41
Speaker
Billy Lawler and George McFly. notes lead leads leads Leads and swinging. Tell tell us about it. um I think like I was going to say like there's worlds in which they're both difficult because i know the original question was like which is harder? And I think like when I was in Book of Mormon, I had the exact same track for three years and that had its difficulties in the sense of like getting up every day and for three whole years and like delivering the same...
00:25:10
Speaker
trying to deliver the exact same performance energy wise, commitment wise, like keeping it fresh, keeping the ball going like audiences haven't seen it before, you know, but also then knowing what you're doing every single day.
00:25:26
Speaker
That was quite nice. But then obviously, swinging is hard because you're you're always constantly on edge. Like I'm currently waiting, well, it's going to be three hours more time until I find out what I'm doing tonight, you know, so... Three hours, you find out in three hours time. So I find out three hours before warm up. So for listeners right now, it's um it's currently 10 to 12.
00:25:47
Speaker
And the show tonight is, it's an evening show, right, Brian? Yeah. seventh So 7.30 show. And you're going to find out at what time? We'll find out at 3 o'clock if we're on. But then obviously that can change.
00:26:01
Speaker
That is amazing. and And it can still change. i I have a story in a while I'll tell on the next question. But I literally found out during the overture of Cats that I was going on No. I'm still answering the first one. Oh yeah. So I think like, yeah, there's a world in which they're both really difficult. But I think...
00:26:22
Speaker
Now that it's a good few months into Back to the Future, I would say swinging is actually easier in the sense of like, because I know exactly what I'm doing. It's really fun. Like every single track in Back to the Future has like a little pop up, a little moment.
00:26:36
Speaker
And I really ham up any moment I have, like as each character. And I think like that's more fun for me. um But equally, I do miss the days of just saying, oh, I know exactly what I'm doing and I can live my life before. Because the problem is when you find out at three o'clock, that's when your workday starts. And I know clean out. We used so we used to talk about this last year. It's like if you find out you're on, that's it. You're you're committed to work until you you go in at six. Whereas if you're in the ensemble or playing a part, you just throw the only in at six o'clock going, hey, yeah, I know what I'm doing. I'm here today. You know?
00:27:08
Speaker
I think it does take its toll on your like nervous system as well and I think i when Mean Girls ended made me realise that I lived in kind of fight or flight for a year it because it wasn't like whether or not I was going on it was also like which one and Katie and Regina have such different like vocal setups yeah you know Katie's much more a mix um which it like if I if my like today you know if I'm any bit unwell that mixy part of my voice will really struggle and then Regina's the opposite Regina's like full belt like high belt and so like it's not even just about if you go on it's which one you're gonna and so that is kind of a tough thing to be kind of constantly in that state of like what's it gonna be You talk about fight or flight cleaner.
Managing Stress and Support Systems
00:27:52
Speaker
Tell tell us a bit more about that for for listeners thinking, yeah, they have a, you know, maybe a tricky moment in their training. They approach something that makes them feel, you know, they really need to go for it or a challenging time. How did you deal with that, that more intense period? Obviously, looking back on it, you think, gosh, you were living in Mean Girls day to day. But we actually, when you're in it, how did you manage that day to day routine? and taking each each challenge as it came on a day-to-day basis?
00:28:20
Speaker
um I think you just really have to look after yourself and like you have to really prioritise your s sleep and like what you're fueling your body with. and Because like there was a stint before where I was scheduled on for Regina for two and a half weeks. and Georgie had a holiday, so I was like knew I was going on. But within those two and a half weeks, if Katie went off, they would swap me in.
00:28:45
Speaker
And or like, you know, depending on how it would work, if there was the other like cover was off sick or whatever. So I, which was meant to be two and a half weeks of just Regina. Like there were times where I was jumping into Katie and like jumping back to Regina. And, um ah you know, that was quite intense when it was over those periods. And that was, there was a a time over Christmas as well, where it was just like, you know, constantly chopping and changing. And I think you just have to be really kind to yourself. And it can like,
00:29:15
Speaker
I think your voice struggles more and your performance will struggle more if you like get really hyper and you get really anxious and you let yourself like your brain go crazy. So it's kind of about having to try your best to calm your nervous system and know that you can do it and it's it's all in your body. And I'm like, I'm very lucky. i have an amazing support system. I lived with all of my best friends. I had Brian. I had like ah my the cast and the crew, like I mean, girls were like unbelievable and so supportive. So in that sense, it does take a village because I had so many people in my corner who used to look after me and just like help me. And because it was a lot.
