Interview: Louise Gold on Richard Bean’s The Nap & Gypsy

Louise Gold is currently playing Waxy in the world premiere of Richard Bean’s new play The Nap.

Directed by Richard Wilson, the comedy thriller about snooker opens at the Sheffield Crucible on 15th March (previews from 10th March) and plays until 2nd April 2016. The cast also includes Ralf Little and Jack O’Connell.

Louise most recently starred in Gypsy at the Chichester Festival Theatre and Savoy Theatre. As well as playing Mazeppa – one of the three strippers – Louise also understudied Imelda Staunton as Mama Rose, playing the role at three performances in August (2015). 

Louise’s West End credits include: Mrs Sowerberry/Mrs Bedwin in Oliver! (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins (Prince Edward), Baroness in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium), Dottie Otley in Noises Off (Piccadilly), Tanya in Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward), Sarah Jane Moore in Assassins (Donmar), Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Prince Edward), Fanny Brice in Ziegfeld (London Palladium), Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense (Fortune) and Isobel in The Pirates Of Penzance (Theatre Royal Drury Lane).

Just a few of Louise’s other theatre credits include: Bertha in Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), God in The Good Soul Of Szechuan (Young Vic), The Water Babies & The Gondoliers (Chichester), Miss Prism in The Importance Of Being Earnest The Musical (Theatre Royal Windsor), Phyllis in Follies (Royal Festival Hall), Lilli/Kate in Kiss Me, Kate & Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Regent’s Park), Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard (RSC), title role in Calamity Jane & Gussie in Merrily We Roll Along (both Leicester Haymarket) and Mrs Johnston in Blood Brothers (Watermill).

I recently spoke to Louise about what makes The Nap a relevant play, why she’s having a joyous time in rehearsals and how she reacted after being told she would be going on as Mama Rose in Gypsy… 

Richard Bean is such an unpredictable writer! What were your first impressions of The Nap?

Well I was very excited when I heard Richard Wilson was directing a new Richard Bean play in Sheffield which is a great theatre, so before I even read the play I thought, ‘this is going to be interesting if nothing else’. The play is so funny, it’s about snooker. Bizarrely I have been in possibly the only ever musical about snooker!

Richard Bean's The Nap extends run at Sheffield Crucible

It has been announced that Richard Bean's new comedy thriller The Nap has extended its run at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre.

The play opens on 15th March (previews from 10th March) and will now run until 9th April 2016.

The cast includes Mark Addy, John Astley, Chris Brailsford, Esther Coles, Dermot Crowley, Louise Gold, Youssef Kerkour, Ralf Little, Jack O’Connell and Rochenda Sandall.

Directed by Richard Wilson, The Nap has design by James Cotterill lighting by Johanna Town, compositions by Olly Fox and casting by Robert Sterne CDG.

Sheffield Theatres announce full casting for Waiting for Godot & The Nap

Sheffield Theatres have announced full casting for Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and the world première of Richard Bean’s The Nap.

Directed by Charlotte Gwinner, Waiting for Godot opens on 8th February (previews from 4th February) and runs until 27th February 2016. 

The cast includes Richard Cordery (Pozzo, pictured), Lorcan Cranitch (Vladimir), Bob Goody (Lucky), Jeff Rawle (Estragon) and The Boy will be played by Toby Allwood and William Oxley. 

Joining Jack O’Connell (Dylan) in Richard Wilson’s production of The Nap are Mark Addy (Bobby), Chris Brailsford (Seth), Esther Coles (Stella), Dermot Crowley (Danny), Louise Gold (Waxy), Youssef Kerkour (Mohammad), Ralf Little (Tony) and Rochenda Sandall (Eleanor). They are joined by professional snooker player John Astley.