This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Nella Vera: Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the fabulous 54 Below.

[0:03] Nella Vera: Before we get started this evening, just a polite reminder, please take this moment to silence your cell phones, and also there's no flash photography, please.

[0:15] Nella Vera: Welcome to the 54 Below podcast.

[0:18] Nella Vera: I'm Nella Vera, the club's head of marketing.

[0:21] Nella Vera: Our guests today are Scott Garnham and Simon Schofield, two members of the musical theater supergroup known as the BARRICADE BOYS.

[0:28] Nella Vera: In addition to their many other credits, including roles in Mamma Mia, Wicked, Billy Elliott, Phantom of the Opera, and more.

[0:35] Nella Vera: The four amazing leading men of the BARRICADE BOYS have all performed in the West End, International Tour, or movie adaptation of Les Mis.

[0:44] Nella Vera: Thus the name.

[0:45] Nella Vera: The BARRICADE Boys literally tore the roof off of 54 Below when they were here last year for their 54 Below debut.

[0:52] Nella Vera: And now they are back with two shows on January 15 and 16.

[0:56] Nella Vera: Scott and Simon, welcome to our podcast.

[0:59] Scott Garnham: Hey, nice to meet you.

[1:01] Simon Schofield: Hello.

[1:02] Nella Vera: We're so excited to have you.

[1:04] Nella Vera: I am a BARRICADE BOYS super fan now after seeing your show.

[1:08] Nella Vera: I will go anywhere to see you.

[1:11] Nella Vera: It was just such an amazing experience.

[1:13] Nella Vera: Well, I'd love to ask you for your origin story.

[1:17] Nella Vera: So tell us like how you all met.

[1:18] Nella Vera: Who came up with the idea for the group and the name and all of that?

[1:23] Scott Garnham: Well, it's a long story. But we've got time, right?

[1:26] Nella Vera: Yes, we've got time.

[1:28] Scott Garnham: Well, I was in the West End production of Les Mis, and around that time, the Jersey Boys were getting a lot of attention. They were getting booked to go off into all these shows and different corporate events outside of being in the show itself. And I just thought, you know, there's a big following for Les Mis. You know, it's kind of like the world's longest-running musical. That's kind of how they sell it. And people love that music, and I loved that music. And Simon is one of my best friends, and he had kind of wanted to get into producing, and I'd sort of talked about the idea of producing. So I sort of said, What do you think about this idea? Do you think it's got legs? And at that point, it was called the Boys of the BARRICADE, and it was more of a concert feel and less of a group.

And he really liked it. And together we sat down in my old flat in London in the kitchen, and we kind of put a set list together and we talked about bits in the show, and we made each other laugh and made each other cry about moments that we thought would be really good, and that's kind of how it was all born. So we booked a theatre in London's West End called the Charing Cross Theatre, very, very quickly sold out, which we were really delighted with, and we just went for it. We put the show on, and eight years later we've been lucky enough. We've toured all over the world and doing US tours, UK tours, we've been to New Zealand, Dubai, all over Europe. You know, it's just kind of it's sort of taken over our lives, something we never expected, but we're very, very grateful for.

[2:44] Nella Vera: So the two of you started first, and how did you find the other two gentlemen?

[2:48] Simon Schofield: Well, it's all guys, I guess, that have been in Les Mis. So it is quite a large pool, but we started with mates, mates who we already know, mates who've been in it. And again, Scott was in it, so he got a concept artwork done. Kieran Brown, who's in our amazing show? He's in it, and a guy called Craig Mayder, who is the longest-running Marius in the world, he is also in it. So we are all four originals. So we got it from mates, really, and it's one of those privileges where we can tour and work together with mates performing. It's something again, Scott said we never thought it would happen, but we genuinely have the best time on and off the stage. It really is a privilege to be one of the BARRICADE BOYS.