00:29:51
Speaker
i think we I think we have a similar approach at NYMT actually. You know, NYMT shows and projects, they can be so full on for our company of young people. ah You know, the days, the rehearsals are amazing, but you know, we work together so hard and you're right, it does take a village from the creative to the pastoral team. But no, that MYMT experience of putting on a musical or a workshop or a project together um can be such an incredible experience for those young people that take part.
Professional Preparedness from NYMT
00:30:16
Speaker
But speaking of challenging experiences, Brian, you kt you teased us earlier with a little tale from Cats. Now, for anyone that doesn't know, ah Back to the Future right now, just then before that, it was forty second Street.
00:30:31
Speaker
with a long stint in Book of Mormon. And then somewhere before Book of Mormon, you were getting on those whiskers and doing a face full of face paint day in, day out.
00:30:42
Speaker
Tell us more. Well, now I'd probably go back and play Grizabella at this stage. at the time... I'd pay a lot of money to see that. I would too. They'd have to change the key. um So i a couple... a both Well, 2019, I actually, just before the pandemic, I was on tour with Cats. I was a swing um and I also was covered Tugger, Rum Tum Tugger and Skimble Shanks. So I did have my two principal roles there as well. I did 11 tracks of Cats too. and Basically, Cats was just mad, like as in obviously we're away. We were... We did like China, the Philippines, Singapore. um I went to Vietnam, Tokyo. Like it was crazy, like amazing places. But yeah.
00:31:26
Speaker
The main thing is obviously like with a big, big dance show like that, people are going to get injured and um people have different things that happen. You know, we were in foreign countries. If you certain foods might make your tummy go funny or whatever. So like literally there was be times like during the overture or like in the middle of the opening number, because that was a big one as well. We're like, we actually, it was even more difficult because we were all swings, but we only had priorities for our covers, AKA Rum Tum Tugger and Skimbleshanks. But all the ensemble were just,
00:31:56
Speaker
free for all, like between the three boys that were there. um So basically, like we would just get the little tap on the shoulder. So we to have to sing live, like all the swings sang live in the booth. So we'd just be all like- Sounds like an episode from Traitors getting attacked by Claudia Winkleman. We actually looked pretty much like you, David, right now. We had our little mic in front of us. We had our little headset. And I see like i i bedazzled all the sight of mine with stickers. I'm sure you did.
00:32:21
Speaker
ah sense And then basically we just get the tap on the shoulder. then basically we just get the tap on the shoulder. And then you'd be like, who? And then they'd be like, cork a pat. And be like, oh, okay. And then you'd run and basically everyone help you get into the makeup. Like all the other swings would be like painting a whisker here, painting a whisker there. Like we used to it so fast. Incredible. yeah, so like sometimes you just hold on for that. But Equally like, it's kind of like everyone pull together and help you through kind of a thing and then check your notes and your videos between little bits and whatever. But, um...
