Musical Lyrical Lingo
We're Musical Lyrical Lingo!
Join Tim and Lj who delve deep into the wonderful world of musical theatre and more importantly the lessons they have learned from different musicals.
Join them as they explore some of the greatest musicals ever created, from the classics to the new and exciting shows that continue to teach us something new.
So whether you're a seasoned fan of the stage or a newcomer, this podcast is for you.
So sit back, relax and get ready to immerse yourself in the world of musical theatre.
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Musical Lyrical Lingo
Theatre, Motherhood, and Taking the Stage. Molly Logan
What happens when childhood theatre dreams become professional reality? In this heartfelt conversation with actress Molly Logan (formerly Jennifer), we explore the winding path from Saturday stage school to Shakespeare's Globe and beyond.
Molly shares how her journey began at McMasters in Northern Ireland, where shy young Jennifer found her voice performing in nursing homes and community shows. Those formative experiences built more than performance skills – they created lifelong friendships and essential life capabilities that transfer far beyond the stage. As she puts it, "I feel like you just go in and go, take me as I am... be you, you know? You're enough."
The road to professional training wasn't easy, requiring three attempts to enter RADA, multiple jobs to fund auditions, and eventually changing her name professionally. At drama school, Molly discovered her dyspraxia diagnosis, finally explaining why dance had always been challenging. Rather than limiting her, this self-awareness allowed her to adapt and flourish, leading to acclaimed performances at prestigious venues including Shakespeare's Globe.
Perhaps most compelling is Molly's candid discussion of balancing motherhood with acting. From discovering pregnancy during rehearsals to performing while pregnant and navigating childcare during productions, she reveals how supportive employers, understanding directors, and a strong personal network make her dual roles possible. Her experiences highlight how the theatre industry is evolving to accommodate parents, with theatres like the Globe allowing children in rehearsals and productions adapting to performers' needs.
Looking ahead, Molly shares her dreams of television work and writing her parents' love story for the stage or screen – a Northern Irish narrative focused on love rather than conflict. Her infectious enthusiasm for theatre permeates every story, from childhood memories of forgotten dancing shoes to professional triumphs at London's historic venues.
Have you found your creative community? Subscribe to Musical Lyrical Lingo as we continue exploring how musicals and theatre shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
https://musical-lyrical-lingo.teemill.com/
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Hello and welcome to Musical Lyrical Lingo. We're your hosts, tim and LJ.
Speaker 2:Today and every week we will be discussing musicals, but specifically what they taught us.
Speaker 1:And today we're doing it with someone very, very, very special to us both. So close to our hearts, like literally warms our hearts with every look at her lovely face and I haven't seen your lovely face in so long, so it's really lovely to see it, I know Today here we're joined by. Do you want to introduce?
Speaker 2:yourself. Go on here. We're joined by. You're already famous for us Drumroll.
Speaker 3:Drumroll please. No, it's Hi. I'm Molly Molly Logan, also known as Jennifer Logan to you guys way back in the day, um, but yeah, I unfortunately had to change my name. But yeah, no, well, it's good, it's nice good and obviously you're now.
Speaker 1:You have a better half now as well. I take it you're keeping your Molly Logan like that's still your.
Speaker 3:Your, that's just some stage name darling, that's my stage name and then the child's got the name I. Just. I also look like I love myself when I like people that know me as Molly. I'm like oh, this is my kid Molly, I love that she's the real. Molly from birth. You know so yeah, but yeah. So Molly Logan, molly Logan is here.
Speaker 2:Irish ring.
Speaker 3:I think like a wee bit of an Irish rather than Jennifer.
Speaker 2:I love it, though I do admit I find it hard to like just refer to you as Molly, so I do. Jennifer slash Molly.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But I love that you've got like a stage name.
Speaker 3:It's like I know, yeah, it happened at the end of second year of drama school. I was at. Yeah, there was a Jenny Loganny logan and you're not allowed and she was famous. I think nate perry knows her, I think she's. Yeah, I think she's. She was an older sort of lady at the time he's working back 2012 and, uh, she was famous for the shaken back ads and I think, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think she's a good thing for herself, so neighbour herself. So, yeah, there you go. Molly, that was my middle name and my mum's name, so it's a nice little remembrance to carry it on my dad was delighted at the time.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, when I used to ring him he'd be like hello Molly.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's so cute the perfect stage name for you. We have literally wanted you on our podcast since the beginning, and you have been a very busy girl over the last couple of years, so it's.
Speaker 3:Personal life and yeah, yeah, yeah, it's always happened. Really, since COVID it's all kicked off Got married, had two babies and I've been lucky enough to Actually the past couple of years have been two babies and I've been lucky enough to actually the past couple years have been the busiest I've been, so it's been really. I've been very, very blessed and um in London and Northern Ireland and Dublin.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I've been busy.
Speaker 3:Thank god, it's because it's because you know yourselves it's. It's a precarious business and I don't know whether I would put my two daughters on the stage. You know that, mrs Worthington song. I don't know, because it is precarious and you know. But yeah, I would make sure they get their education, as my own dad said, and then go and do whatever you want. But yeah, it's ups and downs, feast or famine, but I've been lucky, yeah. Yeah, since theatre got back after COVID, I've been very lucky, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's hard for actors at the minute.
Speaker 3:What did you say? Sorry, it's quite hard for actors at the minute. I think, especially in theatre there's a lot of like in straight theatre as opposed to musical. There's a lot of famous faces being seen a lot and it's harder for you know, not so famous people to try and get the job. You know, but that's the way it is at the minute and you know it'll change, like everything yeah, yeah, but apart from anything, you are one of our bestest buds.