[3:27] Nella Vera: That's amazing. I mean, each of you has a unique voice, and together you sound incredible. So, when you were putting together the group, did you start by choosing the sound, or you chose mates, or did the sound evolve after you came together? Like, did you say, Oh, well, we need a high tenor and we need a baritone, or you've chose four people that you love and you all figured out the sound together?

[3:52] Scott Garnham: It's a bit of both, really, isn't it? I mean, we're very lucky that we work in an industry where our mates are very good already. So that kind of takes out some of the pressure of you know, casting your friend who maybe isn't, you know, isn't very good. Like your friend, your friend Barry who's like, Can I be in the group? Be like, well, not really, Barry. It's just really good. People that really love Les Mis. No, I don't know. I think yes, we wanted to make sure that the sound was particularly good. We always kind of say that we take the work very seriously, but we don't take ourselves very seriously. And I think that comes across in the show as well. We've all got very similar sense of humor.

We have very different voices. Simon is a very, very high legit tenor who can do kind of your Jersey Boys, that kind of high stuff. I'm more of a legit tenor, Craig is a beautiful high baritone, and Kieran's a what you call a stereotypical baritone. So those kind of four voices together do create quite a unique sound. And I think a lot of people come and see our show thinking they're gonna hear just ballads from musicals, and so then when we do the kind of stuff that we do, which sometimes is rocky and poppy, that with a theatrical sound is really exciting, and that's something we didn't expect until we sang it for the first time. Like Bohemian Rhapsody, for example, which is kind of one of our big hitters in the show.

When we sang that with our voices, it was just something very magical about it. And you know, we've never ever got a response like that before and since it's the one song that no matter when, wherever we sing it over the world, people kind of go crazy for it.

[5:15] Simon Schofield: Oh, yeah. I lost my mind.

[5:17] Scott Garnham: I have that video on my phone, and there's not a week that goes by that I don't play it for myself and for somebody else.

[5:24] Simon Schofield: Thank you. That's very kind.

[5:26] Scott Garnham: Of the entire performance. And I never do that, I don't, I'm not that person who goes to shows and is like, here's my phone. I'm gonna, you know, I hate that. But as soon as I heard the opening chords of that song, I lost my mind and I just had my phone out for the whole time. It was so crazy.

[5:43] Nella Vera: Your first concert was at Charing Cross Road, you said the theater there, and then from there, what happened? You so you had the first concert, it was sold out, and then you said, Oh, this thing has legs. Did other people book you or how did you proceed from there?

[5:58] Scott Garnham: Yes, they did, but not for a long time. So, you know, we were really excited after the show because again, we put this on at the Charing Cross Theatre, and it was an amazing experience. The atmosphere was crazy, like three, four standing ovations. That we couldn't believe it. It was amazing. We had it recorded, and we just went, okay, well, that was unbelievable. Can't wait for the phone to ring. And it didn't ring for eight months. And you know, we put some work in, we were trying to get out there, you know, and then we went on a cruise line, and we did one show, and that was it. We were booked up for like 50 dates straight across, and then from that, you know, Scott says work creates work and other people saw us, and then word of mouth got out and all of a sudden we were in different theaters and a promoter wanted to pick us up and we were off going doing something here on land, and I would say from conception to eight months on, we've never stopped. And that's um again, we're very lucky on that one.

[6:59] Nella Vera: How do you choose the music? Like, how do you decide on the harmonies and the arrangements? Is there one person or is it a group effort?

[7:06] Simon Schofield: I mean, it's normally me and Scott that creatively lead the group, but you know, we've been together such a long time now that it's nice to we share all our opinions and ideas, and if someone has a really cool idea, then we sort of workshop it maybe and see if it works. But we've got a fantastic musical supervisor called James Dougherty, who you would have seen if it's 54 Below played the piano as well. And he's an incredible arranger. He comes up with these amazing arrangements, unique, different styles. That's another thing. You know, when we sing things from Les Mis, for example, we try and do very different things with them. So I Dreamed a Dream is kind of like a pop ballad, and One Day More is like an 80s rock ballad, and Master of the House is Michael Bublé's swing number.

