Rob Madge | |
|---|---|
 Rob Madge performs in 'My Son's A Queer' at the Ambassadors Theatre in April 2023 | |
| Born | Robert Dennis Madge 2 August 1996 Coventry, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Robert Dennis Madge (born 2 August 1996) is an English stage actor.
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.
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? 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.[citation needed]
They first performed the show at the Turbine Theatre in June 2021,[9] then a revival at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2022.[citation needed] 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]
Madge identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[12]
| 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 |
| 2023–24 | Peter Pan | Tink | London Palladium | West End | 9 December 2023 – 14 January 2024 |
| 2024 | My Son's a Queer But What Can You Do | Themself | Lyceum Theatre | Broadway | February 27 – June 16, 2024 |
