COMING HOME: Lucie Jones, just finished touring in Waitress and soon to be starring in Wicked

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!

Lucie Jones has become one of the top leading ladies of our time, proving time and time again, with every show she does, just how much talent she exudes. Recently she turned her hand once again to a role she knows pretty well, playing the role of Jenna in the touring production of Waitress, a role she played her last performance in last week before heading into play Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked in the new year. 

Lucie is absolutely no stranger to leading a company with a plethora of credits to her name, after appearing on the X Factor as a contestant she made her West End debut as Cosette in Les Miserables at the then called Queen’s Theatre. Most recently she has returned to the show as Fantine in the concert version of the show at the newly named Sondheim Theatre. In fact, she opened the tour of Waitress on the Sunday and then returned to Les Mis to complete her run! 

Lucie’s other credits include Martha Percy in Treason at Cadogan Hall, Heidi in Title of Show at the London Coliseum, Maureen in Rent at The Other Palace and on the UK Tour, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Leicester Curve, UK Tour and South Korea Opera House, Victoria in American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre, Molly in Ghost on the International Tour, Emily in A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum, Meatloaf in We Will Rock You on the International Arena Tour and Holly in The Wedding Singer on tour across the UK. 

COMING HOME: Sandra Marvin, currently on tour with Waitress

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.” 

COMING HOME: Evelyn Hoskins, currently on tour with Waitress

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!

Before the pandemic hit and forced theatres to close, Evelyn Hoskins was appearing as Dawn in the London production of Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. The show never reopened in the West End and Evelyn never got to finish her run in the show but don’t fear, you can now see this incredibly talented actress on the UK touring production of the show in the same role. 

Aside from Waitress, Evelyn has a very impressive CV behind her. With credits that include her playing Lynette ‘Spueaky’ Fromme in Assassins at the Nottingham Playhouse and Watermill Theatre, Cecile Caldwell in Cruel Intentions at the Edinburgh Fringe, Loops in Mayfly at the Orange Tree Theatre, Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde at the Other Palace, Maureen in Mrs Henderson Presents at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Molly Aster in Peter and the Star Catcher at the Theatre Royal Northampton, the title role in Carrie at the Southwark Playhouse, Alice in Alice’s House of Cards at the Royal Festival Hall, Wendy in Peter Pan on a US Tour, Martha in The Secret Garden at the Birmingham Rep and Thea in Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre. 

Chatting to Evelyn, she tells us how much she has missed theatre. Once again being able to return brings her so much enjoyment and the chance to see her friends back on the stage, “I love going to the theatre and it’s been very missed. I can’t wait to go and support friends again.”

10 Year Challenge: Some of our Favourite West End Performers!

There's a craze going around at the moment called 'The 10 Year challenge' and as we're welcoming in the new decade, we looked back at some of our favourite performers and did it for them! Check our the list of amazing actors below and the journey they've gone on from 2010 to 2020 and tweet us your favourite 10 year challenge or send us ones we've left off!

Lucie Jones

As Cosette in the London production of Les Miserables and as Jenna in Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. Other credits include Emily in A Christmas Carol (Lyceum); Lou in Girlfriends (LMTO); Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (UK tour); Maureen Johnson in RENT the Musical (The Other Palace and UK tour); Holly in The Wedding Singer (UK tour); Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Leicester Curve/South Korea – DIMF Best Actress in a Musical Award); Molly Jensen in Ghost: The Musical (Asian tour); Victoria in American Psycho the Musical (Almeida) and Meatloaf in We Will Rock You (world arena tour).

Melanie La Barrie 

As Mrs Phelps in the original cast of Matilda and as the Nurse in the original London cast of & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Other credits include Madame Morrible in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Mrs Phelps in Matilda (RSC Stratford and Cambridge); The Lorax (Old Vic); Martha Watson in White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse); General Cartwright in Guys & Dolls (Chichester Festival Theatre); Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Liverpool Playhouse); Madame Thernardier in Les Miserables (Queens); Pearl in Daddy Cool (Shaftesbury) and Mrs Corry in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward).

THEN AND NOW: Chicago the Musical

Making its return to the West End stage, Chicago is one of the most famous musicals around the world. The show has attracted some very famous names to it including Ruthie Henshall (who is the only Woman to play all three leads), Bebe Neuwirth, Brandy, Jerry Springer, Mel B, Todrick Hall, Wendy Williams, Tase Diggs, Ashlee Simpson, Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swayze and most recently on the West End, Alexandra Burke. In this edition of 'Then And Now' we look back on the original Broadway production, the 1996 Broadway revival, the 2013 revival at the Leicester Curve, the current West End production and we also look back to numerous cast members who have featured in the West End run of the 1996 revival. Take a look and share your favourite moments of the show with us on Twitter! @PocketSizeBlog #PocketThenNow

Roxie Hart 

Gwen Verdon (1975), Ann Reinig (1996), Bonnie Langford (2006), Gemma Sutton (2013) & Sarah Soetaert (2018)

Velma Kelly 

Chita Rivera (1975), Bebe Neuwirth (1996), Leigh Zimmerman (2001), Verity Rushworth (2013) & Josefina Gabrielle (2018)