Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back!
In the return of theatre, one of the shows that has come back is Heathers. The hit Off-Broadway show made its London debut in a staged concert at the Other Palace which lead to a fully staged production at the same theatre and then transferred into the West End. The show is now back in London at the same theatre it transferred to, the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and the production is launching its first UK tour opening on the 28th July 2021 at the Leeds Grand Theatre.
Maddison Firth will be starring in the UK tour of the show as Heather Chandler. She was a swing for the Cruise production of SIX The Musical and was actually due to play Katherine Howard in the same production but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. After many self tapes and Zoom auditions, the disappointment of a cancelled job soon went away when she was offered the UK tour of Heathers! A few push backs later, Maddison couldn’t be more excited to be heading back into a theatre. “Knowing so many people will be back in jobs they love, and back spreading that love to audiences across the country brings me so much joy.”
Maddison has certainly kept herself busy during this pandemic. She started a tie-dye business and also started making and selling candles with her housemate at the time, Danielle Steers. With both girls having been in SIX, they released a Six Queen inspired range that quickly sold out, and if you had one of those candles you’ll know why! She also managed to keep her performing up by teaching in local schools back at home and even got herself a lovely job singing in sunny Dubai! But, like most of the industry, had to also take some jobs she possibly didn’t imagine herself doing, one being working in a book making factory, she tells us “it was certainly not glamorous at all!”
The industry has been through a lot over the past year, and a lot of issues have come up. They’ve been there, but hadn’t been as openly discussed as they have over the course of the pandemic. But one thing we should have all learnt over the pandemic is to be kind to one another. Maddison puts it very well when she says “our industry needs to come together as one family to support and encourage each other. The world has been so so full of negativity the past year, but I believe that it's up to us within the industry to bring the sparkle and happiness back into everyone’s lives. This past year has been a huge test for everyone in our industry, yes there will be things we all need to adapt to, however, the biggest lesson is that we must be kind to one another. Spread love & positivity. Not hate.”
Reflecting on this, Maddison also tells us she will never take anything for granted again; “I think one of the main things I would tell myself and others going forward is to not take anything for granted. We saw how quickly the industry that we love was taken away from us. We sat helplessly at home missing it so much. I believe we have to now make the most of every second whilst smiling and laughing as often as possible. Also support other people's successes. Stay humble and stay happy. Trust the process and remember that everything happens for a reason.”
This year hasn’t been easy for any of us. Maddison tells us that even though she has had to face personal challenges she has also taken this year as an opportunity to reconnect with people. “I feel more grateful for many things. I feel stronger within myself. I feel ready to take whatever life throws at me and ready to start this next huge chapter of my life.”
It is very clear speaking to Maddison that she cannot wait to not only be part of the Heathers Family but to be back on stage doing what she loves again. “Whether I'm on the stage or sat in the audience of a theatre full of people who love it as much as I do is an amazing feeling. There truly is no feeling like it.” Heathers is such a great show but it now means more to Maddison because its been something that has helped her through this, knowing this job was at the end of this incredibly hard year pulled her through, “Heathers has been the biggest light at the end of the tunnel for me. It's been a long wait but knowing that it's finally going ahead makes me super super happy. I feel so so grateful and I count my lucky stars that I was given this amazing opportunity through a very dark time in the world. Heathers will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart from now on.”
We have been truly spoiled by having tow fantastic casts performing this wonderful show, Heathers is currently playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and the UK tour will launch on the 28th July 2021 at the Leeds Grand Theatre and will be coming to a theatre near you!
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