Last year Louise Dearman made theatre history when it was announced she would star as Elphaba in Wicked, making her the first actress in the show's history to have played both Elphaba and Glinda, two of the biggest and most desired roles in musical theatre.
Louise's incredible theatre career has seen her take on many other iconic roles, including Eva Peron in Evita (national tour), Grizabella in Cats (Cyprus), Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls (national tour), Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde (national tour), The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (national tour) and Jan in Grease (national tour and Victoria Palace).
Wicked is already the 16th longest-running West End musical of all time and has now been seen by over 5 million people since its London premiere in 2006.
Last month is was announced that Louise is one of many West End stars supporting a new musical theatre radio station called Stage Door. The station will broadcast 24/7 and will be presented by West End performers. As well as playing musical theatre songs, Stage Door will broadcast the latest theatre news, backstage gossip and interviews.
Earlier this week, I had the honour of speaking to Louise about what goes through her head before she defies gravity, why she wanted to become involved with Stage Door and if it is possible for her to have any more dream roles...
How does it feel to be playing one of the most iconic roles in musical theatre right now?
Incredible, it’s really odd because sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m doing it. I still can’t quite believe that I’m actually playing Elphaba and the weeks and months are flying by. It is a lot of pressure and requires a lot of dedication, no staying up late or partying – I have to go straight home and straight to bed. In this heat it’s also particularly hard! Of course I get to sing the amazing songs, but also I adore the character, I love performing the scenes more than anything. My hair is constantly stained green, but it’s a very small price to pay for such an incredible role, I’m very lucky. My career has been quite a slow, steady climb. It’s been fairly consistent but I’ve slowly had to work my way up to this. Playing Elphaba is almost like the cherry on the top of the cake, but now I feel like ‘where do I go from here’, it’s wonderful!
When you left Wicked for the first time after playing Glinda, did you have any idea that there was a possibility that you could return as Elphaba?
Because I love so many different types of music and I love singing in lots of different styles, I have never been able to pinpoint what my style is. All the creative team at Wicked knew me so well when I was playing Glinda. They were always so supportive and would come along to all my cabarets and concerts where they would hear me sing all the big belters, more Elphaba type songs if you like, so they knew I had it in me. I certainly never mentioned to them that one day I would like to come back and audition for Elphaba, it was actually their idea. A good nine or ten months after I left the show they called and said “why don’t you come in, sing the material and give it a go?” I was quite taken aback actually because, yes, it was something I had in my mind, I often used to watch Rachel Tucker’s Elphaba and think “I’d love to give that a go”. I always wondered how it must feel to go up in the levitator and sing Defying Gravity. It all happened very fast and before I knew it I was painted green and thrown on stage [laughs]!
So after watching Rachel Tucker defy gravity for two years, how did it feel to actually get in the lift and perform Defying Gravity for the very first time?
The first night, if we use that as an example, was a complete blur! It’s very weird and wasn’t until the second night that I could relax, take it all in and actually go up in the levitator and enjoy the song, love being up there and really perform it. The first night is always a weird one, you almost just want to get it done so you can tick that box.
How does flying on a broom compare to flying in the bubble?
People always say being in the levitator is scary but it’s really not! I find it less frightening than being in the bubble! It isn’t as high! In the bubble I would often look down and think “for goodness sake this is so high” and I felt like I would topple forwards – even though it’s very safe. But during Defying Gravity I forget that I’m even up there!
What goes through your mind just before you are about to sing the huge climax of Defying Gravity each night?
Because it’s a very tough song you have to be completely in the zone, focus yourself and focus your voice. It actually becomes very technical but you have to give the impression that you are absolutely going for it and not thinking about all those boring, technical things. But literally the second I run backwards and get into the levitator I have to breathe out and get my air flowing properly so I’m ready to sing it.
Louise Dearman and Ben Freedman
Wicked is loved by so many people who come back to see the show time and time again. Why do you think so many people adore the show so much?
Many reasons, lots of young people identify with the characters, especially Elphaba and the fact that she is different to everyone else. She struggles with growing up and people judge her because of the colour of her skin and because she is not afraid to be different. It’s a beautiful story about friendship and the things friends have to go through. It’s something everyone has been through and can relate to. On top of that the music is incredible and many people are familiar with some of the songs before they even come and see the show. The costumes and set are stunning so the show is just beautiful to watch. Then of course there are us lot – the leading ladies who come in and out - and it is great that fans become so attached and are always very supportive. It’s been amazing, after I left Wicked the first time all the fans came to all my concerts and supported my album and album launch which was so overwhelming.
You are heavily involved with Stage Door, a new radio station dedicated to Musical Theatre. Why did you want to become involved with the project?
I work alongside Rebecca Sichel-Coates who runs Mothership Management and who is setting up Stage Door with Simon Willis from Wise Buddah. Rebecca told me that they were creating this brand new radio station completely dedicated to musical theatre. For starters I was amazed that nobody else had thought of the idea, obviously there are radio programmes dedicated to musical theatre but not an entire radio station dedicated to musical theatre, broadcasting 24/7. Instantly I wanted to be a part of the project.
Does the idea of presenting also appeal to you?
Yes, over the past couple of years I’ve been dabbling a little bit in radio and wanting to be a part of that one day. I’ve done some training and have had a few little auditions to be a radio presenter. It’s something that I definitely want to do in the future and so that was another thing which really intrigued me about Stage Door. So now, the fact that I’m going to be a part of the station as one of the many presenters is brilliant and I can’t wait to start!
And you’re working alongside some amazing people too!
