The Big ‘Ta-Da’ at Circle And Star! How Comedian Steve Furst Became a Theatre Impresario to Build a Creative Home in the Heart of Hampstead, as the New Artistic Director of the old Pentameters Theatre, now called Circle And Star

Send us a text What if the next chapter of your creative life needed a stage you had to build yourself? We sit down with Steve Furst—comedian, actor, writer, and the man behind cabaret icon Lenny Beige—to share how an eviction notice on a beloved Hampstead room sparked Circle and Star, a new intimate theatre with a big heartbeat. From raising funds at speed to converting favours into an opening season, Steve reveals the practical playbook and the personal resolve it takes to bring a venue back to life. We dig into the why and the how: why Hampstead lost something vital when its small spaces closed, and how a modern theatre can serve both the room and the wider world with streaming, multi-cam capture, and podcast capability. Steve talks candidly about the network that rallied—Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Marcus Brigstocke—and the decision to prioritise community over hype. He also shares the quieter habits that keep him match-fit: Transcendental Meditation as a reset that sharpens presence between shows, and a habit of listening forged by a childhood steeped in classical music. Fans of character comedy will love the peek into his creative toolbox: the Hammond organ’s pull (Jimmy Smith, McGriff, McDuff), the communal charge of Northern Soul, and the power of unfussy documentaries that let real people speak. We explore Lenny Beige’s continuing life at Circle and Star, including a playful AI assistant voiced as Lenny’s mum, and a new project re-examining Fagin—juxtaposing Dickens and Lionel Bart while wrestling with identity and representation. It’s part love letter to small theatres, part field guide to building one, and wholly a testament to staying curious, collaborative, and brave. If you care about live arts, new voices, and spaces that make talent possible, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves intimate theatre, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Your support keeps stages like this alive. Tune in next week for more stories of "Distinction & Genius" from The Good Listening To Show "Clearing". If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different "series strands" at "The Good Listening To Show" website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don"t forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!