Speaker 1:I know honestly, and we've grown up together are one of our bestest buds. I know honestly, and we've grown up together. I actually worry about what stories might come out of it. There's children in the house here any embarrassing stories you might have about us, I'm sure we'll have plenty up your sleeve. Plenty about you, missus. I'm a. We'll have. You have plenty up your sleeve. Plenty of IG, misses. I'm a married tame woman now.
Speaker 2:Tame Aye. So let's do that, let's go back to the very beginning. So how were you introduced to theatre, musical theatre, all of that jazz?
Speaker 3:It was like my mum and dad both had a love for music, Like a lot of like not music. My mum loved musical theatre too. Yeah, she listened to a lot of, also records and stuff, you know, when she was not very well herself in her home before she met my dad, and music was therapy. So I guess we grew up in music and it's very important for me for my girls to listen to music constantly. And then my older brother, Christopher I shouldn't say older, God, he's just slightly older.
Speaker 1:I don't like that.
Speaker 3:He got in. It was a little ad my dad always remembers in the Spectator, the local banger paper and it was McMaster's looking for boys, and Christopher had done speech and drama, and then he obviously loved musicals and Dar's Day and all the old school musicals he grew up on. We both did uh, oklahoma, calamity, jane and uh. So they brought him down to Hamilton House it would have been and then he loved it and then I started to come and sit under the table with Sharon and just watch and then I was very shy. So that was the reason.
Speaker 3:Then I was pushed into it, and that's not pushed into it, but I was sort of encouraged yeah, to come out of my shell, um, and it was such a like I used to love the shows that we did with mcmasters and going to the nursing homes because the adrenaline I would have got after it for being so shy and quiet, um, and the friendships you know every saturday were guaranteed to have a bit of fun and have a laugh. But the adrenaline you get and the, the making people laugh also was like oh, oh, it's like a lovely feeling inside and then you want to do it again and again and again and sort of them. Also, I know as a mom, me and my husband talk about it a lot like sport and drama and dancing is so important for children in that you know where they are every Saturday all day and then if they go to rehearsals, you know where they are. They're not hanging about and they're, um, they're making true friendships forever and and burning off energy and yeah, all those sort of things like and getting confidence.
Speaker 1:That's so important, yeah and we've said it time and time again on this podcast like there was weeks and weeks that would have gone by where, every night of the evening, something, yeah, yeah, something, like we were constantly in each other's back pockets you know, or that, or you know, and I think that is a massive. That's why we've all grown up to be such well-rounded people.
Speaker 2:But it is true that we've learned so many life skills and we're so adaptable Like I have absolutely no problem. Somebody throws something at me and says could you do this? I 100% go give me a minute, like I'll give it and that's from covering somebody because they were sick, you know, and you're having to sing their song or improvising on stage.
Speaker 3:Someone hasn't come on stage and you're like all right, okay, I've got to do something here.
Speaker 2:Doing a presentation in front of your work colleagues. Well, that's okay, because you were starting, you know, doing drama in front and monologues and all of those things. It's amazing how much of that that we did on a Saturday is then in everyday life now as an adult, like I feel like you just go in and go.
Speaker 3:Do you know what? Take me as I am and as long as I've sort of thought about it beforehand, and just go in, don't you know? Be you, you know, yeah because you's enough yeah, absolutely, but it takes years and years for you. You know, I think it took me really only the last 10 years, when you know the more and more you do it, the more less cares you give. Do you know the less? Yeah, slightly, I don't know.
Speaker 1:What do you want to say?
Speaker 3:no, I'm joking, no, but you know what I mean. Yeah, you just have to throw yourself in. I think at drama school I was still that little bit tentative and if I could go back, I'd go back a bit older. It's so important. I think I now see why drama school wants you older. Yeah, you should be a little bit younger because you're dancing and you need to be, but there's never an age limit with drama school, I don't think you need to be, but you there's, never there's never an age limit with drama school.
Speaker 3:I don't think. Yeah, the more experience the better. I was too scared, I think. Still.
Speaker 1:I think now I would like, with a bit of life experience, I would just enjoy it more yeah yeah and was there a moment when you, you knew that it was more than just you know, stage school on a Saturday, you know, doing all these lovely wee performances, that you, your brain, then actually went? Oh, actually, I think I want to do this like. This is what I want to do, this is my life, is what I want to do as a career.
Speaker 3:I always want to do it, like I. There's a little clip when I'm younger saying I want to. Yes, I'd love to be on stage and sing and act and dance and all that and that's all great when you're nine or ten years of age but then I mean, I went through a phase, as Sharon would probably very fondly or I don't know, not fondly remember, that I sort of fell out of it a bit.
Speaker 3:But then that was just me dealing with huge life changes at 10 and then going through 12, 13, 14, changes at 10, and then going through 12, 13, 14 and not really knowing where I was fitting in, because you know, christopher, he had gone to drama school at that point and he was so incredibly talented and sometimes, you know, you're just going through teenage years. There was a point where I don't think it's for me and sort of took a step back yeah and then fell back in love with it again, of course, and how did that happen?
Speaker 1:Was it just because you did a show or you got?
Speaker 3:back into it. It was the encouragement of other people just saying you know.
Speaker 1:What are you doing? Why are you not?
Speaker 3:doing this, yeah, and then probably my dad and then my master, you know, sharon and Vivian, you know sort of going, what's going on, and then you sort of catch yourself on and then, and then I did go and see Christopher in drama school now and he was like I was going over the third year on my own flight I don't know about flying over at 15 and he would meet me at the airport or like Kirsty would meet me and sometimes, yeah, there was other lots of people would meet me and then take me into London. And then I thought it was class going on Oxford Street and Topshop, that massive Topshop. And then I thought it was class going down Oxford Street and Topshop, that massive Topshop. And then I'd go and see his third year shows and Christopher was like this ain't how the industry works. Do you know? This isn't what the streets aren't going to be payable.
