Interview: ‘It’s Fun and It’s Festive’: Lindzi Germain and Lydia Rosa Morales Scully on SCOUSE RED RIDING HOOD

Liverpool’s Royal Court are bringing their latest twist on a fairytale classic to the stage with Scouse Red Riding Hood.

Little Red is off her head. Her nan’s in bed and the wolf’s not fed. With a pan of scouse and a loaf of bread, she’s off to the forest where the woodsman led. 

BroadwayWorld sat down with cast members Lindzi Germain And Lydia Rosa Morales Scully to find out more about this hilarious new show.

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Liverpool’s Royal Court are known for their hilarious takes on classic stories, including their latest production, Scouse Red Riding Hood. What can the audience expect?

Lindzi: The songs this year are amazing. I think this is the best year for songs. It’s good fun, we’re having a good laugh. I play Grandma and Lydia plays Red.

Lydia: Red’s best friend is Blue and they both go on an adventure - not to give anything away, but you go on that adventure with Blue and Red.

You’ve mentioned the songs and in past productions there’s been songs like "Spaceman" by Sam Ryder and recreations of iconic music videos including A-Ha's "Take On Me". Can you tease anything about the songs this year?

Lindzi: It’s going to be loads of fun. We’ve got songs by groups like The Temptations, a bit of Kate Bush, Elton John…

Lydia: A lot of that fun eighties music that everyone knows.

Lindzi: There’s a lot of soul.

Lydia: Even age wise, there’s songs that I’ve got and I’ve gone, ‘Oh I don’t think I know that’, but then it’s played and I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, I grew up on this kind of music.’ It’s something that everyone knows regardless of age.

Lindzi, I first saw you in the Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre production Scouse of the Antarctic. What keeps you coming back to star in the Christmas shows?

Lindzi: It’s the family thing of it. It’s Christmas and me and my husband, we adore Christmas. When the Royal Court started doing Scouse pantos, we did original ones like Scouse of the Antarctic and then traditional ones with a Royal Court spin on them. It’s the cast, the creative team, the production, all of it.

Lydia, how does it feel to be starring in your first ever Christmas production with the theatre?

Lydia: I worked with Lindzi in You’ll Never Walk Alone. That was during my second year of training. The panto at the Royal Court, it’s so iconic. The cast and creatives behind it, I’m so lucky to work with. Being able to work with the people that I am, I just think it’s amazing. It’s such a fun, open space where you can try different things. I’m so proud to be working somewhere I grew up in, a theatre that I always feel is a home away from home.

And speaking of the amazing cast, Scouse Red Riding Hood stars Andrew Schofield, Liam Tobin, Keddy Sutton, Emma-Grace Arends, Chantel Cole, Adam McCoy and yourselves.

Lindzi: It’s Adam’s second year with us now. He was with us last year [for Scouse Dick Whittington] and he was just amazing.

Lydia: It’s brilliant because there’s that family dynamic, even in rehearsals.

How are rehearsals going?

Lindzi: Good, we’re having a great time. We’ve got Beverley Norris-Edmunds back who is doing choreography again this year. She’s the original choreographer of the Christmas shows and obviously she’s been in the West End, but this year we managed to get her, which is great. Then we’ve got Ellie Light, who is our designer this year. It’s Ellie’s first Christmas show and it’s gorgeous - and I can’t wait for you to see it!

Lindzi, you’ve starred in the Liverpool’s Royal Court Christmas shows previously and Lydia, this is your first Christmas show at the theatre. Working together, do you feel like you’re learning from one another?

Lydia: It’s such a treat to be in the room and seeing the rehearsal process and being in the room with the people that I am. Watching them is like magic. It’s like they’ve got magic at their fingertips. It’s such a treat watching that and seeing how it comes to fruition. I think when it comes to learning about how to manage a stage, Lindzi - I always talk about her when I go into other productions or to any other creatives - the confidence she instilled in me in my first Royal Court production was immense. I’m so grateful.

Lindzi: That’s so lovely. Absolutely gorgeous. It goes the other way as well. We learn from them as well. Her voice is phenomenal. When I met Lydia, it was just the dream. She’s an amazing talent and I absolute adore you - and now we play Grandma and Granddaughter.

What do you think keeps audiences coming back for more at Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre?

Lindzi: This is one tradition that most families keep all the time. People come from all over - Canada, Australia. It’s a tradition and we have people who say, ‘I jump the bus into town, get off, go into the Royal Court and say I’ll have 20 tickets for the Christmas show,’ and that’s all my Christmas presents done. They let the family know, that’s the date and that’s when they all go out - and it’s lovely. It’s our tradition as well. I don’t know what I’d do without a Royal Court Christmas show.

Can you sum up the show in three words?

Lindzi: It’s fast, it’s fun and it’s festive.

Scouse Red Riding Hood is at Liverpool’s Royal Court until 18 January 2025.

Photo credit: Liverpool’s Royal Court

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