Two of the biggest musical-theatre stars working today answer questions submitted by the public on a wide range of theatrical topi.

A message from LOUISE and MARK…

This is the book for anyone who's seen a show and thought: 'That could be me…'

That's what we used to think growing up, dreaming of working in musical theatre. Now, after years of hard work, we've been lucky enough to star in some amazing shows, including Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Ghost: The Musical, Evita and Cats.

We've picked up lots of tips from other performers, and have developed our own strategies and solutions too. In this book, using this knowledge and our experiences, we want to draw back the curtain and shine a spotlight onto how you can follow in our footsteps.

What makes our book really different (and useful) is that we asked our fans worldwide to submit questions – and thank you to the hundreds of you who did. Dozens of these questions are featured here, covering every aspect of the industry:

What is it like training at drama school?How can I improve my vocal range?How do I prepare for an audition?How should I find and select an agent?How do I deal with rejection?How can I progress from the ensemble to a leading role?

This is a tough and competitive business, but passion, determination, a clued-up approach – and this book – will help see you through. Read it to discover the secrets you need to know, and we hope that one day soon, up on stage, it will be you.

Bleak Expectations (NHB Modern Plays)