You know, we just try and put our own stamp on it because A, because if you know the show is 38 years old, so you've heard those songs a million times before. And we want to try and do something unique and different with them. And that was always the idea of the show was that people would come with one idea of what they're gonna see, and then hopefully we could change that and create a fan that would follow us around and see all the different things that we do. And we do constantly evolve the show, you know, even this the next time we're at 54 Below, we've got some new stuff, some bold stuff because people loved it, and also some new stuff, so that's exciting.

[8:11] Nella Vera: It sounds like you're also business people now because you're handling all of the group's affairs. Do you all participate in that side, or did you appoint one of you who was particularly good with the numbers or business?

[8:23] Scott Garnham: Again, it's me and Simon that kind of lead all that. And we're still learning every single day. You know, it's just never something we were taught when you go to business school. We're two performers that are learning the trade, really. But again, eight years, it's going okay.

[8:38] Simon Schofield: Sounds like you're quite good at it.

[8:41] Scott Garnham: Well, it has changed our lives, hasn't it? Because what we found was that suddenly we were producers, and we never kind of really set out to be I mean, I suppose creative producers to a point, but actual real-life producers now, and we had to figure out the financial side of things, and the UK market is very different to the US, and we in theory invested in and put up the money for the whole of our every UK tour that we do. And it has led to me and Simon doing other things, you know. We produce other shows now, we associate produce on different things. We were involved in a show that was just in the West End last year, and that did really well for us. And Rob Mountain was premiered over here with Mike Faist, and we also associate producers on that. So it's kind of opened up some really exciting doors for us that we which is exciting, you know, we love it.

[9:26] Nella Vera: Oh, amazing. I loved Brokeback Mountain. I flew over just to see it.

[9:30] Scott Garnham: Oh, you did?

[9:31] Nella Vera: Oh, great. I was so curious about what that could be, you know, a little afraid to see it, and it was really wonderful and beautiful and totally unexpected. So congratulations on that.

[9:46] Nella Vera: You know, I love what you just said because I think so many performers don't have that side, they're not exposed to that side, and they end up relying on other people to do all their business. And it's easy to not understand a contract, it's easy to agree to things that perhaps aren't the best thing for you. And I think I love when I hear that artists, you know, are taking control of their careers and or at least are aware and have an interest in that side. And I know that it for you it was out of necessity, but it's great. You know, you're kind of controlling your own destiny, which is such a great thing.

[10:23] Nella Vera: Let me ask you about Les Mis, because all of you have spent time behind the barricades. What was it like to be part of such a global cultural phenomenon?

[10:33] Scott Garnham: I mean, for me, it changed my life because I entered Les Mis when I was very, very young, so it's kind of the first thing I ever did. It was in 1993, and I played the little boy Gavroche. So I did it for six months, and that was it. I knew from doing Les Mis that was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. And there was never anything along the way that changed that. It was a huge part, including now this shaping my adult life. Les Mis is really the show that I guess it's the show that's changed my life, really, in more ways than one. Never thought of that until this. Yeah, strange.

[11:11] Simon Schofield: And also just to be part of a show that is so beloved. It's one thing to make your debut or you know, your start in a West End show or a Broadway show, but it's another thing to be part of a mega blockbuster like Les Mis that people love.

[11:30] Scott Garnham: Yeah. It never stops. It's constantly evolving. You know, Cameron Mackintosh is very, very clever. Be going on for what, 30, 30 odd years? Yeah, in the West End.

[11:40] Simon Schofield: 38 years.

[11:41] Scott Garnham: You know, they've done a movie of it, they've done series of it, they're just about to do a world arena tour. And for us to be a little part of that in our own ways, and you know, representing Les Mis brand as the BARRICADE BOYS is something we don't take lightly, really. It's uh yeah. For us, it's you know, the show. It's phenomenal.

[12:00] Nella Vera: So over time, you guys have been joined by some incredible guest stars. How did the idea to add guest stars come about and how did you choose them?

