27 May 2026
Smell The Magic
Richard is podcasting in the middle of his run of 8 performances of a play. His guest must be in awe, it's one of the brains behind and up front in Operation Mincemeat (which may have run almost as long) Natasha Hodgson. They talk about the work that she took on during lockdown, having to eat inky eggs in her first acting job, the phenomenal success of Mincemeat and the toll it took on her, Rich's experience of musical and musical grades (you are treated to several songs from him and not much from Natasha - sorry), how Mincemeat elevated the women involved in the original mission, what the musical awakened in Rich, the extraordinary audio experience that is The Sink, plus some revealing emergency questions and some very bad advice for writers. Plus the world's most controversial musical Dazzle and writing for puppets (I didn't know you could do that).
Audio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)
Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) and Ben Walker
Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre
