Fifty Saga Magazine readers joined the cast of High Society for an exclusive backstage tour and matinee performance at London’s Barbican Theatre. Helen George and Felicity Kendal mingled and posed for photos with the group, who were then treated to a sit-down interview with Freddie Fox and Julian Ovenden, who play Mike and Dexter in the musical.
For our inaugural reader theatre event, Saga’s editorial director Louise Robinson took questions from the audience, who asked the two performers about where their love of musicals started.
Slow Horses star Fox’s passion goes back to when he was five years old. “I was taken to Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre – it completely changed my life at that early age and I’ve always wanted to be in a musical,” he said.
“However, the fortune was never blessed on me. I’ve been doing straight plays and television for the better part of 16 or 17 years and have had my ‘almost’ moments of being in a musical and had it brutally taken away or not been able to do it.”
Although High Society is a great place to start, it’s not for the faint-hearted. “Musicals are tough and what Freddie’s doing for his first one is quite extraordinary,” said West End and Broadway star Ovendon. “It requires such rigour and discipline to come in and deliver it night after night.”
The joy of being in a cast that’s like family
The actors said the cast had become “like family” and praised their co-stars – and the musical itself – for keeping them young. “Look at Felicity, who’s more flexible than me,” said Ovenden. “One of the great joys of doing what we do is that it’s always different and that keeps you young.
"I don’t think of myself as the age I’m supposed to be because being an actor, you’re supposed to have access to childlike imagination and having fun and that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. Why would you want to grow up and be serious? You can hear the smile on stage.” There was plenty of agreement from the audience.
“Nothing prepares you for it,” says Fox. “You’re stretching every day and doing a full workout. It’s difficult and you can ruin an ankle in a second. I do a warm-up for 40 minutes a day.”
Watch the video to find out more backstage secrets from the show – and discover whether the actors prefer TV, films or theatre.
- “It fizzes like the finest champagne” – read our theatre critic's High Society review.
Buy tickets to High Society
High Society is at the Barbican Theatre in London until Saturday 11 July and then goes on a 20-week tour of the UK and Ireland.
Saga Magazine has teamed up with London Theatre Direct to offer you tickets at the best prices and with savings of up to 60%.
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