Speaker 3:I was like I'm going to go to drama, I'm going to go to RADA, I'm going to do this. And then I realised it was tricky, do you know, especially for women as well. Do you know? It's slightly better with more female parts. But and then I thought I was going to do social work, I'd applied for university and got in and then also, I think, our shows that we did you know, down in Downpatrick yeah, downpatrick's World Society your dad bringing me like we went down and we did those shows great parts that's probably a moment where I fell in love again, probably massively in that yeah yeah, and I met great friends down there.
Speaker 3:They know Owen and Gareth and great, great pals, great memories. You know that's um, and that's when I was 17, 18, so I guess that's when I decided I thought I really got to take it seriously, but I don't think it was confident, or I was too, and I was too naive to get in straight away, and I'm glad that it took me three times to get in and at that point I was like I need, I need something to fall back on and I still want to go to.
Speaker 1:London so yeah, yeah, your experience of getting into drama school. What was in itself, you know? Yeah, full-on. Yeah for you. I had two jobs.
Speaker 3:Yeah, in order to pay for it as well, like it was. So, yeah, I don't even know what it's like now. I think the fee is like 100 quid or something to addition, but at the time it was 50 quid per drama school. So as the by the third year, I sort of of had to make a decision of which drama schools I was really really keen on.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And then flights and then recalls and going back. So I worked in Asda and Knight and Roberts School during the day. So yeah, and that was the last year getting in and I think that paid off massively and I had to do the groundwork.
Speaker 1:And you always had your eye on RADA. That's where you wanted to go. I think it's.
Speaker 3:Christopher went there, but then I also really wanted Guildhall because that was the only drama school that he didn't get into. I got a recall and he didn't, and so I was a little hard set. But during that recall of Guildhall I found out I got into RADA.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:So it was pretty good. So yeah, of Guildhall. I found out I got into RADA, okay, yeah, so it was pretty. It was pretty good, so yeah, and then I walked from where's Guildhall is like.
Speaker 1:East.
Speaker 3:London. Yeah, I walked from there right into Leicester Square, ringing everybody. I walked, I didn't even know, I wasn't even following signs, I just walked and ended up in Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, um, but yeah, so I did audition for musical theatre, I think the first or second year. Yeah, no, really good, it was Arts Ed. I thought, oh, I'll go for the one everyone raves about. Yeah, let's go for Arts Ed. Then it was very dancing, that was.
Speaker 2:That's one of my favorite memories of, uh, jennifer is obviously, when we were younger we were all sort of in the same like row and we were like that dance trip that I was talking about. We were always pushed to the front okay, front and as we got older, jennifer moved to the back, moved to the back, moved to the back because this was like nah, this part, this part, and then you put me and Natasha talking at the back and move to the back, move to the back because she was like, nah, this part, this part, and then it would be me and Natasha talking at the back and then Vivian up with the gorgeous long red nails trailing you back to the front.
Speaker 3:Natasha, I know, yeah, dancing. But then I found out because Radha were noticing there was something wrong, but they were like we're going to test you for a few different things. So I found out it was dyspraxic, which explains a hell of a lot of the damage.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:So we used to go one way and me going the other way and like clumsiness and concentration yeah, it's just, it wasn't yeah. So I think if I hadn't have danced since I was three yeah, because I can't have danced since I was three I wouldn't, because I can do it eventually. It just takes me a little bit longer, and now I know what way. Now I have to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. And all the choreographers I've met along the way because I've danced nearly, you always have someone with movement. They've been really lovely and understanding. But the dance audition for arts ed, oh my goodness, um. So the ballet bar was in the room and there was the panels and really early at charge, that alone. Everyone's stripping off beforehand, getting changed in front of each other. I'm just going into the toilet, going outside and then um, coming out and going oh my god.
Speaker 3:And then coming out and going, oh my god. And they were like right, everyone to the back and start doing triple pirouettes towards us. I swear to god if I could get up now and do it, but it was me just going, hopping, hop around, stopping, oh my god. And then, we go up to the front and the panel were like this, and I just do this to front and the panel were like this and I did this to them and then they were like again I said oh, here we go.
Speaker 3:I was clinging on to the ballet bar for my dear life going. This is humiliating, humiliating. So funny enough, I didn't even get to sing the song. I think it was the first one. So you got cut after the dance. I don't know why, but yeah, maybe if I had told them it was dyspraxic, the managers, you know.
Speaker 3:So yeah, in second year they noticed. Yeah, so yeah, but I just have to work a bit, that little bit harder and, and yeah, put my focus in different and yeah, make sure. Yeah, it's just. It also depends what time of day it is. I can't remember it was one one show, I think. The poor dance person comes in at four o'clock in the afternoon. I was like there's nothing gonna happen here even without everyone. That's hard work. If you've been in from nine, do you know? Yeah, but yeah, but no. Most shows I've had to dance and sing apart from one which was a like Agatha Christie.
Speaker 3:So there was nothing, it was just pure. And I didn't have to come on to the second half, so it was great. Did my turn make him laugh and then go home? That was great.
Speaker 2:And whenever you do see a play and there's a bit of movement in it, do you have Vivienne sort of on your shoulder, being like come on, Jennifer, pay attention.