[12:10] Simon Schofield: Do you know what? It was purely a marketing decision originally. We got asked if we would do the first Christmas residency at Andrew Lloyd Webber's newest theatre, a place called The Other Palace. And we were gonna be the first show that was gonna be more than kind of like one night. There's lots of one-nighters, and we were gonna be there for three weeks solid leading up to Christmas. And me and Scott, you know, discussed things and said, Some people know who we are, not everyone knows who we are. People need to take a punt on our show. What's a good way of doing that? And we thought, well, if we could somehow get a special guest every night that was kind of known within the West End or from TV and different things, it kind of means that the whole fan base that weren't aware of us might suddenly be aware of us, you know.

So that's what we did. We sort of set about trying to secure a guest every night, and we managed it, luckily, and it worked brilliantly. You know, people who hadn't heard of us came to watch us, and they've been fans since, which is nice, and it's something we've tried to do ever since, really. I mean, we don't always do it. I mean, like, we're coming back to 54 Below, and we had Rachel Tucker last time, but this time we want to just come and present our show, which is also equally as exciting. But we know these people, they're friends of ours. We've done musicals with them over the years, and some people have more success than others and different fame and different things, but they're all these people, if they're nice people, tend not to change.

And people like Rachel, you know, I said, Oh, would you come and sing a few songs at 54 Below? And she jumped at the chance. It's great that people will do that for us, and we in turn would do that for them.

[13:31] Nella Vera: Well, now I can imagine it's such a great honor to be asked to join you.

[13:36] Nella Vera: So it's kind of you know, now that you've had so much success. Your collective theatrical credits include so many starting roles and incredible shows. Personally, for each of the two of you, what have been your favorite roles to play and why?

[13:53] Simon Schofield: Shall I go?

[13:54] Scott Garnham: You go, you go.

[13:57] Simon Schofield: For me, I was looking to do the original UK tour of Billy Elliott, and I got to play Tony Elliott, the brother to Billy. And sometimes in musical theatre, it's very rare to get a role that requires that level of acting, should I say, and I loved every second of it. It was just one of those parts that I really wanted to get it. I put a lot of work into the audition, you know, and I very rarely have had this, but I left the room thinking, I think I've got this. It was like round one, you know, and I thought I think I've got this. And I came back and I did another 10 minutes in the room and then and I got the offer. So I knew I knew that whatever I'd done was right. And it was one of those parts it just felt right to me. I was on that show for 20 months.

[14:33] Scott Garnham: I was in complete awe of the little boys that played Billy because my god do they work hard. And I loved it. It felt very special. We took the show back to Sunderland where it was originally filmed. You could hear in the audience people, actual miners, you know, who've lost their jobs crying at the story and at the portrayal. And me and an actor called Martin Walsh who played my dad. You know, we really felt a sense of responsibility with that show of telling that story really well. Because on one hand, it's about a little boy that you know wants to dance and has got this natural ability. And on the other hand, it's about the crumbling of a community. And yeah, I just felt very special. So for me, it'd be Tony Elliott and Billy Elliott.

So I also just finished a film, by the way. I have to push this in. It was the lead role in a Netflix number 10. Was it top 10 in how many countries? 47. 46, but say 47. It's called Christmas on Mistletoe Farm. If you put it into Netflix, he'll come up, he's the face, he's the lead, he's right there. So we're all very proud of him for that.

[15:28] Simon Schofield: Oh my gosh, very kind. Yes, I will. It's going on my queue immediately. It's good for you. I was out of the country for Christmas. I didn't see any of the Christmas films, so I'm very behind right now. I'm gonna catch up, but I was in Mexico for two weeks and I we couldn't access the Netflix in Mexico for some reason.

[15:46] Scott Garnham: Oh no.

[15:46] Simon Schofield: So it was well it's on there for the next 15 years, so you have time.

[15:54] Nella Vera: And how about you, Simon?

