June-July 2019
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Having played Mrs Wormwood for two years in the West End,
During her career, Rebecca has worked with many famous
Rebecca is looking forward to reprising the role on tour.
faces including Hugh Jackman.
‘I love doing the tour,’ says Rebecca. ‘It is great going to
‘Oh he is gorgeous - handsome,’ she says. ‘He is a lovely guy -
different theatres with different atmospheres and reactions.
beautiful inside and out. He was fantastic to work with. I
The show is just the same as the show in London - that is the
think he got the X-Men when we were in Oklahoma, and he
great thing. It feels very different to be able to go back to the
met Howard Keel as well. How amazing is that!’
character and find new things – I think ‘wow, why didn’t I do that before?’ So what does Rebecca make of the part of Matilda’s highlycritical mum?
Back to Matilda, is there any other role Rebecca would love to play? ‘I would want to play Trunch,’ she smiles. ‘Who doesn’t want to play Trunch? It’s the best part – the dialogue is stunning
’Mrs Wormwood is wonderful. She is a nasty mum who loves
although I quite like Mr Wormwood as well. He’s really
ballroom dancing although she’s really not very good at it!
physical. I have to stand quite still to make his physicality
She also loves Rudolpho her dance teacher. The energy in the
come out even more and it’s quite frustrating.’
Wormwood house is fast and mad yet Matilda is this strange being that’s arrived and Mr and Mrs Wormwood ignore her because they didn’t really want her. She is intelligent and
Matilda is incredibly popular among children. What message does it give?
questions them all the time and they can’t really deal with
‘Watching the show encourages them to be brave and to not
that.’
be afraid of being intelligent and reading books and standing
But does she have any redeeming features? ‘I love her, but no, she doesn’t really!’ laughs Rebecca. ‘I love
up for yourself and seeing what’s right and what’s wrong. Watching the child actors on stage (because they are phenomenal, they’re amazing how much they retain) I think
the colourfulness of her and I love the costume. The skirt is
kids must sit and watch that and think ‘I could do that’. That’s
really heavy and when you move it flounces and gives you
lovely, isn’t it? They are absolutely incredible.’
that extra va-va-vroom. I like the ridiculousness of her. The hair is just fabulous – something you’d never do yourself, and to get to wear it is just brilliant.’ Rebecca has had a wide and varied theatre career and challenging roles in some big musicals. But is there a thread running through the characters she chooses?
Being on tour gives the chance to explore many different cities across the country. Had Rebecca been to Norwich before? ‘I absolutely love Norwich,’ she says. ‘They have a great Bikram Yoga place here which I always go to, and I love the layout of the city. I did Witches of Eastwick and Top Hat there
‘I’ve done a few,’ says Rebecca. ‘I was Mrs Banks in Mary
and I’m going back to the same digs that I stayed in last time I
Poppins. I was in the Witches of Eastwick which was great fun.
was there. It’s a lovely place.’
It’s funny because you forget – it has been 31 years. Someone says ‘Oh you did that’ and I think ‘Oh yes!’. Someone did say ‘Oh she’s doing another squeaky character’, which I hadn’t thought about before. My career has been quite varied. Before this, I did Morticia in the Addams Family and I’ve done classical roles and I can do comedy. I love comedy.’
Matilda is at Norwich Theatre Royal from July 16thAugust 17th. www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
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