Speaker 3:I do sometimes. You know, yeah, um, I said what would Vivian do? I said, oh, hair, yeah, I had it. I had to do a self-tape tap and I was like, oh, here, which I borrowed Gillian Donaldson's tap shoes for. Well enough, I didn't get that job either. Um, no, I'm very ruthless in what I choose to audition for. I'm like, no, no, I can't do that, there's no point wasting either time. So I'll kindly decline. But, yeah, funny, I was on tour with Grapes of Wrath when the news came through about Vivienne and I always remember just the feeling, and like that was one of my first serious parts as well.
Speaker 3:Grapes of Wrath isn't easy and like, um, like that was one of my first serious parts as well. So it was quite a group to wrath isn't easy. Like, um, it's very relevant of the of this time world that we're living in and at the time. So it's just, it was a heavy go, it was quite a heavy piece and a piece close to my heart and vivian passing through that will always be that sort of journey of of my career as well, changing a little bit, going into like more serious, taking seriously on. What would Vivian say? Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so and what were your three? Was it three years at RADA? You did. Three years yeah, and what was that time? Like, what was your training? Like, did you oh?
Speaker 3:it was great. Yeah, I know some people need it and some people don't, but I definitely needed it. I needed it for the confidence um just getting. Yeah, I get more confidence with myself and trusting myself and knowing that I'm good.
Speaker 3:Yeah, funny when I went, when I went to drama school because I thought, oh, my brother went here, maybe that's the reason I get in, but the teachers were so kind in that I was my own person and that's when I realized me and Christopher are so different. We may look alike but we're so different in in many ways. And that's when I started to like find myself and I always, always thought I would just do modern stuff. I didn't think it was clever enough. For it was like, you know, because we had a lot of clever people in my year and I felt I Irish people, I always feel, do put ourselves down. There was another Irish girl. We tend to like knock ourselves down and not be as confident, but Radha really helped me in that someone may be really, really clever, but then they may not have the instincts to get up and do a certain thing. You know, like they're too busy thinking. Of course, I don't, you know, do you know what I mean, but I loved it and my singing came on an awful lot.
Speaker 3:Yeah, my singing came on. I didn't. I wish now I've now my little girls, I would love them to have singing lessons. I never had that. You know, I got singing lessons every week. And then I got the Sondheim competition, which I couldn't believe myself and Taryn um Edgerton, who's done very well, but, um, I don't know if he won it, but the two of us were way out of our depth with musical theatre people. You know, it was a time where we're both smoking, we're both sitting outside going what are we doing here? And they were all like fabulous, you know, fabulous singers, and they're third.
Speaker 1:We were second year and they were all third year at musical theatre courses and then um and I thought if I did that, I can do anything so explain that competition to the listeners in case they don't know what this I'm 30 drama schools all over the country.
Speaker 3:I don't know um 35, maybe um and each drama school puts two people forward, boy and girl, and then you'll go to RAM, royal Academy of Music, to audition and then you sing a song, a song, and then, if you get through, then it's a competition. It was at the Queen's Theatre, where Les Mis was on at the time.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And we all competed. So the two of us got in me and Taryn couldn't believe it and I sang for the audition. I sang here's the Ladies who Lunch, you know? Yes, yeah, but then the lady who was hosting it, she died there, passed away last year.
Speaker 1:She was in the Bake Off musical musical. I know who you're talking about. She was hosting it.
Speaker 3:She wanted to sing that song. So I then had to pick a new song and I remember sitting in Bangor Library at the time, because we didn't have a computer trying to listen to the new songs. I had then sang Leave you from Follies. Unfortunately, because of my register I couldn't quite sing all the lovely songs. I'm like young, I was like playing old women, so I sang that and I can't remember the new song you had to sing. Then a new musical theatre, up and coming people, all right, okay, new writing. So yeah, and great talent in that. There was a girl there, sarah. She played there Glinda in the Tour of Wicked. She was in the competition.
Speaker 2:Sarah.
Speaker 3:Connor O'Connor. Yeah, she was in there. Yeah, lovely girl and a lovely other girl who's been done?
Speaker 1:quite a lot people have done well was it Hayden Gwynn you were talking about?
Speaker 3:yeah, so she hosted it. And then, um, I'll never forget because, as I said, my confidence was saying it was quite low, and, um, I was shaking like a leaf throughout it and all I could think of was my dad was out there. It was quite an achievement, so, but anyway, my legs were shaking, but I gave you a laugh beforehand because I wore this red dress. Now, it was from River Island, I can still see it. It was a size six, god almighty.
Speaker 3:Those were the days and I had ironed it the night before and I was hanging it on the tube in the way, and it was a Sunday morning, you see. So there was nobody tube in the way, and it was a Sunday morning, you see. So nobody on the tube had a bit of plastic over god help me. And, um, I tan my legs and everything. So we split at the back, but it should have only just come to the back of your knees. But when I went in this, you find me like, oh, I thought, right, I'll go in and put it on. It was a wee like off the shoulder number. And, uh, the split was not to the back of the knees, it was right up to the coccyx, so clearly as I'd worn that, probably on a night out previous. I had forgotten it had split and I was wearing a thong and I was like holy.
Speaker 3:Thankfully someone had a spare pair of tights black tights and the red flag from Les Mis, because that was the theatre we were doing it. There was red um thread and the dress. So, god love, there was an understudy girl. She was in the side, so what? So, what away my red dress. So it was like, and I put the black tights on just in case, because I had to get up on a stool for one of the songs.
Speaker 3:I swear and then there's a lovely picture of everyone for the opening number. I can't remember what the opening number was. Well, yeah, that was a choreo. We had god we had to go back to arts. Ed had pstd or pts like little. It was like only swaying and maybe doing a wee bit back. You know, step out anyway. And the picture of me I look like a nun.
