BWW Interviews: Anna-Jane Casey Talks Solo Show - and Sororal Collaboration With Strallen Sisters!

Hi AJ - thanks for talking to us. You've just finished Jerry's Girls at St James's Theatre, you've been announced as Lottie in the forthcoming production of Mack and Mabel at Chichester - but in the intervening time you have loads going on!

I do - I have my own solo show at Cadogan Hall, which I've never done before. I've done cabaret and concerts, but doing a proper two hours on the life of Anna-Jane Casey, without my potty mouth coming out...Paul Foster is helping me direct and he says that every time I swear he'll make me put money in a swear box. You can't have that at Cadogan Hall. So I'll talk about shows I've done, my life, how I've got here, I never went to college, I'll be dancing as well, and there'll be a singalong at the end! Joe Stilgoe is my guest, and I'm honoured that he's agreed to do it.

My sister [Natalie Casey] and I are doing a show with the Strallens, and it's easy for us to write things that are funny, but to actually put together a show, you have to think about it. The solo show that I thought was amazing was Chita Rivera's - so perhaps I can try to be the North's answer to Chita?

So your show with your sister and the Strallens, then...

Summer came to me about three weeks ago and suggested a double act. I thought that sounded a bit rude - but then she said, "No, the Strallens and the Caseys," and I thought that sounded HILARIOUS. I love the Strallens. They're really willing to take the mick out of themselves; even though they're West End royalty, they don't take themselves too seriously. So there'll be me, Natalie, Summer and Zizi - we'll be tapping in Scarlett and Sasi.

The show is called 'Unwrapped' - we want to show a side of us that you may not know. Natalie said to me the other night, "People just know me as the woman who farts and says 'bums' on Two Pints [of Lager and a Packet of Crisps]." There's no point in Summer and Zizi just coming on and shouldering their legs for half an hour, and Natalie and I doing Northern comedy - we've got some group numbers, we've got some solos, some guests, video links...it'll be an interesting, camp, funny evening at Leicester Square Theatre.

Hang on - these shows are both next month!

They are! When the Easter holidays start. The kids will be playing upstairs while I write my show.

So when do you start rehearsals at Chichester for Mack and Mabel?

The first of June, so I have some time off in May, although I have some concerts with the John Wilson Orchestra as well and RTE over in Dublin - but June is when all of this stops and I concentrate on one show!

Anna-Jane Casey's solo show is at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 11 April.
The Casey sisters and the Strallen sisters: Unwrapped is at the Leicester Square Theatre on Sunday 19 April.

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