It was really tough not being able to do what I love doing
West End star Kerry Ellis talks to MARION McMULLEN about lockdowns, and her lifelong love of Queen
You’ve been touring the country with award-winning musical Anything Goes and will shortly be belting out the hits with tribute act Queen Machine on their Symphonic Tour. What has it been like performing live again?
Anything Goes is such a beautiful show and I think it was what everyone needed right now.
Everyone is smiling and tapping along to the songs and giving us standing ovations at the end ... and I’m doing the Queen Machine Symphonic Tour next month.
[Laughs] It’s chaotic for me, but so brilliant that people have been waiting for this.
I remember the very start of the pandemic. They always say the show must go on, but everything closed down. It was a shock because at that time we never, ever closed theatres.
It just didn’t happen and suddenly everything was closed. It was devastating for the theatres, the actors and the backstage crews.
It’s been a long wait, but it feels like now everybody is ready to go and see shows again.
The audiences we have for Anything Goes are so brilliant and it’s wonderful to see people’s faces again and to see them enjoying the performances together.
It’s escapism and people need that. It’s liberating.
Did you enjoy performing the title number from the Cole Porter show at this year’s Olivier Awards?
That was amazing. The show was nominated I think for about nine awards and Kathleen Marshall won Best Theatre Choreographer.
It was great to perform at the Royal Albert Hall and it gave everyone a chance to see a little bit of the show.
[Laughs] I did lots of running to get in shape to play the role of Reno Sweeney. It’s a very energetic show with all the dance numbers and just great to perform.
How did you manage during the lockdowns?
I kept myself busy. I wrote a book [Kerry Ellis: From Bumpkin To Broadway with a foreword by Queen’s Brian May], which is doing well and I had a podcast called Keep Calm And Kerry On.
We thought we would do one season and are now on season five.
All that kept me going and I also did online concerts, which were interesting.
I was with my family and I was lucky to spend time with my sons.
I normally have so much going on it was really lovely to be at home. [Laughs] But let’s just say I’m not going to give up the day job.
It was really tough not being able to do what I love doing.
It’s such a huge part of my life and I love every moment of performing. It’s just wonderful.
Your stage roles have included everything from Cats to Wicked and you created the role of Meat in Queen musical We Will Rock You. Do you enjoy working with Brian May?
Brian has been a friend for 20 years and is part of my life. He’s always so supportive and I’m so grateful.
We have recorded and performed together. I love singing Queen songs like Somebody To Love and I can’t wait to perform them now with Scandinavian tribute stars Queen Machine.
There’s a reason these songs are still around. They are classics and they never go out of fashion.
I remember we did a trial of the show just before the pandemic and people went crazy for it.
It has all the elements on stage with the music, the orchestra, the rock anthems.
Queen Machine tour all over Europe and the show is a real celebration of Queen’s music.
What was your own introduction to Queen’s music?
I remember my dad playing the records all the time around the house and I grew up listening to Queen – now my kids listen to them and love them as well.
The tour includes the London Symphonic
Rock Orchestra and I love switching from musicals to rock. I’ve been so ready to get back on stage. I’ve also been recording new music of my own.
It’s very exciting, a new sound for me, and I’m very proud of it.
What ignited your own love of theatre?
One of the big ones for me was Les Misérables. I was taken to London by my parents one birthday to watch the show.
I was sat at the back of the stalls and I remember everything about it so vividly – the actors and the songs. I’ve never forgotten it.
I grew up listening to everything from rock songs to musicals. I would be up jumping about as soon as a record came on.
I’d be dancing and singing. I’ve never stopped since.
The Queen Machine Symphonic Tour runs from September 14. Visit myticket.co.uk/artists/queenmachine-symphonic for ticket details. Further information available from kerryellis.com