The Corona Diaries: Grace Mouat

These recent times have been some of the hardest challenges we've faced and as a community, it hit us pretty hard. However during these difficult times, here at Pocket Size Theatre, we wanted to spread a little positivity and share some peoples experiences because we are all in this together. Each day we'll be speaking to our friends in the industry to share their experiences with you all so take a read and see how people are getting through these hard times.

Let's stick together, share the love and get through this as a community!

*Some information mentioned in this article may be out of date due to the progress of the current situation. Please keep that in mind when reading*

Grace Mouat is currently the alternate Juliet in the West End premiere of & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre. She is probably best known for being the original super swing in the UK tour, Edinburgh and West End production of SIX the musical. Her other credits include The Oliviers in Concert (Royal Festival Hall); ensemble in Spring Awakening (Curve, Leicester); ensemble in Beauty and the Beast (Camberley Theatre) and Susan in Soul Music (Rose Theatre, Kingston).

On Monday 16th March 2020, The Society of London Theatre announced the closure of all Theatres in London. This followed suit with regional venues. Where were you when you found out and what was your initial reaction? 

I was at home and had been since the previous Thursday when I became very ill (with what I still don't know). I was half expecting it to be completely honest but was still gutted. However, I knew it was the safest thing to do to save lives! I was just heartbroken I wasn't there to say 'See you soon' to my show family!

Can you tell us anything productive you’ve been doing? 

I have been doing a few live streams which has been SO much fun and really encouraged me to expand my rep of songs and learn some new songs! It has been so special performing to people online especially on the one with Ethereal Theatre where they teamed up with the wonderful charity, Age UK, and live-streamed it to lots of nursing homes around the country!

INTERVIEW: Grace Mouat, currently in the cast of SIX at the Arts Theatre

Grace Mouat is currently one of the understudies in the hit musical SIX at the Arts Theatre. Grace trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Theatre Credits include: Eileen in Nice Work If You Can Get It (GSA); Ensemble in Hair (GSA), Luna in Cats (GSA), The Oliviers in Concert (Royal Festival Hall); Ensemble in Spring Awakening (Leicester Curve), Ensemble in Beauty and the Beast (Camberley Theatre), Susan in Soul Music (Rose Theatre, Kingston) and ENCORE: 40 Years of NYMT (Adelphi Theatre). She will be appearing in the new West End musical, & Juliet, at the Shaftsbury Theatre from November this year. 

Tell us a about what Queens you play. 

So I am alternate Katherine Howard (beheaded) and Catherine of Aragon (divorced). I also cover the other 4 when necessary! I love these queens so much! I love their sarcastic lines and fierce songs. 

What kind of research did you do to prepare for these roles. 

Last June when we were in rehearsals we all researched our queens and presented them them to each other as if we were in a history class! It was so fun and interesting to see the queens present their characters and personalities.

Pocket Size Theatre | Faces to look out for in 2019

Here at Pocket we are lucky enough to cover such a huge range of Theatre, from Opera to ballet and Fringe to West End. As a team, we see so much variety that is so hard not to recognise people for their talents. In some reviews its hard to just recognise someones talent because you have to look on it as a piece of theatre, not just singling out one persons contribution to the production. But as 2018 comes to a close, we had brought together a list of people who we think are going to be the hot names of 2019. So keep an eye out for these talents, as I'm sure you'll all see more of them soon. 

Toby Marlow | Writer

After being part of the Duo who wrote the phenomenal new musical, Six, and recently bring his new show 'Hot Gay Time Machine', which he also co-wrote Toby is on our list because the success he has achieved in such a small amount of time is astonishing and totally well deserved. Our faith in the British musical theatre scene is officially back!

Tessa Kadler | Actor

After making her West End debut as the understudy to Katherine Jenkins in Carousel at the London Coliseum, we've seen a lot from Tessa this year. From her performance as Catherine in Pippin at the Hope Mill in Manchester and later at the Southwark Playhouse to playing Kitty in the Return of the Solider at the Hope Mill also. She is currently playing Maria in the Sound of Music in Cyprus, we hope to see more of her in 2019.

Oscar Conlon-Morrey | Actor

After seeing Oscar in Toxic Avenger in 2017, we have followed his career as his performance was just a complete stand out. He has gone from strength to strength, 2018 saw him in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat at Kilworth House Theatre & most recently in Nativity. He has also been cast in the new musical adaptation of Only Fools and Horses at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the new year. Having only graduated drama school in 2017, we can't wait to see what the next few years brings him.