COMING HOME: Aisha Jawando, soon to return to the starring role in Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre

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! 

If you haven’t heard of her already, you will very soon. Aisha Jawando will be starring in the title role in Tina - The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre when it reopens on the 28th July 2021. Aisha has been playing the lead role of Tina since October 2019 but before that was the alternate to the role. Prior to this, she was part of the original West End company playing the role of Tina's sister, Alline Bullock. Tina Turner is a producer herself on the show so not only does Aisha have the pressure of winning over audiences (she already has, she is wonderful in the part!). She has to also get approval from the boss lady herself. When asked about Aisha, Tina Turner said “It has been special to watch her journey with us and see the development of her extraordinary talent.”  

Prior to performing in Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, Aisha played the title role in Cinderella at the Hackney Empire, played Pilar in Legally Blonde for the Curve in Monaco, played Carmen in The Life at the Southwark Playhouse, was featured in the original casts of both Motown and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in the West End, was a Swing and understudied Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, played an Ikette in Soul Sister on tour around the UK and at the Savoy Theatre, was in the ensemble of the Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and was in the original London cast of Fela! at the National Theatre. 

COMING HOME: Rob Madge, about to open their solo show ‘My Son’s a Queer (But What Can I Do?)’ and will be appearing in Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks

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, a lot of us didn’t have a clue what TikTok even was. Now, whilst some people have managed not to get the TikTok bug, for some, it's actually brought them a lot of joy throughout this really difficult time. Someone who has absolutely catapulted in this social media world is Rob Madge, perhaps a name you might not have heard before 2020 - but if you own any social media accounts and are stagey, you will definitely know who they are! 

On TikTok, Rob now has over 90,000 followers and over 3 million likes! With videos varying from their childhood productions put on in the living room to the out of time Glinda, these videos have provided so much entertainment to people through this tough time. Rob is also such a wonderful role model for all those across our industry, identifying as non-binary Rob has spread not only laughs across the internet with their comedy, but also a message to live as your authentic self. We spoke about this and Rob reflects on how it actually was quite intimidating, “being known for working in musical theatre as a ‘boy’ was a hugely daunting experience and I hope that one day this won’t be such a trepidatious concept for others. This industry needs to be our sanctuary, a place where all identities can be embraced. It’s an exciting time for theatre if people are willing to open their eyes to the possibilities of what we can all bring to the table in our own individual way.” 

COMING HOME: Laura Pick, soon to return to the role of Elphaba in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

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! 

Wicked is one of the biggest musical theatre hits of the 21st century so far. With productions all over the world, an 18 year run on Broadway plus almost 15 years in the West End, it’s safe to say Wicked is a modern musical theatre staple. The lead roles of Glinda and Elphaba have made stars of those who have played them. Some of the wonderful ladies to have played these roles here in the UK are now some of the top musical theatre performers we have; Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker, Alice Fearn, Louise Dearman, Diane Pilkington & Gina Beck to name just a few - Laura Pick is now following in their footsteps. 

Laura started in the show as the standby to Elphaba. She covered Alice Fearn (now starring in the London production of Come From Away) and Nikki Bentley (soon to be starring in Joseph at the Glastonbury Abbey) before taking over as the principal role at the beginning of 2020. After a short run as the full-time lead, her new Elphaba journey was cut short due to the theatres closing. Laura will be returning to play the most famous green girl in London when it reopens on the 15th of September 2021. A year and a half after having last played the role, Laura says she cannot wait to be reunited with the cast, telling us how much she is looking forward to sharing this show with audiences once again; “I can’t wait to be able to tell this beautiful story again, it continues to be relevant and I want to connect with the wonderful audiences that we always get at the Apollo Victoria.” 

COMING HOME: Liam Dean, about to head out on tour with Hairspray

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, Liam Dean’s career in theatre was really kick-starting. Having only just graduated in 2019, Liam joined the touring cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert as a swing and also had another job, the touring production of Hairspray, on the horizon. Joining Priscilla in February meant his time with the show was cut incredibly short and his next venture was also in jeopardy. But after a long year, things are starting to look much better. We met with Liam at the Shaftsbury Theatre, the original home to Hairspray when it made its London debut!

