Photo Credit: Broadway Tour via cc
Actor Hub asked some actors who have trod the boards in the West End and Broadway to tell us their stories and offer some advice on how they got to work in musical theatre.
If you are interested in taking part and sharing your knowledge and anecdotes then get in touch – we would love to hear from you.
“Not every job is right for you but the knock backs are worth it when you get the phone call telling you you’ve got the job!”
We spoke to musical theatre actor Nicky Swift who is currently in the West End production of Les Miserables where she performs in the Ensemble and is the first cover (understudy) for Madame Thenardier.
-
Where did you train and did it prepare you for the reality of life in musical theatre?I went to Birmingham University (music and drama degree) and then the Royal Academy Of Music (Musical theatre course) and when I was younger I did a lot of work with the NYMT where I learned so much.I think some elements of my post grad course helped but generally nothing can prepare you for the reality of the job! -
Is there a cringe moment during your career which made you think you might give up?I once dressed as a giant ipod and people (mostly drunk people) came up and had to press the buttons and then i’d sing a song for them … hideous!I never wanted to give up on my dream but it did make me think I would never do certain work ever again!
-
What is the typical audition process for a West End show?First round you will sing a song or two of your choice.Second round may be a dance call and then they will also send material for the part or cover you are up for.It depends on the show but it’s usually between 4-6 rounds of auditions.For Les Mis I had four, the last being a group workshop.
-
Nicky Swift as Madame Thenardier, Les Miserables London 2013 -
What is your current favourite audition ballad?I like to do a Goldrich and Heisler ballad called “Funny how the love gets in the way”
-
What is your current favourite up-tempo audition song?I did ‘Life with Harold’ from The Full Monty musical for my Les Mis audition … in a cockney accent as I knew I was up for cover Madame T.
-
Do you have any showbiz superstitions or rituals?Always have a smint before going on!
-
What is your favourite warm-up exercise?Anything that stretches me vocally, Bella Signora is always a good one.Also stretching the body.
-
It’s a pretty damn cool day / life, i’m very lucky!
-
What is your dream role?I’d love to play the bakers’s wife in Into the Woods and Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers … one day … maybe!
-
What is the funniest thing (mishap, planned or accidental) that ever happened to you on stage?I once went on for panto in my fairy costume with a pair of knickers attached to the net layers at the back!Awkward!
-
What has been your best moment so far in your career?Getting Les Mis and my first show as Madame T.
-
Nicky Swift – Ensemble, Les Miserables London 2013 -
Which five musical theatre characters would you like to have at your fantasy Dinner Party?John Wilkes Booth from AssassinsMickey from Blood BrothersJavert from Les MisKim from Miss SaigonAriel from Little Mermaid!
-
What three things do you always have in your dressing room?Smintsphotos of my familyiphone charger!
-
Press shuffle on your ipod, what song comes on?Hahahaha, ‘The World According to Snoopy’ from Snoopy The Musical.Wow, I haven’t got that much musical theatre on my ipod, it’s a great tune though!
-
Nothing can prepare you for the reality of the job!
-
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a life in Musical Theatre?You’ll get a lot of knock backs.Not every job is right for you but the knock backs are worth it when you get the phone call telling you you’ve got the job!Keep dreaming, if you want it badly enough it WILL happen!
-
Describe the life of a West End actor in a tweet (140 characters or less!)Get up late, walk the dog, eat some food, shower, travel to work, do a show, have a drink, come home, walk the dog, sleep!Actually, that’s a day in the life….it’s a pretty damn cool day/life, i’m very lucky!
-
To find out more about Nicky please click the Spotlight link to view her CV, photographs and agent details.
