23 minute read
MAISIE SMITH
ESSEX’S STRICTLY EAST-END GIRL
As Southend actress Maisie Smith swaps the small screen for her musical theatre debut, she talks about first night nerves and the TV show that helped build her confidence
By REBECCA PITCAIRN
Having starred as Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders since the tender age of six, Southend actress Maisie Smith is used to being on the small screen. And, after reaching the final of the 2020 series of Strictly
Come Dancing, she’s no stranger to dancing in front of a live audience.
However, her latest role, which sees her stepping out on stage as the female lead in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly
Ballroom The Musical, she admits has been quite a daunting experience. “I’ve never really done anything like this before where I’m singing, dancing and acting all in one capacity and in front of a live audience, and the first couple of nights I was so terrified,” she tells me during a break in rehearsals. “But as the days have gone on, seeing the audience’s reaction, it really does give you such an adrenaline rush.”
When we speak, Maisie is just two weeks into the UK tour, which sees the show stop at 40 theatres across the country, including the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend next March. “I always like coming back to Essex when I’m doing shows,” says Maisie, who lives in Leighon-Sea. “Partly because most of the audience is taken up by my family. It’s cool to have so many people from your hometown coming to see you. It’s always a completely different atmosphere when I’m back in Southend.”
Directed by Craig Revel Horwood, who also acts as choreographer alongside his Strictly Come Dancing colleague and creative director Jason Gilkison, the musical is based on the Australian award-winning, 90s global film phenomenon, Strictly Ballroom, which spawned the BBC dance show.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, it tells the beguiling story of Scott Hastings, a talented but rebellious young ballroom dancer who finds himself dancing alongside novice, Fran, after his radical dance moves see him fall out of favour with the Australian Federation. Despite the unlikely pairing, the pair gather the courage to defy both convention and their families.
In what is her musical theatre debut, 21-year-old Maisie takes on the lead role of Fran, alongside Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton as Scott Hastings – a casting he has described as a ‘dream’.
“When I got the part, I didn’t know who the other role was going to be so when I found out I was so excited, it was comforting to have a familiar face as I start this new side of performance that I’ve never done before,” says Maisie, who danced alongside Kevin, taking home the glitterball in the Strictly Come Dancing Children in Need Special in 2019.
The following year, she became a contestant on the mainstream show, reaching the finals with dance partner Gorka Márquez and only narrowly missing out to winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.
While she certainly proved her dance credentials on the show and later joined the Strictly Tour line-up, Maisie is most
PHOTO: ELLIE KURTTZ STARRING IN STRICTLY BALLROOM
well-known as an actress, having played Ti any, the daughter of Bianca Jackson [Patsy Palmer] and Ricky Butcher [Sid Owen] on EastEnders for 13 years. Her fi nal scenes on the set aired last December, but the door has been left open for a return, although she will not be drawn on if or when that might happen.
“I do miss it, particularly the people,” says Maisie, who won a British Soap and Inside Soap award after being on the soap for less than a year. “I spent such a long time there seeing the same people every day so I miss that and working with those people, but I’m so focused on what I’m doing right now.”
Maisie also has a passion for singing. She released an EP in 2017 and wowed judges when she was unmasked as Baby Dino on the UK tour of The Masked Singer back in April. Despite this she says the singing is the part of Strictly Ballroom, which brings to life iconic songs, including Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time, that she gets most nervous about.
“The Masked Singer was the fi rst time I’d ever sung [to a live audience] so to then lead in a musical, with lots of numbers to sing, it’s quite nerve-wracking. I was really quite scared of revealing my voice,” she admits. “But coming out of the stage door and hearing people say they were surprised at my voice and really complimenting it, it’s really helped boost my confi dence.”
Maisie’s stint on the latest series of Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins, which was fi lmed in October 2021 but only aired this autumn, has also helped build her self-confi dence. “It was scary, it was absolutely brutal, every minute of the day was tough, but I felt so strong coming out of it, inside and out,” she explains. “I wanted to see what I would be like pushed to my extreme and it certainly did that.”
