Sarah Goddard is currently starring as Peg/Ida in Hetty Feather at the Vaudeville Theatre.
Adapted from Jacqueline Wilson's popular novel, Hetty Feather recently transferred to the West End for 40 performances only. The West End transfer follows the production's critically acclaimed and hugely popular run at the Rose Theatre in Kingston and a smash-hit international tour.
The story has been brought to life on stage by script writer Emma Reeves and director Sally Cookson. Jacqueline Wilson’s tale of fiery and feisty Hetty Feather runs until Saturday 6th September with a family-friendly performance schedule.
Sarah has enjoyed taking part in a range of theatre over the years. Her family theatre credits include: Cinderella (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Them With Frozen Tails (Nottingham/Network of Stuff), Jack (York Theatre Royal) and The Borrowers (Mac Birmingham).
Other credits include: Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (OSC), Katherine in The Taming of The Shrew (The Orange Tree), Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sprite), Roxanne in Cyrano (OSC), Maria in Twelfth Night (Bold ‘n’ Saucy), Mephistophilis in Dr. Faustus (Brute Farce), Rossignol in Marat/Sade (Arcola).
Sarah has also appeared in physical, devised and site specific theatre with various innovative companies. Her most recent credits include: The Clock Stopped at 8:19 (Connect) and Bluebeard in Brompton Cemetery. She also works as a drama practitioner and facilitator.
I recently spoke to Sarah about the huge success of Hetty Feather, Jacqueline Wilson's involvement and taking part in a week of circus training in preparation for the show…
What were your first impressions when this show came up? Had you read the book?
The whole thing was a surprise really! I knew Sally (Cookson, director) from a long time ago, but hadn’t worked with her. I went along to an audition without time to even read the book. I picked up my little lady from school and my little boy from nursery and we dashed across London. I’ve wanted to work with Sally for a long time and it all came together rather beautifully. Sally does very nice auditions! I read the book which is quite an epic with a Jane Eyre type story which covers Hetty from birth to the age of about 10 to 11 years old. It’s a very lively feisty story about someone with tenacity and spirit.
What has everyone been like to work with?
When I went to the first rehearsal I didn’t even know how many people were going to be in it… I thought there might be fewer actors involved, there are 6 actors and 2 musicians which is a lovely mix because it gives a good dynamic on tour, they will have a different point of view and so on – it’s a complete luxury to have musicians involved throughout the process.
And you have original music in the show!
The music is completely original. Benjy has worked with Sally quite a bit and they have a language together, they understand each other, and we’re very lucky to have the two musicians who build on the base notes Benjy puts out there. Benjy would talk about it being a collaboration between the 3 of them with Benjy heading up the team. It’s lovely because it’s always the same show but the musicians will sometimes throw in a slight change, perhaps a piano melody, so I’ll be thinking ‘hang on, what’s that?’ But it’s nice because I love the fact that the musicians can adapt things in the same way that an actor might adapt and grow with the part throughout the process.
The cast of Hetty Feather
The story seems to have such wide appeal!
I know! I think it’s the storytelling that appeals to everyone, for me it brings home that everyone loves a good story; you can’t get away from that. We have had all sorts of people come up to us – and there have been people who have come without children - and it’s quite important as well to hear what males think of the show… obviously Hetty Feather/Jacqueline Wilson have a huge following of girls, but there have been many men and boys who have seen the show and found it moving, loved the fact it’s not patronising in any way, love the fact that it allows the audience to use their imagination – it’s not all spelt out for them. I would definitely say there is something for everyone.
I haven’t heard a bad work about the show, what is its secret?
When I was in rehearsals I was very confident we were capturing the spirit of the book but even so you can never quite know how the audience will react until you are in front of them. I think it hits chords with people. The youngsters love it because they are seeing young people in the story even though they are played by adult actors. They are seeing their stories put out there with children as the protagonists. Then adults are getting something else out of it as the story taps into all sorts of things such as relationships, relationships with parents, how you’ve grown as an individual, there’s a lot of joy in the show as well as a lot of sorrow. I think there’s that whole thing where you can’t have one without the other – if you have sorrow then the joy becomes even more intense – which people find very moving.
I don’t want to make it sound heavy because it’s not, I can’t quite put my finger on it but I think people’s emotions are lifted and turned around in many different ways. The audience can also see that the cast are working hard and hopefully they feel connected to us, the cast, because all of us really love the show and love doing the show and try to make every show as good as it can be.
 |
| The cast of Hetty Feather |
How was the circus training?
I was the circus dunce! I used to do quite a lot of physical theatre and I enjoy doing it but I knew I would find it hard. When I was young I could never climb a rope and here I am with extra weight and I find it really hard!
How involved are you with the circus element?
One of my characters is a very grounded earth character, thank goodness [laughs]! When we did the circus week I found I’m quite good as a base person because I have strength in my legs, I’ve always been happier doing that than being lifted. In this it is mainly ladder climbing and setting up the ropes, I don’t do the flying stuff. I should point out that I’ve had 3 children [laughs] so when we were doing core training I would say “I don’t have any core!” So I always felt I was at the bottom of every class. But my core is much stronger now!
Jacqueline has seen the show several times. Have you had an opportunity to speak with her?
Yes, she’s very chatty and a very impressive person. She takes her work as an author very seriously and is someone who many young children look up to. She wasn’t able to get to the rehearsals at all so we were concerned and hoped she would like it. In my mind I felt we were definitely in the spirit of the book – and luckily she loved it! She loves coming to the theatre. It must be utterly amazing, even though she’s had a lot of her work televised, having a theatre piece made out of your novel. I’m so pleased she loves it; we had to cut out some bits – it’s a long piece but people have said that they didn’t feel it was a 2 hour performance because they were so immersed in the story.
You must have been thrilled when you found out the show was transferring to the West End?
Yes, we were really thrilled as we weren’t ready to finish. This show is not ready to finish, it has to go on longer. Sometimes you feel ready for a show to finish, but I’m not ready to finish yet! We all really love the show and it’s important to us, perhaps partly because it was a collaborative process in its creation. Also we all get on so well and have a good old chortle and laugh backstage and hopefully we bring some of that energy onto the stage. And, hey, if anyone wants to take us to Christmas that would be great [laughs]!
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Hetty Feather runs at the Vaudeville Theatre until Saturday 6th September 2014.
Please visit www.hettyfeatherlive.com for further information and tickets.
Photo Credit 2&3: Donald Cooper
No comments:
Post a Comment