Anna-Jane Casey has been performing professionally for 29 years in all areas of TV, theatre and music. Her West End credits include Cats, Children of Eden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Out of the Blue, Grease, Starlight Express, West Side Story, Chicago, My One and Only and On Your Toes.
Most recently Anna-Jane was seen playing Jenny in Company at the Sheffield Crucible and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls at Cadogan Hall.
Earlier this month I was asked to make a small cameo appearance in a performance of Spamalot. Before the show I caught up with Anna-Jane.
Are you enjoying your time in Spamalot?
I'm having a brilliant time! The production sits so beautifully in the Playhouse Theatre. Spamalot had toured all over – in big theatres and small theatres, but this one is just perfect. Everyone who’s come has said how well the shows works here.
I'm having a brilliant time! The production sits so beautifully in the Playhouse Theatre. Spamalot had toured all over – in big theatres and small theatres, but this one is just perfect. Everyone who’s come has said how well the shows works here.
Why do you think Spamalot continues to be so popular with audiences?
You arrive and literally just laugh for two hours. We get a lot of Americans in the audience who always love it and say "Oh my God, it’s so brilliant and so British!". I love the fact that such a British show can appeal to such a wide audience.
You arrive and literally just laugh for two hours. We get a lot of Americans in the audience who always love it and say "Oh my God, it’s so brilliant and so British!". I love the fact that such a British show can appeal to such a wide audience.
Pigs, awful, especially that Stephen Tompkinson. I’m joking, everyone is really hilarious which is so nice. All the cast have a great sense of humour and we really do have such a laugh, both on and off stage.
Performing 8 shows a week must be so tough – what do you do to look after yourself in between shows?
I go running! The thing is Spamalot is so lovely and short, just two hours. Meaning after a matinee we’re finished at 4:30 and the next show isn’t until 8:00. So we’ve started a running club and we’ve started cinema club where we gather on stage with lots of popcorn to watch a film... or fall asleep. There’s a cow involved in the show which I like to sleep on. Occasionally we’ll go out for food. Eight shows a week is very hard but such a good laugh – its not like three hours of back breaking, emotional drama, I just get to act daft for two hours which is brilliant!
I go running! The thing is Spamalot is so lovely and short, just two hours. Meaning after a matinee we’re finished at 4:30 and the next show isn’t until 8:00. So we’ve started a running club and we’ve started cinema club where we gather on stage with lots of popcorn to watch a film... or fall asleep. There’s a cow involved in the show which I like to sleep on. Occasionally we’ll go out for food. Eight shows a week is very hard but such a good laugh – its not like three hours of back breaking, emotional drama, I just get to act daft for two hours which is brilliant!
What do you think you would be doing if you hadn’t become an actress?
I’d be arrested. In all seriousness I actually cannot think of anything else I could do. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s true!
I’d be arrested. In all seriousness I actually cannot think of anything else I could do. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s true!
What advice would you give to any aspiring actors?
As much as it’s known as an egotistical profession you can’t have an ego. If you go to an audition and don’t get the part you can’t be like “But darling that role was for me!”. Just work hard, don’t take yourself too seriously... because nobody else does!
As much as it’s known as an egotistical profession you can’t have an ego. If you go to an audition and don’t get the part you can’t be like “But darling that role was for me!”. Just work hard, don’t take yourself too seriously... because nobody else does!
What would you like to say to everyone who has supported you throughout your career?
Thank you and please don’t throw any soft fruit... I don’t do tomatoes.
Thank you and please don’t throw any soft fruit... I don’t do tomatoes.
Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
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