The Theatre Podcast With Alan Seales

Matthew James Thomas opens up in this heartfelt conversation about his journey from a rebellious, bullied teen in the English countryside to finding truth and belonging on stage. Growing up feeling misunderstood, he found safety and purpose in acting, discovering early on that truth-telling through performance was his way of making sense of the world. He shares the emotional weight he carries playing Harry Potter on Broadway, how he navigates the show’s intense emotional peaks night after night, and why live theatre never gets old — even after over 135 performances. We also dive into the legacy of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, his love-hate relationship with social media, and why he believes musicals are only great when they get it exactly right. And yes, there’s some mutual fan-girling over Severance, a hilarious attempt at explaining Les Misérables, and plenty of insight into what makes live theatre both terrifying and electrifying. Matthew James Thomas is a British actor, director, and songwriter. He or