Style meets Pirates of Penzance leading lady
All the costumes are fantastic and some are from the 1994 production with John English, Simon Gallagher and Toni Lamond and their names are still stitched into the garments which is so cool.
SOPHIE SALVESANI CATCHES UP WITH THE STYLE TEAM TO TALK COSTUMES, KISSES AND CHOREOGRAPHY AS SHE REHEARSES FOR THE ROLE OF MABEL IN THE EMPIRE THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF ESSGEE’S PIRATES OF PENZANCE.
I love my costume,” Sophie says. “It’s very true to the original style. “All the costumes are fantastic and some are from the 1994 production with John English, Simon Gallagher and Toni Lamond and their names are still stitched into the garments which is so cool.”
Having played Christine in Phantom of the Opera and Cosette in Les Miserables (with the Ipswich Musical Theatre Company) Sophie is used to cuddling up onstage.
“It’s always a bit awkward at first, but Alex – who plays Frederic – and I get along really well and he is really easy to work with.
“We both have partners so we are careful not to overstep the boundaries,” she says.
“The choreography is really clever and I love working with George Canham and Alison Valette.
“I’m not a professional dancer, but they are so upbeat and they make rehearsals a lot of fun. Director Terrence O’connell is also great to work with and he really encourages me to bring my own ideas into the role.”
As for working with Michael Cormack – Sophie is a bit smitten.
“I’m still getting over my girlish crush on him,” she laughs.
“He is so professional and always great to bounce ideas with.
“It’s good for us younger ones to see him go through the same struggles we all do and realise it’s normal.
“I am so lucky to be working with him, it’s just amazing.”
In addition to Pirates of Penzance, Sophie is squeezing a lot into 2018.
She’s a primary school teacher (graduating from USQ) as well as a recipient of a full scholarship with the Young Artists Program of the Pacific Opera in Sydney.
“I travel to Sydney for 10 days each month and have private tuition, attend master classes and workshops on things like staging and make-up.
“I’m performing with Shakespeare and Friends and doing some ensemble pieces too.”
Her primary school class recently asked her to sing something from the show and when she did, they thought she was tricking them and playing a CD of someone else singing.
“A lot of children just don’t get to experience opera and so the singing style was new to them,” she says.
YOU CAN MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN GET TO KNOW GOOD OPERETTAS AND THE FUN OF LIVE THEATRE BY TAKING THEM TO SEE ONE OF FIVE PERFORMANCES OF PIRATES OF PENZANCE AT THE EMPIRE THEATRE FROM MARCH 14 TO 17. TICKETS FOR ADULTS START AT $56 AND CHILDREN UNDER 18 ARE $30.