Meet Alice Fillary - tonight's Gypsy Rose Leigh

Curtain Call chats to Alice Fillary, 25, from Basildon, who plays Louise (Gypsy Rose Lee) in the Little Theatre Company's production of this classic musical.

It runs at the Palace Theatre, London Westcliff, until November 11 and includes matinee performances.

Visit southendtheatres.org.uk for further information and booking.

When and under what circumstances did you start taking part in dramatics?

As a child I was incredibly shy and clung onto my mum’s legs at all times. To get rid of me one summer holiday, at the age of seven, she put me in a local acting summer school where I found my crazy imagination could run wild. By the end of the week my parents couldn’t believe the confident child that was standing up performing for all of the adults. From that moment on I went to acting classes, dance classes and singing lessons.

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

My sister is a drama teacher at a local secondary school and my brother is an incredibly talented musician and owns the company Therapy in Musical Expression which provides music therapy to adults and children with special needs.

Have you done any formal theatre or musical training?

I have a BA (Hons) Musical Theatre, first class, from the University of Essex and completed an intensive year of private training at The American Musical Theatre Academy where I studied professional musical theatre.

Do you have any special skills, from juggling to speaking German, that have proved useful on stage?

I worked in Austria for two years as a dancer and actor in my early 20’s, where my German GCSE came in handy when all the rehearsals were conducted in German!

Do you do any accents or impressions?

I love accents but some are better than others. I do a great impression of a Disney princess!

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your time in the theatre?

One of the most exciting experiences I have had was training on Broadway. It was a whirlwind of classes, shows and performances but I loved every second of it. I met some incredible directors, musical directors and producers who were so willing to share their knowledge. It was truly incredible.

What was your most gratifying moment in terms of response from an audience?

Just being able to tell someone’s story and performing for an audience is such an honour – if an audience is then invested in your character’s story and goes on that journey with you then it just makes it all worth while.

Who is the most inspirational person you have worked with/been taught by, in your stage career?

That is a really hard question. I have had some incredible teachers over the years and met some wonderful people. I was very lucky at drama school to meet the incredible Stiles and Drewe (Half a Sixpence, Honk, Just So) who create and compose the most wonderful musicals and they were so encouraging when I sung for them. I also got taught by the incredible Alice Fearn who is currently Elphaba on the West End. Alice has the most incredible stage presence, an insane voice and is also the most wonderful teacher. There have been so many and each of them taught and offered something different.

When was your most embarrassing theatrical moment on or off stage?

Every time I recall this anecdote I still laugh to this very day. Whilst studying for my degree I was very fortunate to be in a professional Christmas show over the festive period. I was a very tired student – studying, working part-time, having a lead role in our final university production and performing in this professional Christmas show of Alice in Wonderland. It was an evening performance and I had fallen asleep on a sofa in my dressing room during the show when all of a sudden I woke with a start as I heard my entrance music for the Fish Dance. I jumped out of my chair, grabbed my massive paper mache fish headpiece and ran to the wings and went straight on stage without even thinking. I heard a snigger around me from my fellow actors as I swam across the stage in my fish head when I finally turned around I was horrified. I was in the wrong part of the show! They were just about to start the Mad Hatter’s tea party. I continued swimming across the stage as if nothing had ever happened and fell into a heap of giggles in the wings. I have never fallen asleep during a show since.

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

I don’t think I have… I probably have! But I can’t remember!

What do you do for a living, when not acting?

I have been in education for the past two years and most recently working in a special needs school with children aged 11-13. I also work for Simply Perfect Princess Parties entertaining children at events and parties as those well- known and loved princesses. I also teach singing and dancing to two -four year olds on a Saturday morning at HK Dance Studio in Basildon,

Has your theatre career ever been useful in your day job, and/or have you ever drawn on your day job for any of your stage roles?

I believe that all my experiences from theatre have been useful in many of the day jobs I have I had. Staying calm and collected is incredibly important in the sector of education I work in and I often sing to pupils to calm them down and use my crazy childlike imagination to play with them.

Ever thought of going professional?

At the age of seven I was spotted by a London modelling agency and worked in TV up until the age of 18 until I went to study for my degree. However, I suffered from two mini strokes at the age of 23 which put a pause in my career. I lost my confidence and went into teaching as it was my next passion. The Little Theatre Company is my first venture since that time and it has given me back my passion and love for musical theatre and performing.

Tell us something about your current production, Gypsy, and how you have approached your role.

My current role is that of Louise in Gypsy with The Little Theatre Company. The show is loosely based on the memoirs of the famous burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee and follows her life with her mother Rose and sister June and their efforts to get their act on the top circuits in Vaudeville.

Preparing for the role of Louise has been one of the most challenging roles I have been given. Louise starts as an incredibly shy, down-trodden child and by the end of the show has transformed into an incredibly confident, sexy and successful burlesque star. Finding my confident, sexy side has been the biggest challenge for me as an actor as it is not a character I have played very often.

I try to find the truth in all characters I play and this has helped playing the part of Louise. Her journey through the show is so massive that without fully committing and going on that entire journey it wouldn’t be a true representation of Gypsy Rose Lee’s story. It has been a wonderful challenge exploring, finding and balancing the character of Louise.

All of the cast and crew at The Little Theatre Company have been so welcoming to myself as a new member and have created such a fabulous show with Gypsy. I am so excited and honoured to perform the role of Louise alongside my fellow performers at LTC.

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

I adore Emma Thompson, Helen Foy and Rose Leslie. They all are truthful, subtle and sensational in their own ways.

What role would you most like to play and why?

I would love to play Ann in Half a Sixpence as she goes on such a journey through the show and is that downtrodden character who prevails in the end.

What future roles have you got lined up?

I am playing the role of Alice Fitznicely in The Only Way is Dick, an adult pantomime, at The Towngate Theatre, Basildon January 24-28. This adult pantomime had sell-out run at The Thameside Theatre, Grays last year.

Any tips to pass on for learning your lines?

Learn them as soon as you can – don’t leave it to the last minute.

Any other tricks of the trade to pass on?

Be nice, kind and respectful to everyone you work with, turn up to rehearsals on time and prepared and give it everything you have.