Due to the tour, Maisie will be spending Christmas Day with her family in Surrey instead of Leigh-on-Sea, but is looking forward to strolling along the seafront when she does get some time o to go home. “The one thing I really miss about Southend when I’m away is the seaside,” she smiles. “I don’t go in the sea. I used to, but it’s too cold in December. Saying that I’ve jumped in a pool of ice for Celebrity SAS so I might give it a go at some point this winter!”
strictlyballroomtour.co.uk
ON STAGE WITH KEVIN CLIFTON
BY THE SEA IN LEIGH
SHE LOVES A SLICE OF LOCAL CAKE
Maisie’s must visits
Our lead interviewee picks out her favourite Essex spots
When it’s a weekend and I’m not working, there’s nothing better than spending the day in Leigh’s old town, walking along the beach and getting some cockles from The Cockle Shed.
There are a few restaurants and bars in Old Leigh that I like to go to, such as The Peterboat and Ye Olde Smack – that’s a nice pub, it’s my dad’s favourite pub.
My sister used to work in Sara’s Tea Garden, which is little cake shop in Leigh, so most evenings we used to take the dogs down there and have a slice of cake.
PHOTO: ELLIE KURTTZ
TANDOOR AT THE CHAMBERS IS A FAVOURITE
PHOTO: SOPHIE DUNNE
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A It has been incredibly busy, but equally a lot of fun! I have set up my own marketing company and this was also the first year, post pandemic, that we delivered the Campioni Soccer Academy abroad – we were resident at a great family resort, Sun Gardens Dubrovnik in Croatia, for the summer. Former Premier League football stars Wes Brown, Emile Heskey, Stan Petrov, Andy Cole and James Collins delivered the football training – I don’t think the kids realise just how special this actually is, but luckily the parents do!
Get to know… HAYLEY SMITH
WEST ESSEX LOCAL AND FOUNDER OF CAMPIONI SOCCER ACADEMY
Q What did you introduce at your Campioni Soccer Academy this year?
A We have launched regular weekly development training for all age groups from 5 to 16-year-olds. I am so grateful to all my professional coaches who share my strong positive work ethic, which has enabled me to take Campioni to the next level.
Q What kind of feedback do you get from parents about the Academy?
A The general consensus is that our camps are friendly, professionally run, fun and safe. When I am personally not around to oversee the camps, I carefully select my good friends to manage it who have first aid training and are DBS cleared. I am a mum of three and understand the importance of being 100% certain that your child is safe when you leave them in someone else’s care.
Q What are your plans for it in 2023?
A We are thrilled that Sun Gardens Dubrovnik have asked us to deliver another six weeks of training at the resort next year starting in May
QUITE THE VIEW AT CAMPIONI SOCCER ACADEMY
HAYLEY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS THE RIVER CHELMER
half-term. I am also thrilled that we will be bringing back the Campioni Dance Academy to run alongside the football camp in Croatia.
Q Tell us more about the dance academy…
A Following the concept of the football training, Campioni will be flying out a well-known choreographer to the stars to the resort to deliver professional dance classes for two hours each day whilst the children are on holiday – basically a fun high-end kids club! The resort has a stunning air-conditioned dance studio with an outside performing space with sea views. It doesn’t get much better than that for girls and boys who love to dance.
Q Do you often get much time off over Christmas?
A We have a one-day Christmas football event in Chigwell and Upminster on 22 December where we will enjoy a visit from Santa who will deliver presents to everyone – then I will be feet up until February half-term!
Q Do you have any particular favourite spots in West Essex or beyond that you love at Christmas?
A You just can’t beat central London at Christmas and locally 8 Rocks on Loughton High Road is my favourite place for fresh food and fine wine. Such a cosy venue that attracts a great crowd, we’ve made lots
of new local friends there and the events that they put on are always a lot of fun.
