Keeeeeep trumping!
Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton explains why she’s perfect for the role of Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical
WERE you a fan of the original Shrek movie?
I just loved it! And then I went to see the musical on one of the previous tours and loved that.
What was the audition like?
I wanted it so much that I went into the audition and I didn’t let anybody speak! I sat at the table and said, ‘Without sounding too full of myself, I am a world champion ballroom dancer, meaning long dresses with feathers, looking all elegant like a princess. But here’s the thing: I’m from Grimsby, and I find trumping really funny. This is why I relate to Princess Fiona’.
Where were you when you found out you’d got the part?
I have my own segment on BBC Two’s It Takes Two, which is a spinoff of Strictly. I was getting my makeup done and the email came through, and I was like, ‘Wow!’. But I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone because it was all under wraps.
How did you research the role of Princess Fiona?
I watched the film agai, I listened to Sutton Foster (my idol who played Princess Fiona on Broadway) on the soundtrack and watched clips of different actors doing the role on stage. But then I stopped doing that so I was able to create my own take on it.
What’s it like being transformed into an ogre in the show?
I’ve had to cut my nails short because my long ones won’t work for the quick change into my ogre suit.
People who know you from Strictly may not realise that you’re also an accomplished musical theatre actor – how do the two disciplines compare?
What I love about the musical theatre world, which is different
from my dancing world, is that nobody is bigger than the show. Coming away from the stress and the pressure of competing in the ballroom world is so refreshing for me. It’s teamwork in a musical: we’ve all got our separate roles, and of course we want the lead ones, but even if you’re not a lead, you’re just as important because the show is the main goal.
What do you do to relax when touring?
I love escape rooms so I’m going to get a Shrek team together and get T-shirts made. I want us to get on the leader board at escape rooms in every place on the tour.
Shrek The Musical is at The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, from April 9 to 14.