Interview: Caroline Sheen on CRAZY FOR YOU at the Watermill

Caroline Sheen is one of our busiest and most popular musical theatre actresses. She has an unbelievable string of credits to her name, including the title role in Mary Poppins, Fantine/Eponine in Les Miserables, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Jennifer in the Original Cast of The Witches of Eastwick. She is currently in rehearsals for Crazy For You where she is playing Polly alongside Tom Chambers as Bobby. BWW:UK catches up with Caroline to chat about her time so far at the Watermill.

This is your first time working at the beautiful Watermill Theatre. Are you looking forward to it?

I really am! I'm currently answering these questions sitting next to a crystal-clear river looking at the fish and the ducks - it is an astonishing place for a theatre. Every time I've seen something here its been a beautiful experience. I'm thrilled to be ticking the Watermill off my bucket list.

How are rehearsals going so far?

I've never done an actor-musician show before so I'm mainly sitting open-mouthed at the talent and tenacity of the cast. They are singing, dancing and playing instruments brilliantly ALL AT THE SAME TIME! It's wonderful. Most of them are playing far more than one instrument too. I'm amazed every day!

Are you enjoying working alongside Tom Chambers?

Tom and I were at college together but in different years. I always remember a dance he did in the choreography competition, which he won, of course. He danced with a dummy stuck to his feet. And he made that dummy look fabulous - so I'm hoping he will do the same for me! He's a lot of fun to work with and he's just so perfect for this part. It's like it was written just for him.

You get to perform some of the most well-known songs in musical theatre, including 'I've Got Rhythm' and 'Someone To Watch Over Me'. Do you have a favourite number in the show?

At the moment it's 'Embraceable You', but it changes every day. The score to this show is so wonderful and I've grown up listening to the cast recording (it's going to be really hard to get Ruthie out of my head!).

You have a CV that any aspiring musical theatre actress would be envious of. Was the character of Polly on your 'wish list'?

I saw the Original London Cast about three times, which is a lot for a girl coming up to London from Wales. I loved it and listened to the recording all the time. But Polly wasn't on my list - but not because I don't want to play her, but just because it's not a role I ever thought I would have a chance of getting. So I am over the moon to be playing her. She's a great character - a lot of fun and with such heart.

Is your young daughter Flora showing any signs of wanting to perform yet?

Well, at the moment if you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she'll say she wants to be big enough to go on a carousel on her own! If she wants to do this - she can. She'll have a very realistic take on how tough this industry can be as Mike (Jibson) and I are both actors and in and out of work, so maybe that will put her off and she'll be a lawyer or something!

Your album Raise The Curtain was released in 2010 to critical acclaim. Are there any plans to record another album?

Not yet, I've got to finish selling all the copies of this one first! I am in the studio a lot at the moment though, recording Before/After with Hadley Fraser. It's a show we workshopped a couple of years ago by Stuart Matthew Price and Timothy Knapman. It's a lovely piece so I'm glad we're having the chance to get it recorded so people can hear it. It's on the SimG label, which my album is on too. Simon Grieff is such a fab person helping to get music and new musicals out there.

Crazy For You runs at the Watermill in Newbury from 28 July to 17 September 2016. Tickets can be purchased from www.watermill.org.uk

Photo credit: Philip Tull

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