West End and Broadway star Ruthie Henshall recently joined Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre as dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson.
The internationally celebrated show, which has now been seen by over 9.5 million people worldwide, is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 16th May 2015.
Featuring music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot is directed by Stephen Daldry with choreography by Peter Darling.
Ruthie’s first major stage role came when she was cast as Maggie in the UK Tour of A Chorus Line which was followed by her West End debut in Cats.
Just a few of Ruthie’s other West End credits include starring in Crazy For You, Miss Saigon, Oliver!, The Woman In White, Peggy Sue Got Married, She Loves Me and Marguerite. She played Fantine in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre and, as part of the tenth anniversary concert, at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ruthie has starred as both Roxie and Velma in Chicago in the West End and on Broadway. Her other appearances in New York include The Vagina Monologues, Miss Saigon and Putting It Together. Ruthie has been nominated for five Olivier Awards, winning Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Peggy Sue Got Married.
Last year she released her latest studio album entitled I’ve Loved These Days and toured the UK with her solo concert tour, An Intimate Evening with Ruthie Henshall. Ruthie appeared as a judge on ITV1’s Dancing On Ice between 2008 and 2009.
I recently spoke to Ruthie about her West End return, cartwheels, the magic of Billy Elliot and first night dramas…
There was so much excitement when it was announced you were returning to the West End and joining the cast of Billy Elliot! How’s everything going? Have you settled in?
It’s a total joy to do every night! The children have such an incredible energy, if you’re feeling tired shame on you if you say it out loud because they’re all so amazing. I’m really crazy about these kids; I wasn’t prepared for how much I was going to care about them! It’s a joy to be in a show that is a huge hit and receives enormous reactions and standing ovations every night. It’s nuts!
Working with different kids each night must keep you on your toes!
That’s exactly what happens, you couldn’t be more right! You can’t pay for that kind of energy coming in and out every single day. I think it’s what keeps this show so spot on and fresh.
Ruthie Henshall as Mrs Wilkinson and Matteo Zecca as Billy Elliot
How did your casting come about? Did you have an eye on the role?
I went after the role. As soon as I first saw the show five years ago I knew I really wanted to do it. I thought it was wonderful! But I didn’t do anything about it until I saw the film this Christmas. I phoned up my agent and I said, “Look, is the role of Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot up? I just can’t get it out of my mind.” She then said, “Well you must be physic because they just called to check your availability!” The timing was perfect!
And another really nice link is that you recorded a beautiful version of ‘Electricity’ for your most recent album…
I totally relate to the lyrics and I totally relate to the whole story. When I saw the show five years ago and heard ‘Electricity’ I just thought ‘Oh my goodness, somebody has written down in words exactly how I felt at 10!’
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| Ruthie Henshall as Mrs Wilkinson |
No matter who you are or what you’ve been doing during the day, it’s impossible not to be moved by Billy Elliot. Can you put your finger on its magic?
Well, it’s this true story about this incredibly awful situation that happened to this community. In amongst all that there’s this family who totally change over the course of a year. They go from the horror of finding out Billy is going to ballet classes to actively helping him to get into the Royal Ballet School. It really is a joyful show about being able to realise and achieve your dreams. There’s something for everybody because in the family you have the Grandma, the father, the older brother and Billy. We all have something inside of us like Billy that tells us anything is possible.
Can we take a moment to discuss cartwheeling?!
Oh… my… lord!
How have you found the cartwheeling and extreme skipping?
Do you know what? Now I’m ok. It’s always a shock because your body and your voice have to get back into eight shows a week mode. It’s like being an athlete! And then, on top of that, they throw in dancing, tapping and singing and skipping at the same time… I just thought ‘are you nuts?!’ Both my numbers are quite physical and there were times in rehearsals when I just thought ‘Oh god… really?’ Of course now I love it! I am cartwheeling up a dream every night I’ll have you know [laughs]!
I believe you had a first night drama?
Yes, we had a Billy literally projectile vomiting in the wings! I think it had just been such an incredibly huge deal for him and he was going full out and it got the better of him, bless him! He didn’t want to go off but the company manager had to take him off because he had to fly afterwards which would not have been a good thing!
I think we forget just how young these kids are! It’s crazy!
It’s insane; you could not pay me enough money to do that bloody show in the Billy Elliot track! It’s so full on for them. As much as it’s wonderful it takes a couple of years of really hard work. They’re at school in the morning and then in the afternoon and evening they’re either in rehearsals or at a class. They are in full on training. They’re all such wonderful boys! I’m so crazy about all of them! They just literally light up my day.
Ruthie Henshall as Mrs Wilkinson
Throughout your career you have created some huge roles and also taken over some really iconic parts. How do you find taking over a role compares to creating a new one?
They are very different, when you create a role you are the blueprint and you get to create that blueprint. With a show that’s already on, where you go and what you say has already been created. Most of the time what you find is that if you have a great director they will help you bring who you are to what you do with the role. For me, whether it’s been a new role or a part already in existence, it’s always been about what I can get from it and what I think I can bring to it.
Ok, slight change of subject. Imagine you had to go to a desert island and could only take three musical theatre songs with you, which three would you take and why?
I would take ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ without a doubt and it would have to be Judy Garland singing it. I still think it’s one of the most beautiful, uplifting songs. I would take the end of act one from Les Mis, ‘One Day More’, because it’s just rousing and wonderful… and… what else would I take? Gosh! I think something like… hmmm… I know! ‘Quiet’ from Matilda! I would take that, I think it is absolutely wonderful and a brilliantly written song about how you feel as a child.
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to Saturday 16th May 2015. Please visit www.billyelliotthemusical.com for further information and tickets.
Photo Credit 2-4: Alastair Muir
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