We chatted Ailsa about taking on the title role in the English language premiere of the musical Marie Curie at Charing Cross Theatre.
Hi Ailsa, how does it feel to be playing such a well known personality? It is exciting! I love the level of detail that is available for me to explore her. We aren’t presenting her in a wholly literal way so I feel freedom to approach Marie without the pressure of impersonating her.
What made you want to be part of the musical? The team really appealed to me. The fact that an almost entirely female creative team is telling a story about a prolific woman in our history felt so important. The prospect of working with our director, Sarah Meadows (RIDE the musical), was such a determining factor in me auditioning for the project.
How has it been working on the production so far? It’s been a process unlike any other so far. The show is hugely popular in Korea and Japan so staying true to the show whilst finding a way of telling the story that feels right for English speaking audiences means lots of workshopping during the rehearsal process. Ultimately, I think we are creating a piece that encompasses several elements of storytelling, that honours the original work, whilst being something new for western audiences.
What kind of research did you do to help you prepare for the character? I actually visited the Curie institute in Paris the week before I began rehearsals. Being in a place where she actually worked felt really profound and gives me a lot to reference back to. I also read quite a few books about her, my favourite being Marie Curie and her Daughters by Shelley Emling – the nuances in her relationships are so helpful.
What can audiences expect from the show musically? It has a very epic score, swooping and grand at times. There are points which feel really operatic and sometimes it sounds like it could almost be sung-through. Jongyoon Choi has written such a beautiful score and I know audiences will leave wanting to hear it over and over again.
What are you most looking forward to about performing the show for audiences? Performing new work is important and exciting. I am looking forward to bringing something new to London this summer and telling a complex story.
By Emma Clarendon
The production will run at the Charing Cross Theatre from the 1st June until the 28th July. To book tickets visit: https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/marie-curie