Arts editor Alison Battisby speaks to former Eastender Jessie Wallace about starring in The Vagina Monologues.
What made you decide to star in The Vagina Monologues?
Well I’ve done the play twice before and really enjoyed it, but this time I jumped at the chance to star at the Hackney Empire. Eve Ensler, the author, wrote the play about ten years ago after interviewing people from all over the world and they are performed as monologues. I read one in American, one in a Bronx accent, and one in cockney. It’s such a great play to do, some of it is really serious and poignant, and other bits are hilarious so it’s a real mixture.
What part of the play do you enjoy the most?
I really enjoy the scene where I get the audience chanting ****, just for the sheer shock factor and I do it in a tongue in cheek way. I have never seen anybody leave the show, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did.
Are you excited to come to Hackney?
Well, I live in Essex so it’s not that far, and all my family are from the East End, so I wanted to perform somewhere where they could all come and see me. I will be making my friends and family come to see the show.
Do you get on well with the other cast members?
I haven’t met Jocelyn (Jee Esien) yet as we haven’t had rehearsals, but I have starred in the play with Sharon (D Clarke) before, and had such a laugh. The play is great bonding session for women so I’m sure we’ll all get on great.
Do you prefer acting on television to in theatre?
Oh it’s definitely theatre that I love doing. I prefer doing it because I love that buzz that you get from performing in front of a live audience. I didn’t like the tabloid media that went along with doing television, I don’t miss it. It is so much classier to do theatre as well, and I find it so enjoyable going to work every evening.
Jessie Wallace will be starring alongside Sharon D Clarke and Jocelyn Jee Esien in The Vagina Monologues at the Hackney Empire from 2 April to 4 April.
Price: £17.50 – £19.50. Concessions available.
[…] is coming to the Empire at the beginning of April, and will star ex-Eastender Jessie Wallace. See my 60 second interview with her this week about coming back to Hackney to star in front of her family, and why she loves […]
[…] ‘How could I top that?’ was the question running through my mind. After a brief visit to the Hackney Empire website, I discovered Eastenders favourite Kat Slater aka Jessie Wallace is to appear in The Vagina Monologues in April. It was suprisingly easy to get in touch with her, via her agent, and she was really enthusiastic about her visit to Hackney in the coming weeks. The interview below is taken from the Hackney Post website. […]