INTERVIEW
Natalie’s dream role in Dreamgirls Pics: Matt Crockett
Multi-award winning musical Dreamgirls makes its Milton Keynes debut in January as part of its first ever tour of the UK, and the cast features a familiar face; MK actress Natalie Kassanga. Natalie talked with Pulse’s Sammy Jones about her burgeoning career.
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he first time Natalie appeared on the MK Theatre stage, she was among an ensemble of ‘sewer kids’ in a touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Fast-forward a little longer than a decade, and Natalie is back, starring as Deena Jones in the altogether more glitzy Dreamgirls. In the movie version, that role was taken by Beyoncé. She is following in the footsteps of music royalty and it’s fair to say this is a dream role for our girl. “Absolutely. Dreamgirls was a huge part of my childhood,” the 24-year-old actress tells me during a break from rehearsals, “I remember watching the film for the very first time back in 2006, when I was nine-years-old, and being in such awe of what I was seeing and hearing. “It really inspired my love of music...” Dreamgirls tells the story of three talented young singers, the Dreams, back in the turbulent 1960s. It was a revolutionary time in American music history, and ticket-holders will follow Effie, Lorrell and Deena as they embark 12
upon a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business. It’s a journey that also tests their friendships to the limit. The show has some great big musical numbers like Listen and And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, but it tackles some heavy subjects and comes with a weight of responsibility for its cast. “It does carry a lot of weight,” Natalie agrees, “There is a lot of responsibility to portray the story in the correct way, but also in a way that audience members can take away the history, and an understanding of how pop culture works, and of the experiences American artists encountered back in the 60s to the late 70s; the struggles they faced to be seen, heard and accepted. “It’s not just about the glitz and glamour, the outfits, the music and the fame. It’s about manipulation, and adjusting to what you think is right for you, and seeing the struggles they go through as a family,” Natalie says.
“Dreamgirls have grown up with each other, especially Deena and Effie. They both share the same dream, but they let this man come in between them, and Deena especially loses her way in the industry and doesn’t see where she belongs anymore. “Finally finding her ground and her voice within the show is something extremely powerful and very inspirational. It’s very educational,” she says, “It does definitely show discrimination and the lack of equality in regards to people of colour and black music and trying to cross it over to the pop charts. It was extremely difficult to win over the white stations and white listeners.” Natalie grew up listening to the vocal prowess of icons including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Diana Ross, and now she’s playing a role said to be loosely modelled on The Supremes vocalist. But it’s not the first time. Natalie previously enjoyed a turn as Diana Ross in Motown: The Musical, too. How did it feel landing that role? “I can honestly say to you that I never ever would have seen that coming – to be playing a lead, but not only that, to be playing an iconic artist. It’s not a character and isn’t based on fiction, it’s a big responsibility I never thought I could achieve. “I’ve been raised in a family who taught me to be humble, and to never see myself as anything bigger than I am, and to be given the
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