INTERVIEW: From Stage to Director’s Chair — Todrick Hall Brings Burlesque to Life in London

Few performers embody the spirit of reinvention and showmanship quite like Todrick Hall. From his viral YouTube creations to Broadway stints and chart-topping albums, Hall has built a career on dazzling audiences with his bold artistry, unapologetic storytelling, and flair for spectacle. Now, he’s bringing that same energy to the West End as he takes centre stage in Burlesque The Musical — a glittering new production inspired by the cult-favourite film. 

Set in New York City, Burlesque follows Ali (Jess Folley), a small-town girl with big dreams, who discovers a dazzling but struggling nightclub where she hopes to find her place on stage. As she fights for her chance to shine, she uncovers secrets about her past—including a search for her birth mother—while navigating fierce rivalries, romance, and the high stakes of show business. Blending powerhouse songs, dazzling choreography, and heart, it’s a story of ambition, identity, and finding family in unexpected places.

We sat down with Todrick to talk about stepping into this sparkling world, the joy of live performance, embracing new challenges, and what he hopes will be the shows lasting legacy…

Todrick, Burlesque The Musical is well and truly thriving here at The Savoy Theatre, congratulations! Talk to me about your West End summer so far…

Thank you so much! I’m honestly having such a great summer so far — London is one of my favourite cities; I absolutely love it here. The last couple of months have been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’ve learnt a lot, and I’ve met so many amazing people, and… listen, I get to perform in this incredible show every night so, I’ve got no complaints, I’m very happy.

You’re directing, choreographing, and even performing in this new production of the show — how do you balance those responsibilities without losing focus on any one element?

Well I’m not going to lie to you, and tell you that finding that balance has been easy because it hasn’t (laughs), but that’s all part of the thrill of theatre right? When you assume more than one role in a production, there’s no getting away from the fact that you have to be on top of your game, and militant in all of your planning and execution. If we’re talking straight facts, I’ll speak the truth and say we didn’t have a huge amount of time to put this show together, the schedule was tight and we had some things working against us, but I work well under pressure, and am able to remain focused even when I have to spin a million and one different plates in the air. Did we bite off more than we could chew? Maybe… but we got there in the end, and I believe we’ve created something really magical. And I say ‘we’ because this has truly been a team effort. The people you see on stage, the people working behind the scenes, the musicians, they are ones who have made all of this happen. 

When the offer came in to take on more of a creative role, did you say an immediate ‘yes’ or did you have to take a minute to think about whether or not that was something you really wanted to do at this point in your career? 

It was definitely an immediate, and easy ‘yes’, for many reasons, but mainly because at the start of this year I made a vow to myself that I would only take on new opportunities and challenges that scared me. To survive in this industry you have to grow and evolve with the times, and whilst I’ve been very lucky in my career to have performed in a number of different Broadway musicals and West End shows, I’ve never had the chance to fully direct or choreograph a production that wasn’t my own. So when this idea was put to me, I knew I couldn’t say no, because I knew it would be something that would push me out of my comfort zone and into a new territory that I’d longed to explore.

Now you’re both leading the cast creatively and standing alongside them on stage, how do you shift between being the visionary and being a collaborator?

Ooh, that’s an interesting question. I think you have to have a clear understanding of what each role requires, and learn how to differentiate between the two without ever blurring the lines, so that your cast and crew never feel confused about what it is you’re trying to achieve on any given day. I guess it’s all about communication, and having an open dialogue with all the people you’re working with. 

What’s your process for turning a spark of inspiration into something tangible on stage?

Hard work, it’s as simple as that! You can have all the ideas in the world, and you can talk a big talk in planning and production meetings, but if you’re not willing to show up on day one of rehearsals, ready to go all out to ensure that those ideas come to life, then there’s really no point in showing up at all.

How do you balance staying true to your creative vision with the practical realities of theatre?

In my own work, I’m someone who likes to push boundaries and take big swings — I don’t ever like to play it safe. Anytime I’ve made a YouTube video, a visual album, or devised the creative for a live performance, I throw everything I’ve got at it. In my mind there are no limits, I will give my all to make it everything it can be. But because theatre is a different beast, and there are more moving parts to consider, you have to be more realistic in your thinking. So it’s all about team work, conversation, collaboration and thinking outside of the box. You’re not always be able to do something exactly as you’d originally imagined it, but you can get pretty close. 

Finding the positive in that, facing challenges and trying to overcome any obstacles must push you to become more innovative in your thinking, which surely isn’t a bad thing?

It’s not a bad thing at all, I couldn’t agree more. I have to say though, the team working on this show have been incredible, and they’ve said “yes” to pretty much every idea I’ve had. Our company mantra has always kind of been: “who cares what people say, let’s just do it!” which makes coming to work so much fun, because it unites us and enables us to create art in the most liberating way possible. 

There’s clear and obvious bond between you and the rest of the cast…

Oh we all have each other’s backs no matter what! I feel so supported and protected by each and every one of the cast, both onstage and offstage. I cannot thank them enough for all of the dedication, and heart they’ve put into this show.

Away from the Burlesque lounge, how have you been spending your time this summer?

(Laughs) this is so funny, because people often ask me what I do for fun, and as much as I want to say: “oh I go to the club” or “I go out for dinner with my friends”, the truth is I go to the theatre… or maybe Disneyland (laughs). Honestly, there is nothing I love more than theatre. I promise you, I’m not exaggerating when I say that I have seen between 700 and 1000 musicals in my life — I am obsessed! The theatre community inspires me, it provides me with an opportunity to escape. If ever I find myself with a free day and nothing to do, there’s nothing I love more than going to see a show, and losing myself in a story. 

Have you been to check out any other West End shows?

Yes, I recently went to see ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ at the Ambassadors Theatre and was blown away. I think it’s my new favourite show, because it forces you to open your mind, think, and reimagine what you know to be the truth. 

Theatre that provokes thought? We love to see it!

Right! And not just that, but a sense of escapism too! When you go to see a show, you’re forced to switch off and forget about the world, even if just for a couple of hours, which I think is super important especially in the current climate, where we’re all so busy and on the go 24/7 — our lives are non-stop, we don’t have a minute to breathe! Even in our downtime, we’re on our phones, aimlessly scrolling and consuming all kinds of scary news… it’s not healthy is it?