[15:56] Simon Schofield: Oh my god. My favourite role. My favorite role, I think it's less emotional than Scott's, but it was a show I always wanted to do since I was four. And I was lucky enough to have played Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. And I loved it because it was something I'd always worked to do. So to be able to do it as an album was fantastic. I loved it every minute the same as Scott did, living the dream, literally. No, I loved it.

[16:21] Nella Vera: Oh, how fun.

[16:23] Simon Schofield: How fun. Billy Elliott, I saw it in Barcelona a couple of years ago. Wow. And I went, even though I've seen it numerous times in London and here in America, I just wanted to see if this story would read in Spanish culture because it is so specific to sort of this tale of what was happening in this community. And people loved it. I think that story is universal worldwide, regardless of even it's so specific to that era in England. But it was fantastic. And the kids, I don't know where they got these kids, but they were amazing.

[16:59] Scott Garnham: It's crazy. On my version, you know, they had Billy School. So even before we started rehearsal, they have about six months of hardcore training every single day. And school, you know, they've got tutors working with them just to get them up to speed to start rehearsals with us, you know, which was then 12 weeks. Like it's a massive undertaking.

[17:16] Nella Vera: Well, one of the things that we always say at 54 Below is that every night there's talent on our stage, even if they're not famous, even if they haven't booked a Broadway show yet. And we're like, these people are amazing. Every single night for 365 days. There's performers that have yet to be discovered, or you know, there's so much talent in the world, and it's partly it's a matter of luck, but it's also kind of what you did, taking your fate into your own hands and pushing through and having a plan and being smart about business and grabbing the opportunities when they're there. And obviously, you have to have the talent too, but it's incredible to me, just like every night. I'm like, why isn't that person a star? Um so you know, even in Spain and Barcelona, there were amazing Billy Elliotts twirling around. So yeah, it's great.

[18:03] Nella Vera: So speaking of your incredible careers, do you have any moments on stage, either with the BARRICADE BOYS or with any other show that are particularly memorable, that are really close to your heart?

[18:16] Scott Garnham: I think a big one for me, it would go back to Les Mis. I was lucky to be in the 25th anniversary production, and as part of that, we performed Les Mis at the O2 Arena in London. So we performed, I think 19,000 people, and that was just it was just incredible. Nothing can prepare you for that moment when we first came out, you know, at the because I didn't come on until at the end of the day, you're another day older. That was my first entrance. And you sort of come over the, you know, what they call the VOMs, I they call voms, I think. It's like kind of like these, you know, these passerelles at the side, and all of a sudden you just hit by this amount of people that are watching the show. And that was really magical.

And Alfie Boe played Jean Valjean, and when he sang Bring Him Home, I mean you could hear a pin drop. It was just very, very magical, amazing night of theater, you know, and to be a part of that and see what it meant to everybody. And yeah, I feel very lucky.

[19:06] Simon Schofield: Yeah, again, it would be uh boring, isn't it? It would be good to do another show that I've already said, but Joseph, there's a moment in it where it's meant to be a star vehicle, you know, it's meant to be a name, and then he turns around over his shoulder, and everyone sees the name and he sings it, you know, and he dream we'll do it. Everyone claps. Well, I'm not a name, you know, but I still had to do the same choreography that the name would do. So I turn my shoulder, and there's the audience, you know. And having watched that, and I was in it as a kid. Again, I did quite a lot as a child actor. And I'd seen so many people play that part of Joseph, and then it was me. And so again, turning my shoulder, doing the same choreography that countless big names have done was a great moment. Yeah, I loved it.

[19:49] Nella Vera: So you've also travelled all over the world with your concerts. Are there any specific places that have a special place in your heart?

[19:57] Simon Schofield: Oh that's tough, isn't it? I think America has got to be when 54 Below, no, we're joking aside, was one of our highlights of 2023. Like it really was. It was someone we'd always wanted to perform. It's one of the highlights of our career, really. I mean, it was like Simon said, we used to watch videos of Broadway performers we've loved and admired over the years, you know, and that iconic 54 setting, and there we were, you know, it's like wow. I think Kieran who isn't with us would say that that was one of these highlights of his career. 54 Below.

