Dreamgirls at The Alexandra, Birmingham - Interview with Natalie Kassanga

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Posted 2022-12-02 by Andy Coleman ⇒ follow

Tue 06 Dec 2022 - Sat 31 Dec 2022

Natalie Kassanga is living the dream as she heads for Birmingham to star in Dreamgirls .

Following appearances in Motown: The Musical and Dear Evan Hansen in the West End, the talented musical theatre performer was offered the role of Deena Jones in the touring version of Dreamgirls, the story of three talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s embarking on a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business.

Then the pandemic arrived, and the beginning of the tour was put on hold until the end of 2021. Since then, it's been wowing audiences across the UK – and now it's set for a month-long residency at The Alexandra in Birmingham. Opening on December 6, 2022, it runs at The Alex till December 31.

It will be Natalie's first time on the Alexandra stage – but she has previously visited the theatre and sat in the audience to see another show.

"I was in Motown: The Musical, as Diana Ross, at the Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End, but I never experienced the show from an audience's point of view," she recalls. "When it went on tour I went to see it at The Alexandra with my mum. It was so lovely, and there were people in the touring version who had been in the West End production. The role of Diana Ross was played by Karis Anderson and she was phenomenal. I think that for anyone that plays Diana, it's a very special position to be in because you're not just playing a character, you're playing an icon who is still here to this day."

In Dreamgirls, Natalie is Deena Jones, the role taken in the 2006 movie by Beyoncé Knowles."Dreamgirls was a huge part of my childhood," says Natalie. "I remember when the film first came out, I instantly fell in love with it. Seeing the role of Deena, played by the iconic Beyoncé, really inspired me and introduced and grew my love for music, but not only just for music and wanting to be a performer but falling in love with that era, the Motown era."

Alongside Natalia in the musical trio The Dreams are Nicole Raquel Dennis and Paige Peddie, with Brandon Lee Sears as music star Jimmy Early. After 11 months on the road together, the Dreamgirls have bonded and are now something of a dream team.

Says Natalie: "Paige and I both love gospel music and we often share a dressing room, so before each show we play music to get us started, playing praises just to remind us to be blessed and to be grateful for the positions we are in. Nicole has introduced me to rock and pop music, artists like Alanis Morrisette. I wasn't always listening to that style of music, so it's nice to be introduced to a different sound."

Natalie, whose hometown is Milton Keynes, is looking forward to spending Christmas in Birmingham. "My mum, dad and little brother, Yanni, will be with me – it will be nice to spend Christmas in a completely different city from Milton Keynes. I plan to visit the Christmas markets, see the lights and check out whatever Birmingham has to offer."

When the Dreamgirls tour ends in Hull next February, Natalie plans to take a holiday ("I may take myself to The Maldives and have a little bit of a time out"), then consider her next role."My dream is to be on Broadway, and my dream role would be Nala in the Lion King. I made my West End debut as young Nala when I was 10-years-old and to have that full circle moment, and to be able to go back to where it all started, would be a dream come true."