Robert Madge (actor)

Robert Dennis Madge (born 2 August 1996) is an English stage actor.

Rob Madge
Rob Madge performs in 'My Son's A Queer' at the Ambassadors Theatre in April 2023
Born
Robert Dennis Madge

(1996-08-02) 2 August 1996
Coventry, England
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present

They attended Sylvia Young Theatre School from 2007–2012. From 2012–2014, they studied Drama at Ashbourne College. In 2017, Robert graduated from the University of Warwick, where they read English Literature and were president of Music Theatre Warwick. Robert has played various roles on the West End, as well as other theatres in the United Kingdom, as well as performing the lead role of Nobody Owens in HarperAudio's full-cast edition of The Graveyard Book.

Career

Madge 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 George Stiles and Anthony Drewe's Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre from 2005 to 2007.[1] They then landed the role of the Artful Dodger in the West End revival of Oliver!,[2] 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 2010 Les Misérables: 25th Anniversary Concert.[3]

Having played three of the highest profile child roles within the musical theatre industry, Madge was selected to play Reginald in the original cast of Matilda the Musical between 2010 and 2011. This meant that by the age of 15, Madge had already performed in four West End shows and was an established name within the theatre world.

Madge had their first adult role in the Les Misérables UK and Ireland tour, playing the role of student Jean Prouvaire. This, however, was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

In August 2021, Madge began touring as Norton the Fish in Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which premiered at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne.[5][6] 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.[7]

In October 2023, Madge won The Theatre Award in the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards.[8]

My Son's a Queer But What Can You Do?

My 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.

They first performed the show at the Turbine Theatre in June 2021,[9] then a revival at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2022. The show transferred to the West End at the Garrick Theatre in October 2022 and the Ambassadors Theatre in January 2023 for limited runs.[10] 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? will open at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway from February 2024 for a 16-week engagement.[11]

Personal life

Madge identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[12]

Stage credits
Year Production Role Theatre Location Notes
2005–07 Mary Poppins Michael Banks Prince Edward Theatre West End December 2005 – August 2007
2008–09 Oliver! Artful Dodger Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, West End West End January – 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 the Musical Reginald Courtyard Theatre Stratford Upon Avon Original Cast 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 Turbine Theatre Off-West End 17 June – 17 July 2021
2021–22 Bedknobs and Broomsticks Norton the Fish UK & Ireland Tour — Original cast 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 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 Ambassadors Theatre West End 25 January – 1 April 2023

References
  1. 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.
  2. Petillo, Faetra. "Full Casting Announced for Theatre Royal Drury Lane's OLIVER!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  3. Howell, Blair (5 March 2011). "PBS celebrates 'Les Miserables' 25th anniversary". Deseret News. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. "Rob Madge". TresA. TresA Magazine. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  5. Midda, Sunil (8 April 2022). "Bedknobs and Broomsticks actor Rob fulfilling a Grand ambition on Wolverhampton stage". Express & Star. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. Wood, Alex (27 August 2021). "Bedknobs and Broomsticks stage musical – first look". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  7. Brunner, Raven. "See New Photos From Millennials at London's The Other Palace". Playbill. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. Attitude Staff (12 October 2023). "Here are all the winners from the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar". www.attitude.co.uk.
  9. Logan, Brian. "My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) review – a family drops the love-bomb", The Guardian, 24 June 2021
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. "https://twitter.com/rob_madge_02/status/1364239833317715970?lang=en-GB". Twitter. Retrieved 22 January 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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