Although the tour of Priscilla will start up again, Liam will finally be joining the Hairspray tour playing Fender and also covering Corny Collins. Although he is sad to be leaving the Priscilla bus behind, he moves onto another one of his dream jobs and can’t wait to see his fellow Queens fly the flag around the UK. “This show (Priscilla) will always have a special place in my heart and I would love to see the show back up and running and see all my colleges from that show giving the incredible performances I got to witness!”. 

COMING HOME: Emma Mullen, about to star in Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre

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 April of this year, MAMMA MIA! Hit the big ’21’. Opening at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1999 and later moving to the Prince of Wales Theatre, the current home of the show is the Novello Theatre in which the show will return to the West End and re-open its doors on the 25th August 2021. The show is currently the 7th longest-running show ever in London, and the West End wouldn’t feel right without it. 

Emma Mullen was playing the role of Sophie Sheridan in the UK touring production of the show and will open in the London production when it returns. She found out in March last year she would be making her West End debut in the show in June 2020 and a week later, all theatres across the UK closed their doors due to the pandemic. Almost a year on from her cancelled West End debut, she is preparing to finally get the chance to do it! 

COMING HOME: Jason Winter, soon to be appearing in Frozen the Musical at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

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!

It’s time to “Let It Go”, as the live stage production of the hit movie Frozen finally makes its way over to London, opening at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on the 27th August 2021. After a number of pushbacks we cannot wait for this show to finally make its premiere in the West End. Jason Winter, who is no stranger to the West End stage, will be appearing in the show in the ensemble and as assistant Dance Captain. 

Jason has a CV to die for, with West End credits including Kinky Boots, Matilda, Wicked and Chicago. Other shows include The Rink, Gypsy, West Side Story, Flashdance, The Producers, Cats, Happy Days and Top Hat - this guy is very much one of the performers at the top of his game. Not only has he been featured in some of the most wonderful shows across the industry, he has also experienced the choreographer side too, having been the associate on the UK tour of Bring It On as well as an assistant on the Rink and Our House. 

COMING HOME: Tanisha-Mae Brown, about to head off on tour with Chicago the Musical

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! 

The theatre industry has been hit incredibly hard over the pandemic. Performers, creatives and freelancers across the whole entertainment industry have been affected hugely, but a group of people who the industry has pulled together to try and help are the 2020 graduates. Coming into this industry is usually an exciting and scary thing, but for those who entered it during this pandemic, I can’t even begin to imagine what it felt like to come into an almost destitute industry. 

Tanisha-Mae Brown graduated from the Arts Educational Schools last year and although it's been a challenging time for theatre, she has thrived and has an exciting future ahead of her. She was featured in the Garden Theatre production of Pippin last summer playing Catherine. The theatre was built in a pub garden and was one of the first to open up with live productions. Her next venture will be on the UK tour of the smash-hit musical, Chicago. Our photoshoot with her took place at the Cambridge Theatre, one of the many homes to Chicago in its time in London. 

COMING HOME: Danny Becker, soon to be back in the West End cast of The Prince of Egypt at the Dominion Theatre

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! 

Danny was in the original London cast of ‘The Prince of Egypt’ at the Dominion Theatre, a show he had only been with for just under a month when theatres shut their doors. With the recent announcement that the Dominion will be reopening its doors on the 1st July, Danny takes time to reflect on how it might be when the show returns; “I can’t wait for the end of our opening number, ‘deliver us’ when we hit that button and the light shine on the audience, it’s going to be electric!”.

Danny was in the ensemble of the show and was also covering the roles of Aaron and Moses, he didn’t have the chance to go on for either of these roles before the show closed but it won’t be long until he’ll get the chance! His other credits include covering the role of Fabrizio Naccarelli in The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall, understudying the title role in Disney’s Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre, The Who’s Tommy at the Greenwich Theatre and playing Niki in Out of this world at the Old Rose & Crown. 

COMING HOME: Lizzy Parker, about to feature in the UK touring production of Heathers

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! 

Heathers is a cult classic in every sense of the word. The 1989 film has a huge following and following the musical version opening Off-Broadway in 2014, the story was suddenly introduced to a whole new audience. Now a cult classic musical in its own right, the show originally premiered in the UK in a public workshop at the Other Palace in 2017 and later opened for a full-scale production run at the same theatre the following year. After a hugely successful run at The Other Palace, Heathers transferred to the West End and played at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, which will reopen on the 21st June 2021 for a limited run until the 13th September 2021. Simultaneously, the show will head out on its first-ever UK tour, opening at the Leeds Grand Theatre on the 28th of July 2021 and is currently booked to go through to December 2021. 

