"I just Love Musicals!":
An Interview with Verity Smith (Clive Nolan Musicals)
What role are you playing in the new production of "She"?
Verity: I play Rehani in "She". Rehani is a minor character in the production, but she sings a very important song, which gives the viewer an insight into how Ayesha has become the way that she is, so it's important to listen to the words. Well, obviously it's important to listen to the words, because I sing them! ;)
How did you get involved with the Caamora Theatre Company?
Verity: Quite a while ago when we were doing "Alchemy" at the Cheltenham Playhouse, I was asked to audition for an understudy role for Mrs Muncey. It feels like a long time ago now. And I was lucky enough (sorry Tracy!) that Tracy Hitchings couldn't make the Cheltenham shows, so I ended up playing the lead role and then when we went to the off West End, Clive asked me to extend that part into playing Jessamine as well as Mrs Muncey. And then, when it was announced that we were going to do a new version of "She", Ian Baldwin, who is directing "She", asked me to be Rehani in this production. And it's been awesome to be involved.
How are the rehearsals going?
Verity: They're going really well. Ian is doing a completely amazing job in directing it and I think that for anybody who's seen the original show that Clive put on quite a long time ago now, this will be something completely different. It's actually a musical now. Don't get me wrong, no offence to people who did it before - it was wonderful, but it wasn't a musical so much as people singing and acting a bit and being characters to music. Now it feels like there's a whole story, a lot more interaction and action going on and theatrically it's got a deeper meaning now than it had before, I think. It's going really well and everyone is having a great time. And that's the main thing.
What is your favourite role in Clive's musicals: Mrs Muncy, Jessamine or Rehani?
Verity: My favourite is definitely Jessamine from "Alchemy", because she is probably the most like me. She's a bit noisy and a bit messy and that's kind of what I like, so, she's the easiest character for me to play, I suppose. And she's so cheeky - it's fun to play a character like that.
What other projects are you involved in?
Verity: I've been involved in some of the Caamora fundraising concerts. I've been asked to sing a number of songs in French gala, which is coming up in September this year. So that should be fun. I will sing several songs there - some of them with Clive, some of them with the chorus and some of them on my own. That should be really awesome and then we'll see what happens. Quite recently, I've been also offered the role of Ustane to play in Holland and I am super excited about that. I am really grateful to Clive for giving me an opportunity to play a role that I feel I'd be able to add some depth to and make it my own. Really looking forward to having a chance to do one of the big roles and... fingers crossed, I'll do it justice.
What is your musical theatre background?
Verity: I've done so many different things. I'm in touring Blues Brothers tribute act where I do all of Aretha Franklin songs and also sing backing vocals for all of the songs. It's a two hours show, so it's pretty hectic. I'm also in a lot of tribute bands that do wedding functions and corporal events. Theatre wise, I just love musicals! I've been involved in a lot of small musicals - I've just been cast in another one for spring next year, called "Maternity Fraternity". I don't know when or where it's going to be on, but it will be quite interesting. And I've got a one woman show coming up at the Playhouse in Cheltenham in October. It's called "Lucy Furr" and it's a comedy musical. It's kind of bizarre and a bit strange and that should be pretty scary, if you can put up with me on stage for an hour... on my own. My mum is terrified, I'm more terrified.
Interview by Magdalena Grabias
August 2015
