WHAT’S IT ALL
ABOUT, KYRA?
The smash-hit musical Cilla is on its way to
Darlington Hippodrome later this month, we catch up with actor Kara Lily Hayworth who talks to us about
playing a British entertainment icon.
What can you tell us about Cilla The Musical?
In
essence, it’s a beautiful love story. It follows Cilla Black’s rise to fame,
but underneath it’s about her relationship with Bobby and their journey. You
watch how they progress and how Cilla becoming a star affects their relationship.
The audiences love all the music. All of Cilla’s hits are in there – Anyone Who
Had A Heart, You’re My World, Alfie, Step Inside Love – but there’s also early
Beatles songs as well, Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Mamas & The Papas. But
it’s not a jukebox musical. It’s a play with truly fantastic songs woven into
it.
What’s it like playing Cilla Black?
She’s
an absolute icon. I sing 18 songs in the show, so it’s tough vocally, but I
feel incredibly lucky to be able to play her. When people come to stage door
and share their memories of her, it reminds me how special it is and how much
it means for me to portray someone who had such an influence on their lives.
Is it challenging playing someone who is so
well-known and cherished?
The
hardest thing to get across is that magic she had that made audiences fall in
love with her. That’s what she was so good at; whatever she was doing, people
just fell in love with her. That’s the hardest thing.
The
trick is trying to capture her essence. I’m not doing an impersonation, but
I’ve adopted certain mannerisms. It’s my own take on it. Hopefully I’ve
included little things that remind people of her without mimicking her.
You premiered the show in Liverpool, Cilla’s
home town. How was that?
It
was incredible. I was extremely nervous playing a Liverpudlian icon in
Liverpool. I didn’t know if they’d like the show or if they’d like me. I sing
Anyone Who Had A Heart, her first number one hit, at the end of the first act.
At that point, everyone stood up and everything just stopped. That was an
extraordinary moment that I won’t forget. It’s always a real high point in the
show. It’s the first time the audience sees her really become a star.
How do you find touring with the show?
Touring’s
great. Going to a different theatre every week with different audiences keeps
the show fresh. This is the first time I’ve toured a production for this long,
so it’s been a new experience. But it’s lovely because you become a real family
with the cast.
Is there anywhere you’re particularly looking
forward to taking the tour?
We’re
going to New Brighton. That will be a really good one, because that’s the
closest we’ll have been to Cilla’s home since we opened at the Liverpool
Empire. And we’re going to Bromley, which is the closest theatre to London, so
I’ll have lots of family and friends coming to those dates.
Did you ever meet Cilla?
I
did, when I was about 10. I played Annie opposite Paul O’Grady and he was one
of Cilla’s friends. I met her in a clothes shop and told her that I’d worked
with Paul and I was going to be a performer when I was older. She told me it
was a tough industry. I’ve still got her autograph at home in a frame.
She
was right, of course. It’s mad how things can change so quickly. A year or two
ago, I struggled to even get auditions. I left drama school in 2010 and didn’t
get any parts for two or three years. I signed with a different acting agent
and everything changed.
It
was my agent who thought I’d be good for this role, but I didn’t think I’d have
a chance at open auditions. A friend of mine was going, so we went together to
just see what might happen. It just goes to show, you have to believe that
things happen for a reason. The jobs you don’t get mean you’re available for
the perfect role that comes along next. Like this.
Cilla The Musical runs at Darlington
Hippodrome from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 November.
For
more information or to book call 01325 405405 or visit
www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
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