Q What have been your favourite spots in the county this year?
A We love Tandoor at the Chambers – based in Buckhurst Hill, this is the best Indian restaurant around. We recently bought an inflatable kayak and found some great spots to take it. The River Lee doesn’t sound very glamorous, but there is a spot close to Hackney Marshes that was perfect. Further out in Essex the River Chelmer is a little more picturesque!
Q What is your ideal Christmas Day?
A Waking up with the children and realising that ‘he’s been’... Opening gifts then welcoming family to ours for a traditional Christmas Day, carols around the table superbly hosted by my Christmas loving Dad, then more friends joining us in the evening for games and dancing.
ABSOLUTELY ATTENDS
BANG & OLUFSEN CHELMSFORD REFIT PARTY
Following a complete refit of their store in the heart of the county, Bang & Olufsen of Chelmsford city hosted a champagne and canape reception to celebrate a successful refit of their store of 22 years.
After the initial reception, guests experienced a short product demonstration from store owner Darren
Maynard, showcasing a brand new product recently launched, the latest soundbar, the
BeoSound Theatre. People were amazed by this powerful new speaker system which is designed to work with any television.
The store has a bright new layout and the displays are far more interactive with more products on display, including the complete range of Bang & Olufsen earphones, headphones and bluetooth speakers in an extensive range of colours. The store has a welcoming feel about it and Darren told us that they have had more visitors to the store since they reopened at the end of August.
After demonstrations of the products were complete, local singer and entertainer Joe
Palmer (@joepalmerswing) entertained with his amazing vocal talents, covering a wide selection of swing music from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé. The evening concluded with guests dancing and everyone left saying how much they had enjoyed themselves.
Originally opened in December 2000,
Bang & Olufsen of Chelmsford is one of two Bang & Olufsen stores in the county, the other being based in Colchester.
More can be found on their websites bang-olufsen.com/chelmsford or
bang-olufsen.com/colchester
Time to CELEB RATE
Six places in the county, six businesses to marvel at after what has been a tough time for all over the last couple of years
A CREATION BY HARVEYS
RAYLEIGH
DEBBIE DRIVER, Harveys
Tell us a little bit about your business…
A Harveys have been supplying quality garden buildings for over 35 years – in fact many customers come in saying that they have one of our buildings that are over 20 years old and still going strong, which is testament to the quality of manufacture. We offer everything from a small garden shed to a large double glazed and insulated home office/studio, and the ever popular combination buildings with a storage building one end and a working space/summerhouse the other, which are both attractive and functional.
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A The Covid pandemic has changed the way that many people work and from 2021 working from home has made things very busy in the garden building sector, a trend that appears to be ongoing. The shortages of raw materials made it difficult at times especially as building quality is always of paramount importance and some of the wood being offered was not up to scratch and therefore not suitable,
DEBBIE DRIVER
which led to longer lead times. Luckily, those issues are behind us now and building design, deliver and assembly time has reverted to 6-10 weeks – not bad for a bespoke building.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A Harveys are located on a spacious showsite on the A127 in Rayleigh, Essex, where you can see most of our building designs on display. Rayleigh has many notable attractions – its lovely windmill, quaint round Dutch cottage and National Trust Mount and each Christmas a lit up high street that has to be seen. Rayleigh has all this and probably the best garden building display in Essex!
DARREN MAYNARD
CHELMSFORD
DARREN MAYNARD, BANG & OLUFSEN
Tell us a little bit about your business…
A We have been retailing Bang & Olufsen products from our stores in Chelmsford and Colchester for over 22 years now. We specialise in offering a complete home audio and video solution for our customers and oversee the whole process from initial consultation through to installation and handover of the products.
Q What would you say is unique to you?
