Big Interview: Frances Ruffelle

Frances Ruffelle is bringing her new solo show I Say Yeh-Yeh to the London Hippodrome on 5th May.

Having premiered I Say Yeh-Yeh at Crazy Coqs last year, Frances recently took the show to the Kennedy Center in Washinton D.C. The show takes the same name as Frances’ most recent album. 

Frances famously created the role of Eponine in the West End production of Les Miserables. She reprised her performance for the musical’s Broadway premiere, winning the 1987 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

Her additional West End credits include: Roxie Hart in Chicago (Adelphi), Yonah in Children of Eden (Prince Edward), Dinah in Starlight Express (Apollo Victoria) and Princess Louisa in The Sleeping Prince (Theatre Royal Haymarket)

Frances’ theatre credits also include: title role in Piaf (Curve), Fastrada in Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Narrator in Joseph (UK Tour), Candy in Whistle Down The Wind & Betty Shaefer in Sunset Boulevard (both at Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sydmonton Festival), Delilah in Apples (Royal Court), Paula in Bend it like Beckham (workshop) and The A-Z of Mrs P (Southwark Playhouse).

Her previous solo shows include Paris Original and Beneath The Dress whilst her previous albums include Imperfectly Me, Showgirl, Frances Ruffelle and Fragile. On screen Frances has appeared in Birds of a Feather, The Road to Ithaca, The Invitation, Secrets and Lies, Long Forgotten Fields, Devil's Tower and Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Miserables. She represented the UK in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free)', finishing 10th.

I recently spoke to Frances about bringing I Say Yeh-Yeh to the Hippodrome, her upcoming return to the West End and why she’s learnt to embrace Les Mis…

You have so much going on at the moment! You’ve just been performing in America, you have a new album out, your London solo show is coming up and you just directed Evelyn Hoskins’ concert. How do you manage it all?!

[laughs] Well the show I’m doing at the Hippodrome I just did in Washington D.C., so I’m pretty confident with that which is good. When I was directing Evie’s show I was waking up in the night going through her show rather than my own! It has been quite nice in a way. Although I still have a bit of anxiety, it’s just nice to have been able to focus on something else. When you’re directing someone else’s show you feel very responsible in a different way. I always like to keep busy – last week I recorded a new track for an EP which is coming out in a few weeks.

Frances Ruffelle brings solo show to the London Hippodrome

Frances Ruffelle will play a solo show at the London Hippodrome as part of Club11's upcoming season.

The Tony Award winner, who originated the role of Éponine in Les Miserables, brings her latest show I Say Yeh-Yeh to the Hippodrome on Thursday 5th May at 8pm

The show offers a comic insight to Ruffelle's own true life story from heartbreak to empowerment and brings a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to songs you thought you knew! 

The show includes a brand new version of 'On My Own' arranged by Gwyneth Herbert who will also be performing with Ruffelle in this unique evening, with a French twist.

Jessie Wallace, Joe McElderry, Frances Ruffelle, Rhydian Roberts & more for charity concert Busting to Sing at the Palace Theatre

Breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! have announced that a one-off gala concert, Busting to Sing, will take place at the Palace Theatre on Monday 31st March 2014.

Hosted by TV Presenter, Matt Johnson, Busting to Sing will bring together stars from music and showbiz to raise thousands of pounds and awareness for CoppaFeel!

Performers already confirmed include: Paul Potts, Jessie Wallace, Kingsland Road, Joe McElderry, Frances Ruffelle and Rhydian Roberts with more names to be announced soon.

David Witts, Janie Dee & Frances Ruffelle to star in Curve Leicester's 5th Birthday Gala

The Curve Leicester has announced the star line-up for its 5th Birthday Gala Concert which takes place on Sunday 12th January 2014. Returning to Curve for the one-off fundraising evening include special guest stars from Curve’s first 5 years including Hello, Dolly!’s award-winning Janie Dee, Piaf’s Frances Ruffelle, Hot Stuff’s Ngo Ngofa, and Lucy Schaufer from The Light in the Piazza.

David Witts will also make his debut Curve performance before joining the cast of Hairspray, which opens on 28th February. Introduced by Curve’s Artistic Director Paul Kerryson, the charity night at the musicals will also feature the Chicago cast and orchestra and celebrate the international reputation of musicals created in Leicester.

New musical 'The A-Z of Mrs P' to premiere at the Southwark Playhouse, full casting announced

It has been announced that a new musical 'The A-Z of Mrs P' will premiere at the Southwark Playhouse next year. The production will open on Monday 24th February 2014 (previews from 20th February) and will run until Saturday 29th March 2014. 

The show tells the true journey of the eccentric Phyllis Pearsall who got lost on the way to a party... and spent the next five years of her life walking the streets of London creating the A-Z. 

Comedian and actress Isy Suttie (pictured right) will make her musical theatre debut as Phyllis Pearsall alongside West End favourites Frances Ruffelle and Michael Matus. They are joined by Stuart Matthew Price, Turlough Convery, Dawn Sievewright and Sidney Livingstone.