Robert Dennis Madge (born 2 August 1996) is an English actor, writer and musical theatre performer.
Rob Madge | |
|---|---|
 Rob Madge in My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?) at the Ambassadors Theatre in April 2023 | |
| Born | Robert Dennis Madge 2 August 1996 Coventry, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Madge first rose to prominence as a child actor, appearing in the West End musicals Mary Poppins and Oliver! before appearing as Gavroche in Les Misérables in the 25th Anniversary Concert at The O2.[1]
As an adult, they are best known for writing and starring in the WhatsOnStage Award winning and Laurence Olivier Award nominate autobiographical solo show My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?), which has been performed in the West End, as well as appearing in the world premiere UK and Ireland tour of Bedknobs and Broomsticks and the London Palladium pantomimes.
Career
editEarly career
editMadge discovered their love for performing at a young age and made their professional debut at the age of 9, when they starred as Michael Banks in the original West End production of Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre from 2005 to 2007.[2] In autumn 2007, they played Fleance in Macbeth at the Gielgud Theatre starring Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood, directed by Rupert Goold. They then appeared in the role of the Artful Dodger in the West End revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, also directed by Goold[3] shortly followed by their acclaimed performance as Gavroche in Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre as well as getting the opportunity to perform the role in the 25th Anniversary Concert at The O2 in October 2010.[4] Madge also played Reginald in the world premiere of Matilda at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon from November 2010 to January 2011.
Recent career
editMadge had their first adult role in the Les Misérables UK and Ireland tour beginning October 2019, playing the role of student Jean Prouvaire before being cut short due in March 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
In August 2021, Madge began touring as Norton the Fish in Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which premiered at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne.[6][7] They followed this with a month's run at The Other Palace, starring in a new musical, Millenials: A Pop Song Cycle, in July 2022.[8]
In December 2022, Madge appeared in pantomime as Pat The Cow in Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium. In December 2023, they returned to the Palladium pantomime as Tink in Peter Pan and will return in December 2024 as The Spirit of Sherwood in Robin Hood.
In October 2023, Madge won The Theatre Award in the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards.[9]
In September 2024, Madge will play Alex in Buyer & Cellar at the King's Head Theatre, Off-West End before transferring to The Drum at Theatre Royal, Plymouth.
My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?)
editMy Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) is a one-person play written and performed by Madge (with songs by Madge and Pippa Cleary), directed by Luke Sheppard, which is a coming of age, autobiographical story of Madge when they were a child attempting to stage a full-blown one-person Disney show in their home; it also explores Madge's uplifting and inspiring discovery that they are non-binary.[citation needed]
They first performed the show at the Turbine Theatre in June 2021,[10] then a revival at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2022.[citation needed] The show transferred to the West End at the Garrick Theatre in October 2022 and the Ambassadors Theatre in January 2023 for limited runs.[11] The show won the 2022 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West End show in 2022 and was nominated for the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.
My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) was scheduled to open at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway on 27th February 2024 for 16 week limited engagement.[12] The show has since rescheduled to next season, with an unconfirmed theatre and dates.[13] Madge wrote and performed a new show in response to the postponement called Rob Madge's Regards to Broadway which played at the Garrick Theatre on 26 May 2024.
In July and August 2024, My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) will begin a UK tour before returning to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Personal life
editMadge identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[14]
Stage credits
edit| Year | Production | Role | Theatre | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–07 | Mary Poppins | Michael Banks | Prince Edward Theatre | West End | December 2005 – August 2007 |
| 2007 | Macbeth | Fleance | Gielgud Theatre | West End | September – December 2007 |
| 2008–09 | Oliver! | Artful Dodger | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, West End | West End | December 2008 – December 2009 |
| 2010 | Les Misérables | Gavroche | Barbican Theatre | West End | September – October 2010 |
| The O2 | London | 3 October 2010 25th Anniversary Concert | |||
| 2010–11 | Matilda | Reginald | Courtyard Theatre | Stratford Upon Avon | November 2010 – January 2011 |
| 2019–20 | Les Misérables | Jean Prouvaire | UK & Ireland Tour | — | October 2019 – March 2020 |
| 2021 | My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) | Themself (also writer) | Turbine Theatre | Off-West End | 17 June – 17 July 2021 |
| 2021–22 | Bedknobs and Broomsticks | Norton the Fish | UK & Ireland Tour | — | August 2021 – May 2022 |
| 2022 | Millenials: A Pop Song Cycle | Multi-role | The Other Palace | Off-West End | 8 July – 7 August 2022 |
| 2022 | My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) | Themself (also writer) | Edinburgh Fringe Festival | Edinburgh | 4 – 29 August 2022 |
| 2022 | Norwich Playhouse | Norwich | 2 – 3 September 2022 | ||
| 2022 | Garrick Theatre | West End | 21 October – 6 November 2022 | ||
| 2022–23 | Jack & The Beanstalk | Pat The Cow | London Palladium | West End | 10 December 2022 – 15 January 2023 |
| 2023 | My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) | Themself (also writer) | Ambassadors Theatre | West End | 25 January – 1 April 2023 |
| 2023–24 | Peter Pan | Tink | London Palladium | West End | 9 December 2023 – 14 January 2024 |
| 2024 | Rob Madge's Regards to Broadway | Themself (also writer) | Garrick Theatre | West End | 26 May 2024 |
| 2024 | My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) | UK & Ireland Tour | — | 8 July – 25 August 2024 | |
| 2024 | Buyer & Cellar | Alex | King's Head Theatre | Off West End | 18 September – 19 October 2024 |
| The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth | Plymouth | 29 October – 3 November 2024 | |||
| 2024–25 | Robin Hood | The Spirit of Sherwood | London Palladium | West End | 7 December 2024 – 12 January 2025 |
References
edit- ^ "Les Miserables Cast and Crew". IMDB.
- ^ Hawes, Jo (2 May 2012). Books on Google Play Children in Theatre: From the audition to working in professional theatre: A guide for children and their parents (1 ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84943-368-6.
- ^ Petillo, Faetra. "Full Casting Announced for Theatre Royal Drury Lane's OLIVER!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Howell, Blair (5 March 2011). "PBS celebrates 'Les Miserables' 25th anniversary". Deseret News. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Rob Madge". TresA. TresA Magazine. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Midda, Sunil (8 April 2022). "Bedknobs and Broomsticks actor Rob fulfilling a Grand ambition on Wolverhampton stage". Express & Star. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Wood, Alex (27 August 2021). "Bedknobs and Broomsticks stage musical – first look". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Brunner, Raven. "See New Photos From Millennials at London's The Other Palace". Playbill. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Attitude Staff (12 October 2023). "Here are all the winners from the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar". www.attitude.co.uk.
- ^ Logan, Brian. "My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) review – a family drops the love-bomb", The Guardian, 24 June 2021
- ^ Ali, Jade (25 August 2022). "My Son's A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) transfers to the West End". LondonTheatreDirect. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Evans, Greg (17 October 2023). "Rob Madge's Acclaimed 'My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?)' Will Play Broadway This Spring". Deadline. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?) Postpones Broadway Run". Playbill.
- ^ @rob_madge_02 (23 February 2021). "I think I just came out as non binary to my Mum. I don't know for sure but I said something along the lines of "I'm non binary" and she said "yes" so we're good here" (Tweet). Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Twitter.