Lizzy Parker is a name you may not know right now, but there's no doubt you will very soon. Lizzy makes her theatre debut in Heathers as Heather McNamara. This being her first show after graduating she’s bagged herself a pretty good job, don’t you agree?! Lizzy only graduated from the London College of Music in 2018, since then she has been featured in the workshop of No Limits: A Song Cycle by Sam Thomas. The show was featured in ‘From the Wings’ with Musical Theatre superstars like Laura Pick and Dougie Carter singing Sams work. Lizzy is featured on the concept album but other than this show, Heathers will be her professional debut. We spoke to her about how she feels about finally getting back to theatre and she is obviously excited, "I can’t wait to be back in a rehearsal room again being creative - it’s been so long. Also, just thinking about being part of an audience, sat waiting for a show to begin gives me goosebumps!”

COMING HOME: Kody Mortimer, soon to be in the revival of Hairspray at the London Coliseum

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! 

Due to make his West End debut back in April 2020, Kody Mortimer was meant to be appearing in the London revival of Hairspray. But with the closures of theatres back in March, he didn’t make it to the stage of the London Coliseum and make his West End debut, however, he still will! 

Hairspray is due to open at the London Coliseum on the 21st June 2021, meaning Kody will finally make his West End debut in this fabulous show. Kody will be playing the role of Thad and appearing in the ensemble. A recent graduate from the Royal Academy of Music, he was in the new production of Gypsy at the Manchester Exchange and over lockdown was a part of the original concept album for the new musical, Black Widows. Kody tells us what it was like to work on his first original piece of work Black Widows: “it was great fun, I learnt new material no one had ever done before and got to record and it just felt amazing!” 

COMING HOME: Serina Mathew, soon to be appearing in Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre

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 theatres closed, Serina Mathew was appearing in the London premiere of the musical version of the classic hit movie, Pretty Woman. With the show only just making its debut in town before lockdown, she will be returning to the production when it reopens at the Savoy Theatre on the 8th July 2021. 

Serina has previously appeared on the UK tour of Fame in the ensemble and covering Carmen, Miss Bell and Miss Sherman, as the Havana Girl in Guys and Dolls at the Kilworth House, played Buffy and covered Pearl in the German production of Starlight Express and played Rimpy and covered Jess in the West End premiere of Bend it Like Beckham at the Phoenix Theatre. 

COMING HOME: Richard Carson, just reopened in Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre

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!

Richard Carson is no stranger to Les Miserables, having been in the show previously at the Sondheim Theatre and in the concert production at the Gielgud theatre. He has played Combeferre whilst also covering the role of Javert and will return to the show in its West End home once again in the reopening. The concert production returned on the 20th May 2021 with an all-star cast, Richard included. 

A truly well-seasoned performer, Richard has had the pleasure of being in a wide variety of shows across his career; from classics like Oklahoma for the BBC at the Royal Albert Hall, the lead role of Sky in Guys and Dolls for the Mill at Sonning and the recent London Palladium revival production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to modern musical staples like covering Fiyero in Wicked on tour, playing Sky in Mamma Mia and even covering Chris in the revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre. With this crazily impressive CV, he tells us of the importance of really relishing in each and every single moment; “the key will be to savour each moment that little bit more. Go out, see the world, see friends and family, and enjoy yourself.” A tip I think we all can learn from. This past year has been hard-hitting and we could all do with treasuring each moment we have a little bit more. 

COMING HOME: Holly-Anne Hull, in Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre and soon to be playing Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre

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! 

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical theatre staple in the theatre industry, with a run of almost 35 years in the West End and over 33 years on Broadway, the show has certainly made its mark as a legendary piece of theatre and a must-see for everyone around the world. The lead roles have become iconic with huge stars across the globe snapping up the chance to play them. Christine Daaé is probably one of the most famous musical theatre soprano roles in history; with stars such as Sarah Brightman and Sierra Boggess having the role on their CV (amongst so many other fantastic actresses). The next to follow in their footsteps is Holly-Anne Hull. 

