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!
Some may know Sandra Marvin best from her run in Emmerdale playing Jessie Grant but if you’re a hard core theatre fan, you’ll know her from her extensive career on the stage. One of the most explosive talents we have to offer in this country, she played the role of Becky in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre and is now reprising her role of the UK tour of the show.
Most recently she was seen playing Brenda in Bagdad Cafe at the Old Vic. Some of her other credits include A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre, Romantics Anonymous at the Bristol Old Vic and on the US Tour, Carly in The Thunder Girls at the Lowry Theatre, Camila Batmanghelidjh in Comittee and City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse, Rose in Stepping Out at the Theatre Royal Bath and the Vaudeville Theatre, Queenie in Showboat ahh the New London Theatre and Sheffield Crucible, Mama Morton in Chicago at the Leicester Cruve, Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre and on its UK Tour, Ragtime and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Mary in Cool Hand Luke at the Aldwych Theatre and Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre.
Chatting about the important conversations that have been happening and the movement towards a more open and inclusive industry with Sandra, she tells us that this must continue and we must see a change in diversity on the creative side of the industry, not just in the casting. “It is important that true representation is reflected throughout all tiers of our industry for progress. I also find it encouraging that we are having more open and compassionate conversations regarding mental health, and providing support. This needs to continue.”
Sandra tells us that she’s had a pretty productive Lockdown, having always wanted to learn how to play piano she been taking lessons and has also become quite the banana bread connoisseur, “I baked far too many versions of banana bread! I’m practically a banana bread expert!”
Theatre coming back has been a long journey but now shows are opening its turned into such an exciting time, anyone who’s been to the re-opening night of a show, I’m sure, will agree! One thing Sandra tells us is that she is so excited for people to return and experience the theatre once again, “I’ve looked forward to the audiences being able to come back and experience live work again the most.”
We asked Sandra which show she’d particularly like to see, aside from Waitress of course! “I wish I could've seen The Donmar production of Constellations at the Vaudeville Theatre, it was such a brilliant concept to have different casts perform the same play. I especially wanted to see Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch the on-demand release in October.” She also tells us how excited she is for theatres to all be open again, “I am so excited to see all the theatres open again, and to see new writing and talent coming through and being supported.”
You can catch Sandra and her incredible colleagues on the UK tour of Waitress, the current cast are confirmed to be with the show until the 5th February 2022 with the tour having dates through to the 20th August 2022. Its a beautiful show and the cast are phenomenal, make sure you catch this one!
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