00:32:57
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, that's obviously the beauty of it. But I was going to say earlier, something something similar to what you said, David, in the sense of like, NYMT actually does kind of prepare you for all that. Because I think as well, when you kind of take all the deeping out of out of performing, it is just like you're there with your friends having a good time. And I think like the good thing about having the long, long days at NYMT, like rehearsing. i remember at West Side Story, we to ballet at eight o'clock in the morning with Drew McHoney. Like literally, we used to go literally straight to breakfast and then go straight to ballet before we'd even start rehearsals. It was crazy carry on. But like those long days and the fun and then performing in between that, like at all hours of the day,
00:33:40
Speaker
kind of like is the same lessons I take now into my career. Because I think when I was before I did NYMT, I would be like life performing, life performing. Whereas I think now, especially when it's literally my career, it feels like the two can exist at the same time. And I can still be having fun with my friends, like in the wing, even on stage, but like in the world of the show. um And I think and NYMT actually kind of taught me that because we literally were in rehearsal rooms for a long, long time, just kind of like laughing and playing with each other. and
00:34:14
Speaker
you know yourself, like, especially like, I suppose, Hannah, like last year, because you're living there and because you're in the room constantly, you kind of do know what everyone else is kind of up to and doing. And I think that's what's,
00:34:26
Speaker
kind of prepared me as well for being a swing, kind of just being in the room at NYMT, just kind of like seeing everyone do their thing kind of actually is swinging because you always kind of have your eye on the ball. And I'm sure if someone went down, yeah someone went down out of production, someone steps up because you're there, you kind of know it, you know? So. yeah it is and I that's so relatable with um with Carousel last year for listeners who might not know that was an outside production and so we when it came to show week we had i think there was four like stages of what to do if the if the weather wasn't on our side and we ended up only performing two full shows with a few show stops and
00:35:10
Speaker
being able to sort of switch, obviously not to the extent that you guys are doing, but to basically switch our tracks, depending on how much rain there was on stage, is sort of being switched on and being present in the scene and in the show, whilst also having fun with your friends, making sure your friends are all safe.
Challenges During Carousel Production
00:35:29
Speaker
it It's such a skill. And the NYMT, especially the pastoral team, were absolutely amazing. Obviously, with NYMT, the age range and in Carousel was 10 to 24. So being able to manage everyone's different emotions and different experience levels, um was it was just phenomenal. And obviously, it was heartbreaking when we couldn't do the show what we wanted it to be. But that those skills we learned with being able to switch tracks. The show must go on.
00:35:59
Speaker
100% you guys absolutely smashed it it was it was such ah a pleasure and amazing thing to be a part of um folks I'm so conscious of the time we are coming towards the end of this episode but before we do go I know Hannah has got a couple of questions I think you've got two questions uh from some of our listeners uh let's fire one to Kleena and one to Brian Ooh,
Listener Questions on Theatre Life
00:36:23
Speaker
okay. So we have a couple of questions from listeners. Our first one, maybe I'll give this one to Brian, is from Malachi, age 20. Do you have a song that gets you hyped before the show? Hi, Malachi. Yes. Actually, there has been quite a few like different ones, yeah considering with the different people I've had in dressing rooms. remember in Cats, it was Euphoria. used to always play Euphoria. euphoria like all the time and then actually for a Book of Mormon it was always um Hilary Duff or like Miley Cyrus like yes because like it depends on who's in the dressing room you know good choices and I think at Back to the Future it's more of like a head down let's learn what we're doing So it's usually the it's usually the opening number playing back and forth. um But yeah, like there's, to be honest, it kind of just depends on the people around you. Like nothing really for me gets me in the mood more than kind of being with my friends and kind of rallying up what energy we have for that day. And I think like that is the power of music. Like Hilary Duff would get us through.
00:37:30
Speaker
the book of mormon it was great yeah absolutely thank you hillary if you're um if you're listening and uh you want to share with us your pre-show hype track uh send it in on the socials mymt uk and we'll share those with brian and uh maybe your song will be playing in the back to the future dressing room anytime soon uh next question hannah one for kalina what's this one going to be i'm excited Lena, yes. So currently the Legally Blonde tour is happening in the yeah UK and there's been many, many swings and emergency covers on stage. So this question is from Grace21.
00:38:06
Speaker
What's your message to the press who have been pitting Amber and Hannah against each other? Oh, grow up. Like everyone's just trying to do their best. And like, honestly, if people who've never been a performer and never been an actor and never been on stage and had to do those epic songs night after night after night, then I don't think you get to be mean about people. And and also, i think if people need to take time for their vocal health or their mental health or physical health, they have to do that. I think there's a crazy culture in, um
00:38:42
Speaker
in performing where you know people think you should go on stage even if you're at death's door and you have to do the show and like that's why people like myself and Brian had the jobs that we have and like what I had at Mean Girls like we're there for a reason and so you know it's um I think it's really sad and also like it the people shouldn't be kind of put against each other they're both playing the part they're both absolutely their own actors and they will bring different things Both fabulous performers. Yeah, both amazing. Absolutely amazing. 100%. And bringing their own energy to the role. And I'm a huge fan of both. I think the show absolutely fabulous. Yes. I mean, well, thank you both for those fabulous questions from Grace and Malachi.