Speaker 3:Everyone's in the town, the musical theatre, people look really sexy and then there's the wee nun in the black tights at the end. But yeah, I remember after that my legs were shaking like mad and I thought I said to my singing teacher afterwards I went if I can do that I can do anything, and we were in second year and that really helped. Yeah, I didn't like it was just an achievement to even get that, you know for because lots, yeah, your dad was probably the only person that believed in me to sing at the you know back home and they didn't believe, like you know me heart. But Radda really helped with you all right, radda really helped with confidence.
Speaker 2:He's laughing at me.
Speaker 1:He's quiet. Mark, is he going to come in and say hello?
Speaker 3:He's a way runner, but yeah so times at Radda. It was great. It's third year Radda always do a musical, so we's away running. But yeah so Times Out Rad. It was great. Third year Rad always do a musical, so we did a musical and then I signed with my agent, and what was he? It was one of Sondheim's. Even Sondheim, I think, was embarrassed about it. It was called Saturday Night. It wasn't a great one. Oh, it was one of his very early ones and, oh, dear, dear someone, did you hear that?
Speaker 1:Oh, is there someone?
Speaker 3:crying in the background there. Yeah, but Radha was great and a great friendship and had a good year, really nice and was Taron in that showcase in third year as well?
Speaker 1:then he was he played the main part.
Speaker 3:yeah, he actually got a lot of interest from that funny, I mean it's still.
Speaker 1:one of the biggest disappointments of my life is that I still haven't got to sing karaoke with Taron.
Speaker 3:I thought that was going to happen at the wedding. I think one did, he won't know.
Speaker 1:Oh, listen, did? We were all lined up, ready to go plenty of them with the GF partners.
Speaker 3:I'll just have to get married again, will I?
Speaker 1:yeah, if you could just renew your voice or something and just make sure he comes this time and he's not filming.
Speaker 3:I'd make sure he's not filming on a well form. But he was really kind because, for my dad's idiot, he bought us tickets to Hugh Jackman and then that was one of the best nights. That was an amazing show. Oh my god. Sing act, dance. That man is just amazing. Definitely worth if he comes again. Yeah, go, so, yeah. So drama and then left and then it took me about near 10 months to get a job.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I was gonna say, so what was nice?
Speaker 3:about it all. He was like you know, molly, um, you're a character actor and this, what is it? I need to get it right. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon, so you just got to take, or it's just, you know, and you're going to have a longer career being a character actor, but it might just not happen straight away.
Speaker 3:So I did a 24-hour plays for the old Vic, which I met lots of great people and they've all gone on. Writers, directors, they've all gone on. Writers directors, they've all done. We were the last lot to do that under he, who shall not be named, while he was running that theatre, but that was the last batch and that was amazing. And then Christopher got offered the Globe Shakespeare's Globe for Midsummer Night's Dream, and then I auditioned for it and got one of the fairies and blue stockings. So I spent my first job with Christopher and Josh, my best friend from RADA, and it was the best. Six months. It was great in the globe six months, I know, and there was a bit of dancing in that. Yeah, it was grand. We got through it in six months.
Speaker 1:But, like Jennifer, when we look at your, when we look at your CV, like you have done so much Shakespeare and so much in the Globe.
Speaker 3:I know actually because I was saying that when I went to Rad I thought, oh, I'll just do modern stuff, like I'm not clever. I'm, like you know Christopher's much more well-read when he was used to growing up I did the old thing, but funny enough. Yeah, I think I want to say Dominic Drumgoole, who ran the Globe at the time, and he offered me a year later Puck for the. It was the same production was going but a few people weren't doing it and he offered me Puck and I couldn't believe it. And then after that he sort of propelled, he started my career. I believe, dominic, you know I, you know, I know him an awful lot. And then the Globe are very loyal and get you back and back and back and that's sort of what's happened. And then, after having the baby the first time with Molly, you sort of worry as an actress.
Speaker 3:There's a lot of talk at the minute as well about theatres need to be more accommodating for mothers with family, and RSC were great there. They did Job Share two mums where one was pregnant and then she went off and another mum came in. There's a few of the West End places are great, but the Globe were great in that. Michelle Terry, then, who runs it? I've known her from I was 10, from Christopher through National Youth Theatre. Harry, then he runs it. Uh, I've known her from I was 10, from christopher through national youth theater.
Speaker 3:He offered me then the fairytree and molly was allowed into rehearsals and it was great and um, that started that and then from that then I got offered midsummer night's dream that summer 2023 molly was allowed into rehearsals. The molly was small enough. Then it was great, she was only one. So you know, now I'd have to really really consider the job. It'd have to be really really worth my while to move house, and you know what I mean this. Essentially it was handy. Also handy that mark's a teacher. He gets three to the republic of ireland, get three months off secondary school, so that works out for him you know, and then I'm going back to do dancing at Luna's.
Speaker 3:So, yeah, I found out I was pregnant during Dancing at Luna's, the last year I was at all. It was in the last week of rehearsals and I was feeling, you know, you feel different and I was like, oh gosh right. I'm able to do a test, and I couldn't believe it. I have waited years to work in Ireland in the public apartment because I couldn't get my foot through the door there either, and I happened to work with the director at the Globe in Taming of the.
Speaker 3:Shrew and a great part, and I thought I've jeopardised this because I'm like you know it's a worry again, you know like it shouldn't be that way in our industry. But you just worry that you know I can be replaced tomorrow by someone that can do the job maybe better, and because the character was meant to smoke, there was a lot of physicality and they were absolutely fine. The smoking was cut. We just had to work because it was there's jokes about the cigarettes, so we just had to cut it. And the choreographer, your woman we didn't actually know at that time when we were pregnant. Your woman, Jean Butler, came over from America.