Yes! Mark Evans, Hadley Fraser, Ramin Karimloo, Alex Gaumond, Oliver Tompsett and Kerry Ellis are all involved... and that’s just to name a few! I know the fans are going to absolutely love the fact that they can listen to this radio station whenever they want, any time of day and they can listen to their favourite West End leading men and ladies presenting the programmes! We were actually discussing the fact that fans come and see our shows time and time again which costs them a lot of money, so to have this radio station keeping them in the loop for free is brilliant!
An Indiegogo campaign has been set up to raise funds for the radio channel, and I believe one of the Perks up for grabs is a private singing lesson with you!
Yes! There are loads of things! From £5 to £5,000 you can buy a pledge and the idea is to raise £145,000 so that Stage Door can broadcast in the UK and USA for a year. Rather than using other investors this means that the radio station and listeners have complete creative control. I think it’s a great idea because people can give a small or large amount of money and receive a singing lesson or spend time with their favourite West End star, choose the music for a programme, read the news or get a backstage tour. It’s amazing that everyone can be so involved with such an exciting project!
Louise Dearman and Gina Beck
Imagine this... it is the end of the world and you are presenting the last ever radio programme. Which three musical theatre songs would you play?
Oh my goodness, that’s really hard! Maybe I should choose something quite uplifting, can you imagine if the world was about to end and I started playing ‘I Dreamed A Dream’?! Ok, I would play ‘For Good’ from Wicked, I know it’s a bit sad but it’s got a happy message. Then ‘No Day Like Today’ from Rent and then... the final song before the world ends would have to be... [laughs] - this is actually really difficult! If I was on the radio now we’d be here forever! I’m going to go for ‘If I Were a Bell’ from Guys and Dolls, because in the show everyone’s a little tipsy at that point and I think if the world was going to end everyone would be a little bit tipsy with their loved ones.
What are some of your favourite shows in London at the moment?
On a night off a few weeks ago I went to see Merrily We Roll Along which I absolutely loved! I love the show anyway, it took me back to my college days where Kerry Ellis and I were in the same year and did a production of it! I don’t often tend to go to the theatre on my nights off because it almost feels like work, but I was so desperate to see it! Jenna Russell is a fabulous actress and my friend, Robbie Scotcher, is also in the cast. I sat there tapping my foot along and it turned out I remembered all the words which I was very impressed about because usually the second I finish a show the words are gone! I tend to go and see lots of plays, everybody needs to go and see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time!
What’s next for you after you leave Wicked in November?
There are a few things in the pipeline, including a couple of things which I’m not allowed to talk about yet which is actually really annoying! Hopefully I’ll know whether I can broadcast it or not in the next couple of weeks. Of course there’s Stage Door which I’m really excited to get stuck into, like I said it is for the fans and I can’t wait to start presenting my own radio show! I have lots and lots of concerts coming up, including one on 1st December at the Victoria Apollo. The show’s called ‘An Evening of Movies and Musicals’. Then I also have one in Swansea with Rhydian from X Factor and some other great performers which is in April. And like I said, I’ve got a good two or three things which hopefully I’ll be able to announce in a few weeks time! It’s all very exciting!
You have played Evita, Glinda and Elphaba – three of the most iconic theatre roles. Is it possible for you to have any other dream roles?
Ahh I know! Ever since I was twelve and in the choir of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, I always said that I wanted to play the Narrator... and then my first job was playing the Narrator in Joseph which was a box ticked! Grizabella in Cats is another role I wanted to play and I got to do a small production of it in Cyprus. Then I saw Wicked and thought I would love to play one of those roles one day... and now I’ve played them both! It’s just phenomenal and totally ridiculous! I would love to do some straight acting. I am really keen to be in a play, try some television and on top of that do another album and some more concerts. Maybe I will keep singing and acting separate for a little while, but don’t worry – I would never turn my back on musical theatre! I just think straight acting would challenge me and it’s important to try new things.
Finally, you have the most amazing, loyal fanbase. What’s it like having so much incredible support behind you?
It’s amazing because, quite literally, without them where would I be? It’s all very nice to record albums and organise concerts but if nobody is going to buy the albums or tickets there would be no point! They are so loyal and always at every event which makes me feel safe. For example, when I have performed at events such as West End Live, or on Saturday I performed at Get London Reading in Trafalgar Square, it’s so lovely because even though all the shows have their dedicated fans, every time the word Wicked is mentioned there is this massive wave of screams and cheers! It’s very special and we are all very grateful for having such loyal fans.
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Click here to book tickets to see Wicked.
Click here to find out more about Stage Door's Indiegogo Campaign
Follow Louise on Twitter: @LouiseDearman
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Photo Credits
2, 3 & 4 - Matt Crockett
5 - Dan Wooller
I may be weird, but have probably read/watched every single interview with louise, and this is by far the best. Finally someone has asked some interesting questions and clearly loves wicked. I've always wondered what goes through her head before she sings the end of defying gravity, and I love the question about the world ending! Well done to all involved.
ReplyDeleteif the world was going to end I would just play defying gravity three times lol! x
ReplyDeleteHow inspiring! Thank you Lou for always being so lovely x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article. Of course, the UK already has a 24/7 radio station devoted to musical theatre with presenters throughout the day that is also global. It's called JemmThree and can be found at jemmthree.com or on the JemmRadio or Tune In apps.
ReplyDeleteWhile we wait for Stage Door radio, you can listen to show tunes right now!
www.jemmthree.com
Louise is amazing, I hope she returns to wicked as glinda at some point.
ReplyDeleteLouise's last performance is going to be the best performance of Wicked ever!
ReplyDelete