[20:29] Nella Vera: Oh, that's so gratifying to hear. We never know. You know, we put all our stuff out on YouTube and we stream our shows, and never know if anybody's watching.

[20:38] Scott Garnham: Well, they are, trust me, or in the UK, people are watching for sure.

[20:41] Nella Vera: Oh, that's so fun. We love that. You've also played in different types of venues from large arenas to tiny spaces. Do you have a house size you prefer, or how do you tailor the show for those different houses?

[20:54] Simon Schofield: Oh, great question. What do you prefer, Scott? Large or small?

[20:56] Scott Garnham: I like them for different reasons. I love the intimacy of a room like 54 Below, for example. Because I like talking to an audience, and I like them learning something about us, and I like that when we've finished the show. I feel like this is gonna sound a bit pretentious, but we've made friends, we've shared a moment together in that room, and I think that's really exciting. But equally, we you know, we played the Delvey Theatre in the West End last year, where Back to the Future is currently on on its dark day. And that was amazing. You know, to go out to a sold-out West End theater and do that version of the show is also equally exciting because there's something kind of grand and spectacular about it. So I don't know. I don't know if I could pick one that I love. I like them for very, very different reasons, but they're both great.

[21:39] Simon Schofield: I think I prefer a larger crowd. Because I get less nervous, honestly. With a smaller crowd such as 54 Below, you can see everybody's face. They are just there, you know, and it's something more nerve-wracking about seeing 2,500 or Scott said 19,000 people in the black. It doesn't really matter then. You know, it's the same show. So for me, I do think I prefer the larger one. I get less nervous, which is so strange.

[22:06] Nella Vera: That makes so much sense. We've had, you know, some big stars that we love and try to get to come to play 54 Below, and one in particular would be amazing, but he just said, I can't be that close to the audience. You know, he only plays larger for the very reason he just gets too distracted, or you know, people are right there and forces you to engage with them, and it is it is it's tough. I mean, cabaret is an art that is extremely tough, and people I think don't realize, especially people who are only used to seeing Broadway shows, how much of the performers have to put themselves out there in that small space where people are expecting connection and intimacy, not just for you to sing. And I think you guys did that brilliantly last year.

You know, you were able to give us these show stopping numbers, but you also really connected with the audience, which is I think why, and I think you do that even in a large space, which is why the audience response is so incredible. I mean, at the end of your shows, the audience just you know, they're stunned, they're exhilarated, they're cheering. And that's just not just because you have great voices and did great harmonies, you know. It has to do with the four of you being able to connect with that audience, regardless of the size.

[23:23] Scott Garnham: So thank you.

[23:24] Simon Schofield: That's very kind.

[23:26] Nella Vera: Do you have any backstage rituals that you do before a show, or are you superstitious about anything?

[23:32] Scott Garnham: I mean, Simon practically it's troubles to get dressed for the show, let alone rituals. I say, I say, Simon, are you warm? And he goes, hmm, yeah. That's it. He's good to go.

[23:45] Simon Schofield: Um, I think I should have rituals. I probably stress more than you, don't I? I'm a bit more like, okay, I need to get ready.

[23:52] Scott Garnham: You're dressed first.

[23:53] Simon Schofield: I'm always dressed first. I hate the idea of rushing. You know, I want to like a good time to get myself ready and focused.

[23:59] Scott Garnham: And the opposite.

[24:01] Simon Schofield: No, someone's getting out of the shower at beginners, but Simon, put your suits on. We've got to go.