Speaker 3:The river dance lady to dance and then the woman who was the movement. She just adapted it with my pregnancy because she said you need to think about. This is a three month run. It won't be out of your first try you need to think about.
Speaker 3:This is a three-month run. You know, yeah, it will be out of your first try. You need to think about it when you're 10 weeks. So, yeah, and I got through it. I was really proud of it, it was the proudest job but a great part. And then I got myself an agent from it down south.
Speaker 3:So I share my agent in London and in Dublin and got through the first trimester and and got through the first trimester and then I did the Christmas show and then we're going back with Dancilunasa and I can, yeah, the baby's it's mad to think like, yeah, yeah, doing the show again and it's only a four-week run, two-week rehearsal, four-week run, and then we'll see what it is after that Moving house, then after that we're moving down further, down to Wicklow, right, okay, oh, wow, okay, are you?
Speaker 3:looking forward to returning to the show now that circumstances are different oh gosh, I'm really looking forward the physicality of it all be able to like really throw myself into it. I can do the smoking now, because the joke was just weird, because some people were like, why did Maggie not smoke? And I didn't want to tell people because I was like people are going to come to this show and just watch me being pregnant. So I didn't tell people until after the show because they were just going to watch me being pregnant, playing that. You know what I mean. But then people didn't notice me, gosh, we thought it was. The costume was a wee bit frumpy, but I was just putting on weight.
Speaker 3:So, um, yeah, maggie, be slim and slender by this, yeah, so I'm looking forward just getting back to like just getting out of the house as well, just being with, like not not being watching cartoons and not having, you know, like having normal conversations, and yeah yeah, you know working moms crave, like it's, so it's rewarding.
Speaker 2:Being a mum like it so is, but being able to have adult conversation and be able to go to the toilet when you need to go to the toilet rather than.
Speaker 3:I know just even the commute to work, I'll be like, oh my god, listen, yeah. And because I know the lines, I don't really have to. You know, I'll build it up the few weeks before we have to be off book for day one, but at least I've done it before to know there's no pressure. I can just really enjoy it. There's two girls, two new people. I don't know where they are.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it'll be a mountain soon.
Speaker 3:But yeah, so it'll be Really nice bunch, really great production. And when does that open? That was the other thing. London, like you know, it's great. I have to go home every night. It's just even that, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So tell us the dates of that, just so our listeners can come in.
Speaker 3:I think it starts the 21st of June, the previews and then the first, or no, maybe the 25th, the press night.
Speaker 1:I, I think, is like the first of july and then it's on for four weeks. Yeah, and when do you start? When does the that rehearsal process? 9th?
Speaker 3:of june okay, that finishes work end of may, and then we have a week off together and then I'll head to rehearsals and then, as I say, then, once the show's up, I have all day free. I don't have to go into work till evening.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's nice.
Speaker 1:And what is it like now being a mummy in the business you're in Like, is it? Everything is like a logistical, like spreadsheet. Yeah, you have to do work.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, we had a diary for London definitely that first Midsummer Night's Dream A lot of flights, gosh, gosh. It was back and forth, back and forth. And even Molly like Maisie is our second kid won't have the amount of flights Molly did in that first year of her life was quite incredible. And also the support, like um, I know when I did meet Mark, you know I'd contemplated, you know it's hard, like being an actor. But he was like I don't, we'll make it work, I never want you to give up. You know I'd contemplated, you know it's hard, like being an actor, blah, blah, blah. And he was like I don't want, we'll make it work, I never want you to give up. And you know it's having the support. His parents are very good in that they're both retired and help us a lot. So, yeah, but you just have to make it, you just have to be, you know, wise with what you choose. And, yeah, a spreadsheet, as you say, you just have to really like um, now that there's two, now it'd be completely different.
Speaker 3:Uh, and diona doherty, who wrote um the christmas show, that was another. I literally just got offered that christmas show and the next day I found out it was pregnant. So I rang her and I went listen, I understand, if you want to recast it, it's fine. Like you know, she was like she just said well, yeah, she said a few choice words but I can't repeat them, but she was like you will 100% be doing this job basically and I will write it into the script. So, and she did, and it was really lovely show that she adapted it and um had a little twist at the end. So, yeah, I was like we were in Thunderland at one point and I was like Jesus, this kid inside me is just swinging about and we do laugh now. The first few weeks Maisie did not nap from 7pm till 11pm and I was like that's showtime, that is showtime.
Speaker 3:I was like so half six comes. I'm like this is your half hour. Call big girl. You've got 30 minutes. Yeah, so it's a bit better, showtime's over, but yeah. So it's all about also the support network. Yeah, to be honest with the people you're going to work with and they'll work around it.
Speaker 2:I remember meeting you and you saying as well that you know she is a mum too. So I mean that's really important for the industry to hire women, hire parents, hire people that you know juggle lots of different lives, whether it's kids, whether it's sick elderly relatives, whatever it is just you know. Hire lots of people so that you've got a range um experiences and show you can do it Like you know you can juggle, and as long as there's a support network there, like and they are a supportive employer.
Speaker 3:It shouldn't be any different. Yeah, it shouldn't be any different. And the fact that the Globe did allow her into rehearsals every day was great, you know, that took pressure off. And then the days that maybe we're doing lots and lots of stuff. Christopher took her or had a lot, had so much support it around me in london that people would just come happily, come and take a one-year-old baby and take her out for the day, take her to the soft thing. Yeah, so it was. Um, it is about the support network, but yeah and um, it's an industry where you'll never. It's a mad industry in that you can be best mates with an 18 year old and an 80 year old you know I have great.