A I think a Bang & Olufsen store is as much an experience as it is a retail store. We like to showcase the products in the best way possible and show our customers how these products can
THE BANG & OLUFSEN CHELMSFORD SHOWROOM
CELEB RATE
make a real difference in how they interact with television and music. As an example, so many people have a poor sound experience when watching TV and this dramatically affects the overall enjoyment.
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A It has overall been a good year for us. Since the pandemic, we have still noticed the trend of people spending more time at home and enjoying their space more than before. We have seen a strong trend in large screen TV solutions and cinema sound setups.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A I am based in Chelmsford for the most part. I love the City, it has a great vibe around it and it’s just a nice place to be. Sadly, many town centres have suffered since the pandemic, but Chelmsford still has a great mix of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Q What are your plans for 2023?
A Having just totally refurbished our store in Chelmsford, I am looking forward to what the future brings. We are so pleased with the outcome and we have noticed that more people are starting to come for their first visit, long may that continue so that we can keep spreading the Bang & Olufsen love.
bang-olufsen.com
MERSEA ISLAND
PIERS BAKER, The White Hart Inn
Tell us a little bit about your business…
A I acquired the White Hart Inn following a partial rebuild with it having been closed since 2013. It has had a complete fit out and refurbishment and opened in June 2022. It is the third site for me. I opened The Sun Inn, Dedham in 2003 and Church Street Tavern, Colchester in 2014 and continue to operate them today. The White Hart Inn is somewhere for a casual pint, an easy lunch or special celebratory dinner. And if you can’t bear to leave, there are six guest rooms to stay overnight.
Q What would you say is unique to you?
A Our three businesses are all fantastic, characterful buildings in great locations. Equal focus is put into our food, service and atmosphere and we’re always seeking to improve what we offer.
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A It has been tricky, but broadly rewarding. We opened the White Hart Inn on 15 June and it has been going from strength to strength. The team have been doing a brilliant job and we have had wonderful feedback.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A The pub is in West Mersea, opposite the village church. Mersea Island is a special place with beaches, creeks, boardwalks, sailing, oysters and a great community. Our seafood and oysters are landed within a mile of the pub and some of our fruit and vegetables are also grown on the island. The sun rises and sunsets are spectacular and being beside the sea is invigorating every single day.
Q What are your plans for 2023?
A To continue to grow our business through its first year. We hope to open seven days a week from May. And we hope to add an outdoor kitchen with BBQ, pizza and more.
INSIDE THE WHITE HART INN
THEIR OYSTERS ARE FABULOUS
whitehartinnmersea.co.uk
BUCKHURST HILL
KATRINA BULLEN, CAPLEN ESTATES
Q What would you say is unique to you?
A Myself and my brother, Adam, established Caplen Estates in 2017. Our team is dynamic and personable with customer service at the heart of everything we do. We are a double award winning agency with managing client relationships being key to our success. Our team is resilient and tenacious, having worked hard to overcome some difficult times in the property industry.
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A This year has been a story of two halves. Two days are never the same and the team have to be primed to move with the latest trends. The beginning of the year was extremely busy with sales properties being sold over market value with an average of 30 viewings on an open day. The latter part of the year has been very different, especially after the two recent budget announcements. However, the market is still busy with serious buyers keen to purchase a property rather than rent.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A Caplen Estates is situated in Buckhurst Hill – a beautiful town in Essex with a village feel and a community that is close and caring. There are fantastic schools, restaurants and shops nearby. Access into central London is fantastic, however nothing outweighs the beauty of our forests and green spaces.
Q What are your plans for 2023?
A We are excited to announce that we are expanding both our team and branch locations, first of which being a new shop in Gants Hill.