[24:09] Scott Garnham: I'm exactly like that. I like to be prepared, but it's amazing to me. Sometimes we're backstage at a Broadway show, and you'll just see half the cast are like having a cigarette in the alley, or they're just chatting and they're like, Oh, I gotta go on, and they like on immediately, and they're in character. Yeah, I can't do it. I mean, on the same note, I remember doing Billy Elliott, like we'd finished the show, which was quite a full-on dance happy moment. Previous to that, I'd had like two hours of just anger and frustration and depression. And so sometimes I'd go because my dress room, I just sit there, you know, for like twenty minutes just trying to snap out of it because it's quite a lot to go for the eight shows a week for twenty months.

[24:53] Simon Schofield: I was worried I was gonna be very different to BARRICADE BOYS, isn't it? Very different to America.

[24:59] Nella Vera: What do you have planned for the BARRICADE BOYS? What's your next steps or what's in the future? What do you hope will happen?

[25:08] Scott Garnham: Oh, double-edged question, really. I mean we are two years now off, well god, one year off ten year anniversary tour. So next year, 2025 will be a big year for us. We've been doing another big concert in London and hopefully doing a much more significant tour around the UK as our tenth anniversary tour. But this year we're touring a lot in the US. Midwest and oh where else do we go? I mean Midwest, North Carolina. We're doing an amazing tour. This year. Last year, gosh, I it's it's really getting me this twenty-three to three twenty-four. Last year we toured the US and we had the best time from New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis. And it's places we've never seen before. So it's so exciting. You know.

[25:49] Simon Schofield: Very cool. And all of America is so different.

[25:53] Scott Garnham: Oh gosh. So yeah, honestly having the best time in your country. It's the best. It's incredibly different and I think, yeah. You know, people think they come over and they think America is either cowboys or New York. And there's just so much to it. And politically it's very different in different states and cities, even within the same state. But why I think what everybody appreciates is music and art. And that's the power of bringing people together, regardless of how different you are. There's Broadway fans everywhere. And thanks to the internet and thanks to videos and people are now fans of people, even very obscure musicians, you know, have huge fan bases if you know how to use the internet. So that's been great.

[26:41] Scott Garnham: Following from what you said before and what Simon said, you know, I think for us as well, because it's nearly our 10-year anniversary, and we've kind of managed the group ourselves, me and Simon, you know, this whole time. There is an element of kind of thinking, do we look for a bigger representation now? Somebody that can kind of maybe take it to another level, or will that lose some ownership from us? So there is a kind of question there, you know, particularly America. It's such a great, huge big place, and we'd love more people to see what we do. And maybe that's a discussion that we need to have at some point. Whereas do we look for someone else to kind of represent us for moving forward into its next chapter?

[27:17] Simon Schofield: Yeah, no, definitely. I mean, we have there are so many performing arts centers that need the touring shows. I mean, there's such a great industry here for different shows that go to large spaces and universities and presenting houses and theaters that need a show to fill out their season. So yeah, I think you guys can conquer America. America, Canada, you know, all of it, all of North America.

[27:42] Nella Vera: Well, we are so excited to have you back. We're excited that you decided to come back, you know, after your smashing debut. We're so grateful that you're back. And so many people who saw you last year have bought tickets and are excited to come back and have told me that they're definitely coming. So, and hopefully you'll have new fans as well. So thank you so much for your time today. And it was so great to meet you. I look forward to meeting you in person. And we're looking forward to having you back January 15 and 16 at 7 p.m.

[28:14] Scott Garnham: Can you remind everybody who's listening what your social handles are so that people can follow you?

[28:19] Simon Schofield: They're really easy. It's pretty much on any social platform. We are just BARRICADE BOYS. So Instagram, Twitter, TikToks, I'm rubbish at this, but you know, YouTube. All the ones with the kids know, we're BARRICADE BOYS.

[28:34] Nella Vera: Fantastic. So people listening at home do not miss the show. It was my favorite show last year. Scott and Simon, you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for joining us.

[28:44] Scott Garnham: Yay, we can't wait. Thank you.

[28:49] Nella Vera: You've been listening to the 54 Below Podcast, part of the Broadway Podcast Network. Subscribe and rate us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. To find out more about our upcoming shows, visit us at 54below.org.