Speaker 3:I have friends from like you don't get that working like in the bank, you wouldn't have the best friends with an 80 year old, you know, and hanging out and great, great. Like I'm touring as well. Like touring now wouldn't be on my car, not until the girls get bigger, you know, when they go off to university or whatever. But, um, touring is a huge way to learn, I think, as a as a young actor as well. But I'm looking forward. I'll send a mark. Sure, when you retire, you can come with me when, we're sure, do you know?
Speaker 3:what I mean, yeah, but yeah, it was a great way to learn. Get weird digs, people, all that sort of stuff, yeah, but it's a way of a way of learning and getting really close with people. It's an industry where you can really bond. Yeah, I am a bit like when we were younger. You know, you get great, great pals because Mark, my husband, he, he did drama and stuff and he did shows down south, because that's why he knew tony finnegan and peter kennedy and yeah, that's what he always said, like it's so important for young ones to make the like, make friendships.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they'll make friendships that they'll have for life. Yeah, and that's so 100% and you have such a laugh, don't you? Like you know, I remember always looking like the Saturday getting there and 10 o'clock in the morning I was like, oh my god, it's a really long day, mark. I was like, yeah, it was 10 to 5 oh yeah like yeah, think about it do you have that.
Speaker 2:I don't think a lot of them.
Speaker 3:Do that now do they yeah not as long as that.
Speaker 1:I don't think it's 11 to 5.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, it's a bit like drama school in that you go for the long day and that's a full day of drama school.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I interrupted you there, sorry. Both my kids are at McMasters and they literally count down until Saturday. So the same love and um, you know, sprinkle of magic is there, and they have already met friends for life, you know.
Speaker 3:And it's just yeah, it was so lovely it's just a place where, like you can just be you. Yeah, like you know it's a formula that works, especially like I remember christopher always thinking that too, you know, it was a place where he was accepted, because you're always in certain certain um, people who like drama and all aren't always accepted in school or you know the sports team, whereas you're accepted, you know, yeah, yeah do you have last like do you have like standout uh, memories from like growing up in stage school and stuff?
Speaker 3:do you always remember Hamilton House to be stage? Do you know in the old school one, and the floor and the smells, and then, like that I remember just dashing over from one hall to the other.
Speaker 3:You know, in the rain and all and like and then coming over in your tap shoes and I'm always like trying to get out of dance. God help Wendy Mair's. So I got to like 14, 15 and I was like, oh, I forgot my shoes, but you can still dance. Oh, canada, I don't know. And then Vivian, always having spare tap shoes or something you're like, oh, but you can get out of it that much. But Vivian, always having spare tap shoes or something You're like, oh, but you know you can get out of it that much. But I remember Balaná was a strong, strong memory for us, especially us three. Yeah, really strong, I remember. And then we had the same waistcoat from Martin Spencer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we thought we were these and we both had these really big glasses, big glasses.
Speaker 3:And I had a did you fringe?
Speaker 2:No, you had a fringe. I mean we were cool? We really were no. And the pic of Nick's from Woolworth.
Speaker 3:I got that and we got on the bus. I can still see us getting on the bus, can still see us getting on the bus, and then we were probably allowed to bring a camera because we took photographs and just thinking how cool we were and how grown up, and then I do remember we were on those camp beds, do you remember? Yeah in that big big scout hall and then you whack me around the head with the glow stick? Did I though you were just testing, just making sure I was awake?
Speaker 1:you were awake, you felt so well. You weren't at all dramatic you didn't cry no you didn't go blind me, it was kind of blind you blinded me.
Speaker 3:I know it was well and well. London again, that was another one that you blinded me. I know it was well and well. London again, that was another one. We were like gosh seeing Starlight Express and that's now back. It's mad.
Speaker 2:I know we were so lucky as well to have all those experiences.
Speaker 1:Do you have a standout role from back in the day, jennifer, one that you think you were particularly good at? I've got one.
Speaker 3:You know what? It'll never leave me and every time I think about it over here. I was like gosh. Remember? You used to dress Because there wasn't enough boys. You used to dress up in the nursing homes and sing Wave a little bit.
Speaker 3:With the tea towel. That's right. Oh, dear, I know, oh yeah. And then I never, always, always forgot my fishnet. There was always something I forgot. And your poor mum, dear helper lauren, would always have a spare. Some, all mums, I think all the mums had spare. And then now I think back, is it go help with dad? There's only so much, you know, like I needed a mum there to be able to help, but all the mums clubbed together for me and always had a backup of something spare blouse for the pearly. There was always something missing, but that should have been. I should have been checking that myself instead of my dad, like this 50, 60 year old dad. I should have been checking it. But anyway, it was that. Doing the nursing homes, yeah, I loved the Caribbean.
Speaker 2:You did love the.
Speaker 1:Caribbean, that's right.
Speaker 3:Did you love the Caribbean? No, you loved it.
Speaker 1:You loved it? No, none of the rest of us did.
Speaker 3:I was raring to sing that song. Aye, aye, aye, aye. But I can see now why Vivian didn't. I was like eight, could you imagine? I like you very much. That's wrong, wrong. I love the Christmas. I love the wee Christmas medley.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I liked your pants at the game God. I liked your pants at the game Great balls of fire. Do you know what I found?
Speaker 3:the videos and I tried to watch but the conditions not been very good. I think they weren't stored properly in the roof space or something. But you can hear us and you can hear me singing great balls of fire and then coming out with nonsense, like okay. So I was like oh God. Mark was like is that you? It's all a bit fuzzy.
Speaker 1:I can't believe there's videos of that. I'm glad they're damaged.
Speaker 3:No, you used to probably have one too, I would imagine.
Speaker 2:I have one somewhere, I think I do yeah, because you were.
