Episode 1: Drew McOnie

Series 7 kicks off with Drew McOnie, British choreographer, theatre director, and one of the busiest people in show business.

He danced with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company but soon wanted to run the show. His work hits a sweet spot between warm and witty, always with a kinetic fizz: whether in the West End, on Broadway or in ballet. His new version of the Nutcracker gives the festive favourite a sweetly queer twist, and next year sees his stage version of the Oscar-winning movie The Artist. Drew became a father just a week before this recording – no wonder we speak about making families in and out of dance.

Drew McOnie

Drew McOnie is Artistic Director of the McOnie Company and an Associate Artist at the Old Vic and Birmingham Rep theatres. He won an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography for In the Heights and was nominated for the same award the following year for Jesus Christ Superstar. His credits as director/choreographer include: On the Town (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Musical Revival), The Wild Party and Strictly Ballroom in the UK and King Kong on Broadway. Ballets include Merlin (Northern Ballet). The McOnie Company’s latest works are Nutcracker (Tuff Nutt Jazz Club) and The Artist, which opens in May 2024.

Drew links:
McOnie Company’s website https://mconiecompany.com/
Nutcracker is at the Tuff Nut Jazz Club on London’s Southbank until 6 Jan 2024 https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/performance-dance/nutcracker
The Artist premieres at Theatre Royal Plymouth, 11-25 May 2024 https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/the-artist/