00:39:26
Speaker
ah nowy you too great questions you can send in your questions for our upcoming episodes on the MYMT Instagram m y' at MYMT UK before we go one final question for both of our fabulous guests MYMT season 2026 is the season of dreams what has always been a dream of yours and I think I'm going to ladies first on this one Kalina what's always been a dream for you
00:39:57
Speaker
big question I've always wanted to originate a role i think um I would love to do that um but also I would love to just work with people like who are in my circle who I've met throughout the years and so like people I've met at and NYMT like me and Brian have never worked together I want to work with Brian um shout out if anyone's listening we've got two yeah if there's any casting directors listening bring them together people let's do it Yeah, I think that's a dream of mine of like getting to work with some of the amazing people that I've grown up admiring and like getting to know over the years.
00:40:30
Speaker
I think it's so important you talk about that circle of people around you. You've spoken about that a lot. And I think that's such an important thing to to take away from this is that if you've your friends, your family, people at school, people that you train with, you know, for you guys, it was Cork Academy of Dramatic Arts, and then your school, and yeah then NYMT, keeping that group around you is such an important thing when you're training,
Mentorship and Career Development
00:40:54
Speaker
right? Can I also shout out Orla Palisar-Kio, who's a me and Brian's singing teacher. um She actually was the one who introduced us both NYMT. And I think that was like a massive turning for point for my myself and Brian that we could actually like make this into a career. um i think NYMT really opened our minds to like the industry and to like just coming to the UK and being able to do this as a job. So shout out to Orla. Shout out to you, Orla. Brian, dreams.
00:41:25
Speaker
um I think now I'm in my old years. I feel like like the main thing for me is obviously my my original dream was obviously started from and NYMT's West Side Story, which is feels a bit so full circle this moment because obviously it's doing it West Side Story again this year. absolutely are. You can catch at the Birmingham Hippodrome this summer.
00:41:46
Speaker
Which is so sweet to hear. like I actually and i know that our group chat started like flaring up when and It was announced, you were like, guys, what the hell? We're so old, they're doing it again. But I think like when i when I first came here, if you asked me this question like 10 years ago, would have said my dream was to like be on stage and to do the do the thing. But obviously now, thankfully that I am currently doing the thing, I think my main thing now that I like to do is to find like balance in life and also just a bit of happiness. You know what i mean? Just... um
00:42:22
Speaker
literally just to enjoy myself.
Happiness and Work-Life Balance
00:42:24
Speaker
Like, i think a lot of contracts now that I, the the big decision of whether I'm going to do them or not is going to be if I'm going to enjoy myself. um And I think actually one of shout out to one of the other and NYMT alumni is Rebecca Redout, who always, if I ever get any kind of a job job offer, I'll always go to her first and I'll say like, this is what I've been offered. This is a, and she always says like one of her five reasons to pick a show is kicks. Will you get some enjoyment out of it? And like, will you meet nice people? And if the answer to that is yes,
00:42:56
Speaker
over money, over anything, would probably do it. um So love it yeah, I think like the main thing, my dream now is just to be happy in my life and career together. And and that includes my family and my friends. If that suits all of us to do that, I will be doing it. um And yeah, I think that's it. Happiness is key happiness happiness happiness well you two it's been an absolute pleasure and of course a massive thank you to our fabulous co-host and young company member hannah stobart hannah thank you so much for joining us today have you enjoyed i've absolutely loved it and it's been very inspiring hearing your stories thank you so much
00:43:39
Speaker
Oh, it has been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much to all our listeners. Do keep listening. Tell your friends, tell your family, and don't forget to click subscribe and follow along at and NYMT UK for all the latest podcast episodes, news, behind the scenes content, and more. Well, that's nearly it. So from me, David, thanks for listening. And one more time, a huge thank you to our two fabulously talented guests and alumni, Brian and Kalina. It's been an absolute pleasure. You two are absolutely amazing. And well, swings and standbys truly have saved the day on countless occasions and long may they continue to do so.
00:44:18
Speaker
We'll see you next time. So from me, so long, farewell, al vida sain and goodbye.