In this interview, I spoke with a performer who’s no stranger to tackling intense and complex roles. After making a mark in Kinky Boots and Young Frankenstein, they’ve now brought their talent to Lizzie, a punk rock musical that fuses true crime, rebellion, and raw emotion. Not only do they bring the character of Bridget to life with fiery passion, but they also designed the costumes for the show, adding a bold, visual edge that amplifies its gritty atmosphere. I dive into their journey into musical theatre, the challenges of playing a character driven by rage and revenge, and how they channelled their own creative energy into both their performance and the costuming for this electrifying, horror-fuelled production.
Could you please take us on a journey through your career in acting?
"I have watched musicals and been interested in musical theatre my whole
life, but I didn't get in to performing in it until 2021 in Kinky Boots. I have
been in a range of musicals since then - My Fair Lady, Les Misérables,
42nd Street, Little Shop of Horrors, The Hollow Cause, 9-5, and Young
Frankenstein which I won a Best Supporting Actress Award for, and
developed some on stage colour change chemistry for the lab scenes that I
was really proud of as I am a scientist in my day job."
What first attracted you to theatrical acting?
"I was a pole dancer at a studio in Malaga where one of the teachers did a
musical theatre class on Sundays that me and my friends absolutely loved.
He went on to direct a production of Kinky Boots and I decided to audition,
and from then I was addicted!"
What initially drew you to the role of Bridget?
"The soundtrack - she gets some incredible runs and solos that are so weird
and fun to do!"
Bridget is a character full of anger and a strong desire to break free
from the constraints of her life. How do you tap into that rebellious,
‘rock and roll’ mentality before stepping on stage?
"I don't know if I would call it anger, for me it feels more like justice... I think
the emotional toll of This Is Not Love definitely inspires the later feelings of
wanting vengeance."
Bridget is fully aware that destruction might be the only way to bring
about change. Have you found any parallels between her rebellious
nature and your own journey as an artist?
"I am struggling right now with exactly that issue - there are qualities I think I
should have and skills I think I should work on, but I just haven't got the
time or mental space to be and do everything, so I'm in the midst of working
out what my real values are and who I really am to be able to prioritise my
life!"
What’s your favourite scene or song in Lizzie? Is there one that really
lets you unleash as a performer?
"The end of act 1 combo of Why Are All These Heads Off, Mercury Rising,
and Somebody Will Do Something are all different genres so I get to flex all
my singing muscles, with choreography, the banshee wailing/screaming
parts, and the softer parts of Mercury Rising - its a rollercoaster!"
Are there any aspects of this show that you’ve found particularly
challenging, and if so, how did you overcome them?
"The choreography for This Is Not Love is very difficult to perform as one of
the aggressors, and having a trained Intimacy Director to help with both the
choreography of the scene and the issues and triggers that came up, as
well as ways to manage them, was invaluable."
What advice would you give to someone wanting to become an actor?
"Just start! You make incredible friends and have so much fun, and there are
quite a few community theatre groups around Perth to choose from!"
What are you working on next?
"I am playing General Matilda B Cartwright in Koorliny Arts Centre's Guys
and Dolls, directed by RP van der Westhuizen."
Finally, if you could play any role in any show, past or present, what
would it be and why?
"As a goth 90s kid at heart, I definitely want to be Beetlejuice in Beetlejuice
the Musical!"
Lizzie is open until 22 March 2025, Don Russell Performing Arts Centre
Murdoch Road, Thornlie, 6108 - Tickets on sale now!
Soxie The Salacious Spectre is Perth's own horror host, presenting films each month during Dreadful Frights at The Backlot Perth & the annual Perth Horror Film Festival.
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