Natalie Casey, best known for her roles on Hollyoaks and the BBC favourite Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, is treading the boards at the Crucible this Christmas as Cabaret Queen Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.
What are you most excited about for Guys and Dolls?
I’m most excited about the opportunity to work with such a diverse company and with a leading man who, until very recently, wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play this role. I’m also excited for working on the Crucible Stage – that’s a massive deal for me. My sister [Anna Jane Casey] has been here a lot and always says how it’s the most magical and amazing place in the world. I am excited, and slightly annoyed, about the fact that I’m not in any of the massive numbers, but it means I can sneak in to watch them!
Can you tell us how your character plays in to the story?
Miss Adelaide is a cabaret performer in the club the characters frequent throughout the story. She loves to perform and is very much in love with her partner, Nathan Detroit, and wants to marry him. What’s fascinating about her is that when you watch or read old musicals, women tend to be described in derogatory terms and are always the butt of the men’s jokes. Guys and Dolls is really refreshing because Nathan loves her more than anything in the world, and whenever the other guys try to cajole him into slagging her off, he never does.
Miss Adelaide holds down her own job, she doesn’t need anyone to buy her anything – she just cracks on and I think the fact she wants to be married so much isn’t to do with being ‘tied down’ or looked after, it’s just because she’s in love. I think that’s very nice.
How are you finding Sheffield?
I’ve visited Sheffield a few times, my first boyfriend went to Sheffield Hallam so I used to come and see him, back in the day. It’s one of the friendliest cities I have ever been in. I love and am amazed that within 24 hours I knew the lady who runs the local café, the woman behind the counter in Patisserie Valerie (I’m obsessed with cake), and all the staff at John Lewis – people volunteer their information and it’s a beautiful thing.
Coming from London to be here was nerve-wracking and I was worried about making any friends, but my worry has been totally decimated within 5 minutes. People in Sheffield will do anything they can to help you, and it’s a totally magical place – and it’s very rare I say that.
“I’m also excited for working on the Crucible Stage – that’s a massive deal for me. My sister [Anna Jane Casey] has been here a lot and always says how it’s the most magical and amazing place in the world.”
I love Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat – I’m not in it, but it’s fantastic. I really love the musical numbers that I’m in and get to be alongside the female ensemble dancers – they are amazing: Emily, Sam, Kate, Charlotte, Tash, Fran – they’re absolutely sick and so supportive… and fantastic at what they do!
Why should audiences come and see Guys and Dolls?
We’re living in a time of fear and creeping dystopia, and the only way to counteract that is through joy and love and fun. I don’t mean that in a hippy ‘get your patchouli’ kind of way, but the only chance to change the encroaching tide of awfulness is to give out and receive joy. People need that at Christmas, and they’ll get that in abundance with Guys and Dolls.
Guys and Dolls is in the Crucible from Saturday 7 December – Saturday 18 January. Tickets are on sale now and available at the Box Office, on 0114 249 6000 or online at https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/guys-and-dolls
