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If you have any comments about the podcast or are a performer who wants advice please do email info@thevarietyshowpodcast.co.uk
Artist bio
Ashley Luke Lloyd is a Blackpool-born actor, singer, dancer, choreographer and writer whose career began in childhood on major UK stages and has since spanned West End musicals, touring productions, film, teaching and choreography. He started performing professionally at a young age after being cast in Whistle Down the Wind, touring the UK for four years, and later joined the original cast of Billy Elliot as Michael. Since then, his theatre credits have included Dreamgirls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Saturday Night Fever and Legally Blonde, alongside screen work in films including I Could Never Be Your Woman, working with names such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Sissy Spacek, Elton John and Tim Curry. Alongside performing, Ashley continues to teach young people in Blackpool and remains a passionate advocate for arts access, regional talent and the power of storytelling.
Episode summary
In this episode of The Variety Show, Adam Sternberg talks with Ashley Luke Lloyd about growing up in Blackpool, discovering theatre through sheer childhood energy, and building a career that has taken him from child stardom to West End productions, film sets and choreography. Ashley reflects on his first break in Whistle Down the Wind, the unusual realities of being a child performer, and what it was like to appear in the original stage production of Billy Elliot at a time when the show was reshaping conversations around masculinity, class and dance.
He shares vivid stories from backstage life, including performing eight shows a week as a child, learning from theatre impresario Bill Kenwright, meeting Elton John, and later working on film projects with Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd and Tim Curry. The conversation moves beyond career highlights into bigger questions about auditions, rejection, live performance, why theatre remains different from film, and why storytelling matters more to Ashley than fame.
Ashley also speaks passionately about arts education, the class barriers facing young performers, and the need to keep creative opportunities open to children from working-class backgrounds and regional communities. The episode closes with a playful segment in which Ashley teaches Adam a small piece of Billy Elliot-inspired choreography and a dramatic line reading from one of his horror films.
What is The Variety Show?
The Variety Show is a celebration of the extraordinary people who bring live performance to life. Each week, host Adam Sternberg sits down with a dazzling range of guests – from magicians to contortionists, gospel singers to tap dancers to uncover the real stories behind their craft. How do artists decide to dedicate their lives to performing? What inspires them, challenges them, and keeps them coming back to the stage? Through intimate conversations, Variety gives listeners a behind-the-curtain look at the journeys, passions, and influences that shape today’s performers. Whether you’re a fan of live entertainment, a lover of the arts, or simply curious about the paths less traveled, this podcast offers a fresh perspective on the world of performance.
If you have any comments about the podcast or are a performer who wants advice please do email info@thevarietyshowpodcast.co.uk