The West End production of The Phantom of the Opera has recently announced that Lucy St Louis will be playing the role of Christine when it reopens on the 27th July 2021, a huge mark in the history timeline for the show as she will be the first black actress to play the role. An important step forward for diversity and inclusion in our industry. Following her short run on the UK touring production, Holly-Anne will move her way over to Her Majesty's Theatre as the alternate Christine alongside Lucy. 

COMING HOME: Lewis Cornay, soon to be starring in John & Jen at the Southwark Playhouse

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! 

Lewis Cornay is someone with fingers in many, many pies (his words, not mine). With a fantastic career in musical theatre, he also works as a writer and photographer. Not long before theatres shut their doors, Lewis was appearing in the West End production of The Book of Mormon and had just left the show in Feb 2020 after a year with the production. He’s also appeared in Just So at the Barn Theatre, was in the UK Tour of Titanic the Musical, played Ryder in Paw Patrol Live and as a child appeared in The King and I, The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. 

We met with Lewis fresh from the announcement that he’ll be starring in John & Jen, the world premiere of the brand new updated musical from Andrew Lippa, Tom Greenwald and Jason Robert Brown. We shot with him at the Southwark Playhouse which is where the show will be running from the 28th July to the 21st August 2021. He’ll be starring opposite musical theatre legend Rachel Tucker and will be under the direction of her partner, Guy Retallack. 

COMING HOME: Nicole-Lily Baisden, soon to be starring in Anything Goes at the Barbican Centre

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! 

Nicole-Lily Baisden only graduated from Arts Educational Schools in 2019 and pretty much went straight into her first professional job, as she played Nabulungi in the original UK & International touring production of The Book of Mormon. The tour opened in June 2019, so they had a reasonable run before the theatres shut down but still, unfortunately, didn’t fulfil the full list of touring dates they had prepared themselves for. 

Nicole-Lily has recently been announced as playing the role of Hope Harcourt in the London revival of Anything Goes at the Barbican, featuring a full star line up! She’ll be starring alongside the likes of Broadway legend Sutton Foster, Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot as well as West End regulars Samuel Edwards, Haydn Oakley and Carly Mercedes Dyer. 

COMING HOME: Nuwan Hugh Perera, soon to open in Amélie the Musical at the Criterion Theatre

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! 

Making his West End debut in Amélie the musical, this break is a long time coming for Nuwan Hugh Perera. This time last year he was actually meant to be in the West End in a completely different show, The Life of Pi. Based on the award-winning novel and hit film, the play adaptation of The Life of Pi had previously played at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to rave reviews and was due to transfer to the Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End in June 2020. It has since been announced that this will indeed still go ahead and will open in November 2021. But, with that well into the future, it's time for Nuwan to focus on his current project, Amélie the musical. 

 

Having previously been in the show on tour around the UK, Nuwan has also appeared in Side Show at the Southwark Playhouse, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Wilton’s Music Hall, played The Ghost of Christmas Present in The Christmas Carol at the Barn Theatre, in Godspell at G Live, in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again on screen and most recently, in the Fosse Forest Ballet online. 

COMING HOME: Kelly Agbowu, soon to go back to Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre

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!

A visit to the Sondheim Theatre with the incredibly talented and infectiously smiley Kelly Agbowu was just what we needed on this busy Saturday in London. Having joined the cast of Les Miserables in 2019 fresh from her run in the West End premiere of Waitress, she is one of the few people to say she has appeared in the full production at the Sondheim and in the concert version! Whilst she appears in the ensemble of the show, she also covers Madame Thenardier. Having only performed the role for one day, she can’t wait to get back and give the character another stab. 

Before being a part of Les Miserables, Kelly played Nurse Norma and was covering the role of Becky in the original West End production of Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. Prior to that she had also appeared in The Wizard of Oz at the Birmingham Rep, in the West End production of The Book of Mormon, on the international tour of The Lion King and RENT at the Greenwich Theatre. 

Outside the Spotlight: A trip down memory lane with Christopher Parkinson | Captured by Liz

Outside the Spotlight is brought to you by Captured by Liz in partnership with Pocket Size Theatre, this series of articles is sponsored by Pointe & Flex, a stylish and motivational stationery brand created for dancers, dance teachers and everything in between! From diaries to notebooks, pens to pencils, planners to action lists, Pointe & Flex are here to make sure you stay on top of everything so you can thrive in your industry. Click here to find out more.

