Cambridge News | www.cambridge-news.co.uk | June 6, 2013 | 23
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Stage
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Packed with the songs of Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is the Olivier Award winning show from writer and director Jim Cartwright. Telling the story of talented LV and the pressure of fame, ELLA WALKER caught up with one of the stars of the show, Corrie veteran Beverley Callard, who plays Little Voice’s overbearing mother, Mari Hoff. ᔡ The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Monday, June 10, to Saturday, June 15, at 7.45pm. Tickets £15£30 from (01223) 503333 or cambridgeartstheatre. purchase-tickets-online.co.uk
What appealed to you about the part of Mari? Oh my goodness. Well, I think it’s one of the best parts written for women. It’s truly incredible, I think there’s only six pages I’m not on stage and those are rapid costume changes. And she’s funny, she’s tragic, she’s full of love, she wants love, she’s a grieving widow, she is a loving mother that doesn’t know how to show it – it’s just everything! Has it been a challenging role? It is a challenging part because, as I say, it’s just so busy and so full-on because she is the juggernaut that drives the play. It’s a big departure; she’s nothing like me, but I know her so well now I can empathise with her. I love her. Why should people come and see the show? [Writer and director] Jim Cartwright has made the whole evening so special. They’re not just watching a play, they are involved from the second they walk into the auditorium. They are just entertained from the second they walk through the door and it’s a really unusual experience. What is it like working alongside Ray Quinn (Billy) and Jess Robinson (Little Voice)? We have a ball, an absolute ball, and of course when we
get to Cambridge it’s the last week. So it will be party time! Will you miss it once the show ends? Most definitely, I will miss Mari Hoff, I will, but I will be working
with Jim Cartwright once again on something else but I can’t tell you what yet. But to do one of his works is amazing, it’s just been an absolute joy. Is it true you are set to return to Coronation Street this year? (Beverley has played feisty barmaid Liz McDonald on and off for
HAVING A BALL: Beverley Callard, Jess Robinson and Ray Quinn
more than 20 years) It is, yes it is. I left a couple of years ago to go back on stage again because I think it’s important for an actor to do both and I’d not been on stage for 10 years. I will have played Little Voice for 32 weeks, which is a long time on tour, then Coronation Street got a new producer [Stuart Blackburn], who I worked with and adore. I’ve worked with him for 10 years; he said to me on day two in the job that he wanted to bring Liz back. I love playing Liz so I’m really looking forward to working in front of the camera again, and the intimacy of camera, but I’ll miss having a live audience, that’s for sure. What are you most proud of career-wise? Each job you do brings new challenges. I loved creating Liz and creating that iconic character, but then playing Mari Hoff, who is totally different but still another iconic character, so it’s been amazing. So few plays have great parts for women. You look at any Shakespeare play they’ll have 12 men and two women. Writers need to write more for women.