COLCHESTER’S Leanne Howard has been a familiar face on the local theatre scene for several years now. Her latest appearance will be in Entertaining Angels at the Headgate Theatre, Colchester, which runs from tonight, October 19, to Saturday, October 22. For tickets call 01206 366000.

What or who got you interested theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?

I’ve been performing ever since I can remember, but I think it all started with ballet and tap lessons when I was 5. I also attended a Saturday morning drama club at the Wilson Marriage Centre in Colchester. I then joined Colchester Operatic Society when I was 12 and have been a member ever since.

I don’t remember doing much performing at school apart from the usual nativity plays and singing Christmas carols with the school choir. At secondary school I was involved with a production of The Pirates of Penzance which made me a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan.

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in the theatre?

No one in my family performs, so I’m not quite sure where I got it from. However, it was my grandparents who introduced me to the world of theatre and took me to see my first West End musical.

Who is the most inspiring person you’ve worked with and why?

I have worked with many talented performers and directors over the years and I’d like to think that I’ve taken something away from every one of them.

What formal training have you done?

Nothing formal. I’ve passed ballet exams up to grade 6 and had 5 years of singing lessons. I also attended a summer school run by NODA (National Operatic and Dramatic Association) where I took part in courses on acting through song and performance skills.

Do you have any specialist skills – anything from stilt walking to dress-making – which you work into your repertoire?

Sadly not. I’m always open to learning new skills though.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your career to date?

There are three moments that stand out for me – a solo singing performance that I gave on the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, being awarded Singer of the Year at the Colchester Rotary Festival in 2010, and playing the role of May in The Accrington Pals in 2014 which was the first straight play I’d ever done.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Nothing too embarrassing - just a few costume/prop malfunctions and cringing as other actors skipped pages of dialogue. I did once forget the first words of a song during a concert, so I just apologised to the audience and started again.

Which actor (s) performer (s) do you most admire and why?

Kristen Chenoweth. She is the most amazing singer and performer and she makes it look so easy.

What role would you most like to play and why?

There aren’t any particular roles that I would like to play but there are some musicals that I would like to be a part of someday – Les Miserables, The Witches of Eastwick, Hello Dolly, to name a few. I’m also quite keen to try my hand at a bit of Shakespeare. I like a challenge!

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

Not really. I tend to get most of the laughing out of the way in rehearsals.

Any big plans for the future?

Entertaining Angels is coming up in a couple of weeks at the Headgate Theatre and then Jekyll and Hyde with COS in January. After that it’s back to auditioning.

Any tricks for remembering your lines or other useful tips to pass on to other actors/directors?

I start by recording other people’s parts, leaving gaps for my lines. Then I go through my lines and write them down which I find helps to get them into my head. Once they’re in my head, I just listen to the recording whenever I get a spare moment.