KATRINA BULLEN
GREAT DUNMOW
DAVID MORGAN, Orion Heating
Tell us a little bit about your business…
A Orion Heating was founded in 1977, when high efficiency European woodburning stoves became popular in Britain. Since that time we have continued to specialise in the best brands and focused on woodburning as a renewable and responsible heating method. Still family run by the third generation of Morgans, Orion Heating occupy a large showroom and warehouse in Takeley Business Centre next to Stansted Airport. Our showroom contains around 40 stoves, plus live fires and fireplaces to look at. Detailed technical advice are always available.
Q What would you say is unique to you?
A Our 45 years of experience provides a product and installation knowledge that sets us apart. Fireplaces and
MALDON
SCOTT APPLETON, Wickham Flooring Ltd
Tell us a little bit about your business…
A We are a small family run business which has been established for 48 years. We started the business in Wickham Bishops before moving to Maldon. Our team at Wickham Flooring have been in the business many years and have the knowledge, skills and experience to offer the highest quality service. We have a long standing loyal customer base and most come via recommendations. All customers are provided with a personal service and treated individually depending on their requirements. We have the largest Amtico Flooring showroom in Essex which runs alongside other carpet and flooring ranges from different manufacturers.
Q What would you say is unique to you?
A The personal service we offer to all of our customers. Friends, acquaintances and long standing customers return time and again to our showroom.
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A It has been an extremely busy year after the pandemic and our customers keep us busy all year round.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A We are based in Maldon in an historic building, The Old Iron Works. The area has a sense of community. We help local charities and anyone in our local area who requires help. Farleigh Hospice and mental health charities are also supported by our company.
Q What are your plans for 2023?
A We opened a warehouse in Maldon this year and we are looking to expand on the warehouse side. We want to have the largest warehouse of carpet and flooring and expand on the ranges we stock, and offer a competitive price and best quality we can offer direct from our warehouse.
the properties they inhabit follow trends and styles that were common when built. We understand how to work with and improve what is already in your home, plus bring new installation methods which complement local buildings.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A Uttlesford in North West Essex is a rural part of the county, our showroom is located next to the Flitchway, Hatfield Forest and large arable farms. The area is beautiful, but at the same time benefits from easy access to the A120 and M11. Many of the villages around us are not serviced by mains gas, they rely on traditional fireplaces to keep warm. Woodburning stoves have for many decades been a much loved and practical necessity in the traditional style houses in Uttlesford.
Q What are your plans for 2023?
A Maintaining good supplies of stoves
DAVID MORGAN
will be key, as energy prices continue to drive customers towards burning wood at home. Orion Heating will continue to look after our customers and, should you be considering a stove for your own home, welcome you to our showroom for a chat.
orionheating.co.uk
LOUGHTON
JON O’SHEA, HASLERS
Tell us a little bit about your business…
A We offer a complete service that parallels the “Big 4” accounting firms, but focused enough to work with you on a personal basis – there is no matter that a colleague at Haslers cannot handle. Our Partners are all specialists in their chosen fields of expertise consistently working together across matters, meaning you benefit from joinedup, Partner-led advice with broad skills and experience on all aspects of your financial affairs.
Q How has 2022 been for you?
A It has been a challenging year for everyone as we recover from the COVID era, the continuing war in Ukraine has had a devastating effect on inflation, supply of materials and the cost of living, across the world. With virtually full employment in the UK, it has not been easy to match recruitment to the demand that many of our client businesses are still seeing.
Q Where are you based and what do you love about the area?
A We are based in Old Station Road, Loughton, a location with access to Epping Forest with all of its natural beauty and also have the Central Line on our doorstep giving us easy access to central London. With great road links for all of Essex and a thriving High Street for all of our team to enjoy, we are ideally positioned as an employer and business in this area.
Q What are your plans for 2023?
A Like everyone we are hoping for stability in 2023 after all the political turmoil in the UK over the last year. We look to the new Chancellor to help combat and defeat the current inflation spike so that businesses can forecast more accurately than the last couple of years. We will continue to work with all of our clients to help them achieve their business goals and help keep Epping Forest and Essex as an incredible location to do business.
