West End Producer – or WEP to his friends – was always destined for a career in the theatre after being born on stage during a particularly bloody production of Titus Andronicus. His father was a cross-dressing dame, for whom he used to make outfits; his mother was ‘the butchest Maria von Trapp I have ever seen’, according to Harold Hobson in The Sunday Times; and his first words were ‘Hello, Dolly!’

In his youth, he worked both backstage and onstage at his local amateur theatre, and was voted ‘Most Likely to Go Pro’. One day a director spotted him, plucked him from obscurity, saying he’d be great with ‘a bit of make-up and a hat’ – and cast him in a national tour of Porgy and Bess.

A miserable year on the road saw WEP nearly hang up his show-pants for good – but a chance, late-night encounter with the great impresario Binkie Beaumont inspired him to try his hand at producing. And he’s never looked back…

WEP literally lives, breathes and eats theatre, watching as many new productions as he can cram into his busy schedule. He was a weekly contributor to The Stage newspaper, where for six years his popular column offered practical advice to performers on all aspects of the business. His first book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Acting (But Were Afraid to Ask, Dear), was a huge success, and was followed by the equally extravagantly titled Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Going to the Theatre (But Were Too Sloshed to Ask, Dear).

At present, WEP spends his days writing and tweeting to his loyal followers, producing, walking around Soho, disciplining actors, making sure everyone faces the right way in auditions, and getting sloshed on as much Dom as possible. He has been called West End Producer for so long that even he has forgotten his real name.

Timothy West (1934-2024) was an English actor, best known on TV for Brass and on stage for classic roles at the National Theatre, the RSC, in the West End and with English Touring Theatre.

His autobiography, A Moment Towards the End of the Play, is published by Nick Hern Books.

Samantha Wharton teaches English at a secondary school in East London. She has a degree in Communications and media (Brunel University), a PGCE in English and drama (from the Institute of Education, University London) and an MA in Black British literature (from Goldsmiths University).

She is the co-author with Lynette Carr Armstrong of Leave Taking: The GCSE Study Guide (Nick Hern Books, 2024), a guide to Winsome Pinnock's play.

Nick Whitby has had his plays produced on the Edinburgh Fringe, the Donmar in London, and in around forty major productions in Europe. He has written for various comedians, and for TV, including sketches, sitcom, drama, comedy-drama, animation and documentary.

Joe White is a playwright whose plays include: Blackout Songs (Hampstead Theatre, 2022); and Mayfly (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, 2018).

His short play Ursa Major was included in the Orange Tree's Inside/Outside season in 2021.

He won Most Promising New Playwright at the 2019 OffWestEnd Awards for Mayfly.

Camilla Whitehill is a playwright who originally trained as an actor at the Birmingham School of Acting, graduating in 2012. Her plays include Mr Incredible (VAULT Festival, London, and Edinburgh Fringe, 2016) and Where Do Little Birds Go? (People's Choice Award at VAULT Festival 2015, UK tour, and Edinburgh Fringe). She has had short plays produced at Soho Theatre, Park Theatre, Camden People's Theatre, the Old Red Lion, and the Hen & Chickens Theatre. Her short play Icebergs won the international short play competition Pint Sized Plays in 2013, and her radio play Pier was produced by the Heritage Arts Company.