A brand new station dedicated to musical theatre has launched on digital radio.
Listeners will be able to enjoy a mix of favourites from films and musicals. The playlist will change regularly to feature thousands of tracks from West End shows. Music from long running hits including “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera” can be heard alongside more the more recent “Aladdin”, “Matilda” and “Wicked”.
Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda from the hit Broadway show “Hamilton” will also be played ahead of its West End debut next year.
As well as music from the shows Encore Radio will provide showbiz news, weather and other features from a host of well-known presenters, from Duncan James to former Classic FM host Jamie Crick.
The weekly schedule includes dedicated programmes with in-depth interviews with West End stars, broadcasts from opening nights, backstage news and reviews.
“I can’t wait to get to share three hours every Sunday morning on Encore Radio from 10am with other Musical Theatre fans across the country,” said Duncan James.
“I love musicals and have been lucky enough to have had leading roles in “Chicago”, “Legally Blonde” and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” both in the West End and on tour. I’ll be playing my favourite tracks – Miss Saigon has to be my all-time favourite show, it was probably the first musical I saw live – and I’ll have lots of my showbiz friends dropping it to chat. It’s going to be great fun!”
Encore Radio can be heard on DAB digital radio in London and the South East, through its free app and on its website at encoreradio.co.uk. It may be necessary to re-tune digital radios to receive the new station.