Big Interview: Emma Williams

Emma Williams is currently starring as Annie Oakley in the UK Tour of Irving Berlin’s classic musical Annie Get Your Gun. 

Ian Talbot’s production also stars Jason Donovan as Frank Butler and Norman Pace as Buffalo Bill.

With timeless classic songs including ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ and ‘Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better’, Annie Get Your Gun tells the legendary story of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West female sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, and her romance with fellow sharpshooter, Frank Butler. 

Emma made her stage debut aged 18 as Truly Scrumptious in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium opposite Michael Ball. She has been nominated for two Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances as Jenny in Love Story (Chichester/Duchess) and Luisa in Zorro (Garrick).

Just a few of Emma’s other countless theatre credits include playing: Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Royal Festival Hall), Susan in Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello), Melinda in The Recruiting Officer (Salisbury Playhouse) and Shelley Parker in Bat Boy: The Musical (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Shaftesbury).

I recently spoke to Emma about how it feels to be playing such an iconic role, her first impressions of touring life and her incredible journey to the West End stage… 

Annie Oakley is such an iconic role, but was it a part you have always had your eye on?

I saw the show as a kid when it was done by a local amateur society and I loved it. She’s one of those incredible female roles in musical theatre because she’s strong and she’s feisty! So often I think leading ladies, particularly the roles I sometimes play, are a little weak or drippy. She’s a role I thought I would love to play one day but, as an actor, the problem is you’re relying on other people to put on the production and to give you the job! You hope that at some point in your career the role will turn up and you’ll still be the right age to play it, and I’m just grateful it did and that the producers thought I was the right choice! She’s pretty far removed from the sort of stuff I usually do so I was absolutely thrilled when the phone call came through! It was absolutely amazing [laughs]! I’m loving every minute of it! 

Full casting announced for Afraid of the Dark at the Charing Cross Theatre

Full casting has been announced for Afraid of the Dark which will receive its world premiere at the Charing Cross Theatre later this year. Afraid of the Dark is described as a "new brand of theatrical terror that paralyzes the audience with fear". 

Charlie Anson will play ‘Roger Maxwell’, Rebecca Blackstone will play ‘Sandra Callaghan', Julian Forsyth will play ‘Dr Henry Charlier’, John Guerrasio will play ‘Julius Bernstein’ and Mark Rice-Oxley will play ‘Herschell Blank’.

Theatrical terror 'Afraid of the Dark' by anonymous playwright to receive world premiere at the Charing Cross Theatre later this year

It has been announced that 'Afraid of the Dark', a new brand new theatrical terror, will premiere at the Charing Cross Theatre later this year. 

The production will open on 11th September (previews from 2nd September) and will run until 26th October 2013. The show is not suitable for children under 12, those of a nervous disposition or for those suffering with serious heart conditions. Press material also states that "The playwright has chosen to remain anonymous…for now…".

Afraid of the Dark will be directed by Olivier Award winner Ian Talbot. Ian was artistic and managing director at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 1971 – 2008 and his extensive directing credits include High Society, Anything Goes, The Pirates of Penzance and The Invisible Man. 

The production is designed by Paul Farnsworth, who has collaborated with Ian Talbot on many productions at Regent’s Park, including Much Ado About Nothing The Fantasticks, Lady Be Good and HMS Pinafore, as well as work at Chichester, with the RSC and in the West End.