Robert Madge (actor)

Career

Early 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 Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre from 2005 to 2007. In autumn 2007, they played Fleance in Macbeth at the Gielgud Theatre starring Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood, directed by Rupert Goold. They then appeared in the role of the Artful Dodger in the West End revival of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, also directed by Goold 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 25th Anniversary Concert at The O2 in October 2010. Madge also played Reginald in the world premiere of Matilda at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon from November 2010 to January 2011.

Madge had their first adult role in the Les Misérables UK and Ireland tour beginning October 2019, playing the role of student Jean Prouvaire before being cut short in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Main article: 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 lyrics by Madge and Pippa Cleary and Music by 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. The show premiered at the Turbine Theatre in June 2021, winning the 2022 WhatsOnStage Award for Best Off-West End show in 2022. The show transferred to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2022 before transferring to the West End at the Garrick Theatre in October 2022 and the Ambassadors Theatre in January 2023 for limited runs where it was nominated for the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play.

The show was scheduled to open at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway on 27 February 2024 for 16 week limited engagement. before announcing it would be postponed until the following 2024-25 season with an unconfirmed theatre and dates. Madge wrote and performed a new show in response to the postponement called Rob Madge's Regards to Broadway which played at the Garrick Theatre on 26 May 2024.

In July and August 2024, the show toured the UK tour before returning to the Edinburgh Fringe.

In June 2025, the show played for 5 performances at the New York City Center, Off-Broadway.

Recent career

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

In December 2022, Madge appeared in pantomime as Pat The Cow in Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium, alongside Julian Clary and Dawn French. In December 2023, they returned to the Palladium pantomime as Tink in Peter Pan and returned in December 2024 as The Spirit of Sherwood in Robin Hood.

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

In September 2024, Madge played Alex in Buyer & Cellar at the King's Head Theatre, Off-West End before transferring to The Drum at Theatre Royal, Plymouth.

Madge starred as The Emcee in the West End revival of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (Playhouse Theatre) for a limited run alongside Hannah Dodd as Sally Bowles until September 2025. Madge performed the song 'Wilkommen' from Cabaret at West End Live on the 21st June 2025 alongside several cast members.

Madge is writing an adaptation of Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas for the Watermill Theatre, Newbury which is set to premiere in October 2025. They will also write the book and lyrics (with music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary) for a new musical, Bank of Dave: The Musical based on the life story of Dave Fishwick for the The Lowry, Salford and Curve, Leicester in May 2026.

Personal life

Madge is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.

Stage credits

As actor

As writer

• My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) (2021 - Turbine Theatre / Edinburgh Festival Fringe / West End / UK tour / New York City, with songs by Madge and Pippa Cleary)
• Rob Madge's Regards to Broadway (2024 - Garrick Theatre, with songs by Madge and Pippa Cleary)
• Charley's Aunt (2025 - Watermill Theatre, adaptation based on Brandon Thomas' farce)
• Bank of Dave: The Musical (2026 - The Lowry, Salford and Curve, Leicester, book and lyrics, with music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary)

References

References

1. "IMDB: Cast List for Les Misérables 25th Anniversarys".
2. (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". Bloomsbury Publishing.
3. (5 March 2011). "PBS celebrates 'Les Miserables' 25th anniversary".
4. (3 June 2021). "Rob Madge". TresA Magazine.
5. "I think I just came out as non binary to my Mum.". Rob_Madge_02.
6. Logan, Brian. (24 June 2021). "My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?) review – a family drops the love-bomb".
7. Klayman, Deborah. (August 14, 2022). "Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022 theatre review: My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do?), (Underbelly)".
8. (25 August 2022). "My Son's A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) transfers to the West End".
9. Evans, Greg. (2023-10-17). "Rob Madge's Acclaimed 'My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?)' Will Play Broadway This Spring".
10. "My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do?) Postpones Broadway Run".
11. (8 April 2022). "Bedknobs and Broomsticks actor Rob fulfilling a Grand ambition on Wolverhampton stage".
12. (27 August 2021). "Bedknobs and Broomsticks stage musical – first look".
13. "See New Photos From Millennials at London's The Other Palace".
14. Attitude Staff. (October 12, 2023). "Here are all the winners from the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar". [[Attitude (magazine).
15. (2025-04-29). "New Cabaret casting announced".
16. (2025-08-02). "Creative team announced for new show at Watermill Theatre".
17. (2025-08-01). "Bank of Dave musical by Rob Madge & Pippa Cleary lands at Leicester Curve".
18. "I think I just came out as non binary to my Mum. I don't know for sure but I said something along the lines of "I'm non binary" and she said "yes" so we're good here.".