Coffee at the ready, a gloomy day in London sets us up for today's instalment of Outside the Spotlight. We literally embark on a walk down memory lane, as Chris leads me around Central London and theatreland, reminiscing about the incredible stages in the city he has gotten to be on and the roles he has gotten to play so far in his career. Having worked on television, film and theatre, we go back to where it all began - the stages of London.

Currently part of the original cast of smash hit &Juliet, Chris started his performing journey at a young age. Seventeen years ago (I know right?), he was cast as Billy Elliot for the first workshop of the show. The workshop process took place at the American Church on Tottenham Court Road, and was later performed at the Old Vic. “I remember one day, my company manager came up to me and told me to go downstairs for a rehearsals. So 10 year old me heads downstairs, I open the door, and sitting there is Sir Elton John at the piano, waiting for me. He taught me Electricity!” Fast forward a decade and a bit, Chris is back at the American Church for another workshop: &Juliet. Talk about full circle! “Being with a show from the beginning is so special! And so rare to get an opportunity like that! It’s a new musical, a new British musical! It’s such a dream to be a part of an original creation and be a small part in forming it. Especially with a show like this, which features so many iconic songs from our generation. Performing a Katy Perry song in front of Katy Perry surely was a once in a lifetime experience.”

Outside the Spotlight: Recreating first steps with Joaquin Pedro Valdes | Captured by Liz

Outside the Spotlight is brought to you by Captured by Liz in partnership with Pocket Size Theatre, this series of articles is sponsored by Pointe & Flex, a stylish and motivational stationery brand created for dancers, dance teachers and everything in between! From diaries to notebooks, pens to pencils, planners to action lists, Pointe & Flex are here to make sure you stay on top of everything so you can thrive in your industry. Click here to find out more.

We’re going back in time, as we take Joaquin’s first steps in London again. Up until theatres closed, he was part of the UK and International tour cast of The King and I in the ensemble, and first cover Lun Tha. In 2018, he joined the UK tour cast of Miss Saigon, covering the roles of The Engineer and Thuy - the job that brought him to the UK. He joined the tour in Manchester, and continued to travel around the country. 

“Getting that call from my agent was really a dream come true. In the Philippines, theatre is limited. There are productions happening, of course, but the West End and Broadway is just a different level.” Joaquin and his wife moved to the UK together, and in fact toured together. “It was amazing to be able to experience all these cities together. It brought us to places we never thought we’d go to!”

The Bridgerton cast and their Theatrical backgrounds

Bridgerton has blasted onto our screens and it is all anyone can talk about right now! And rightly so, its an incredible series and I for one cannot wait for more series to drop in the future. Something that makes this wonderful show so great is the incredibly talented cast and as the theatre nerds that we are, I couldn't stop googling the actors to find out that so many of them have some incredible theatre backgrounds. Some, I'm sure, you've seen in shows before! So, we've pulled together the information you'll need to fulfil the stagey part of your brain. How many have you seen in shows?! 

Jonathan Bailey

Bailey has become a well-known Screen actor with credits including Chewing Gum, Broadchurch, Jack Ryan and Hooten & the Lady and now as the eldest son of the Bridgerton family, but Bailey is an award-winning stage actor. In 2018 he won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role as Jamie in the West End revival of Company at the Gielgud Theatre. His other stage credits include The York Realist (Donmar); King Lear (Chichester); The Last Five Years (St. James Theatre); American Psycho (Almeida Theatre); Othello (National Theatre); South Downs (Chichester & Harold Pinter Theatre); Girl with a Pearl Earring (Cambridge Arts & Theatre Roya Haymarket) and Beautiful Thing (Sound Theatre). 

Ruth Gemmell

A truly seasoned actor, Gemmell plays the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton, the widowed mother of the Bridgerton children. Her stage credits are extensive, working up and down the country in some of our finest theatres. Some of her credits include Tis Pity She's a Whore & The Country Wife (Lancaster Playhouse); The Winter's Tale (Salisbury Playhouse); An Ideal Husband & Uncle Vanya (Edinburgh Lyceum); Ancient Lights & Nabokov's Gloves (Hampstead Theatre); The Weir (Royal Court Theatre); Coram Boy (National Theatre); Betrayal (Sheffield Crucible); Riflemind (Trafalgar Studios) and Macbeth, King Lear, Midwinter, Midsummer Mischief all at the RSC.