Speaker 3:What do you call her? Oh, Tiger Lily.
Speaker 1:Tiger Lily.
Speaker 3:That was Peter.
Speaker 1:Pan, you played the DM, wasn't it yeah?
Speaker 2:And you were.
Speaker 1:Tiger Lilla. Yeah, good times.
Speaker 3:I think that was one I kept because I was quite partial to that. Do you remember them, the flesh coloured clothes? That's right, yeah, I think that was good. I remember we loved that. We were at that age. I think it was perfect. Yeah, and then singing in the concert with you. I always remember that you were Mrs Johnson, I was Mrs Lyons. In St Congles we got to sing a duet. It's a lovely song. Mark hasn't seen Blood Brothers. I'm like, oh gosh, I have to see that.
Speaker 1:Oh, here like never he's never seen it no it's back in Bangkok.
Speaker 3:I think it's in November, october or something. Is it later on? Yeah, yeah, I said must go, yeah, must go what else? What are the ones that stood out for me?
Speaker 1:well, jennifer, you're the best Idoani I ever had like. You're still my. You're still still my top Edo, aren't I the best out there?
Speaker 3:I loved St Patrick's and I did love going down there.
Speaker 2:That was a good crack.
Speaker 1:Absolutely hilarious. Yeah, it was fun. Do you have a favourite professional performance or professional play or show you've done in your never-ending CV?
Speaker 3:I hear Stop, no, because 2015 I did nothing. It was funny. I went over and did Puck in China and Russia and London and then came back and didn't work for a year. 2015 was I don't know. I think Once a Catholic with Kathy Burke was pretty up there. She was playing like a main part and she trusted me. I played Cockney accent something completely different and I met great people. You know it was a great. Yeah, I met all the people Cathy brought. It was like French and Swedish. We were watching lots. Like you know, it was like a bit, it was bizarre and I was only. I'd only graduated like two years, year and a half, maybe, I half, maybe.
Speaker 1:Um, I remember that and then that was a particularly exciting time, wasn't it for you?
Speaker 3:really was nervous with that, yeah, um. And then fur tree was really special because that was my first job back after being a mum. That was a really lovely show and really made me think about it's really going to sound really weird. But trees, like, because like there was lovely wee lines in it, but like one wee line that stood out. For me it's going to be really random, but now I look at trees differently. It's weird and that every time, every time a child turns a page, a tree smiles, knowing I can live forever, and it's so like that always just stood in my way. Maybe do you know it was a really lovely wee show.
Speaker 3:And then the Midsummer Night yeah, I guess, dancing with Luna. So it was like that was pretty last year. It was pretty because a job in Dublin, I've got a manager, I've been trying so hard to get an agent in Ireland and I've got a lovely, lovely guy now and like, if, like, if you come, it's basically me living in Donegal in about 50 years. It's just, she's such a lively character and you were well written, you were nominated for that role, weren't you?
Speaker 3:yeah, like, yeah, it's a great.
Speaker 2:It was just, it's just well cast you were nominated in the same category as Alison Harding and then.
Speaker 1:Alison won so it was kind of so it was like oh, the two of them are in the same category.
Speaker 2:I know, I know.
Speaker 3:I love Ali. She's amazing. Sorry in the red. No, I keep saying red Velveteen. I think it's because of red velvet cake, velveteen rabbits and it was. She was brilliant she's. And then see, oscar, why she's going to do the that's right, yeah the theatre's so important.
Speaker 3:I tried to take Molly, like we take her quite often. She's been in theatre since she was probably six months old. Yeah, I just think it's really important and we went to the theatre so much growing up. I remember it was such an exciting like going to the Grand Opera House to see Blood Brothers when we were like eight and, you know, sitting in the front row. It was just my favourite thing about a musical is the Orbiture at the beginning.
Speaker 1:God it can't be. I got so excited.
Speaker 3:I love an overture too especially like an old school one, I think, or something about it, you know.
Speaker 1:What's your favourite overture?
Speaker 2:What's your favourite overture?
Speaker 3:Oklahoma was always great because there's always the name is Oklahoma, though you can't beat that. You know the. I saw Follies in Regent Park, billy Carter from Banker and I didn't realise great numbers in that. Yeah, the one before the interview, these things, the big number.
Speaker 1:I am what I am, oh no then I meant sorry, la Casha Falls that's the one you were talking about isn't it La Casha Falls?
Speaker 3:that was fantastic. The music in that's brilliant, but yeah, that was fantastic. We get the music and that's brilliant, but yeah.
Speaker 2:You have an amazing career. You've had an amazing career. You are an amazing person and we are just so honoured that you are our friend and that you wanted to come on our podcast.
Speaker 1:Is there something you want to do like, oh yeah, tv?
Speaker 3:is my main thing now, to to sort of focus on. You know, I want to. Um, I want to make money three months film and then just chill for an hour. Do you know what I mean? But I'd love to do a bit of TV. I'd like to. Yeah, my dream has always been like the National Theatre has always been my dream. So I think if that came a calling the RSC, obviously I'd like to tick that off the Royal Shakespeare Company and then TV.
Speaker 2:Yeah, ireland is buzzing at the minute.
Speaker 3:Ireland is buzzing at the minute TV, film and theatre you know so now that I'm available, that's it. I haven't been available really long and that's also the hard thing. Sometimes you have to turn down theatre. My agent said that in London a few years ago. You have to take a risk because the Globe's brilliant, but that's five months of the year that you're not available for TV.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, you know for the likes of like all the TV stuff in Belfast and all, so I'd like to make myself available for TV and I love like the likes of that adolescence, that sort of like gritty.
Speaker 1:Yeah, gritty BAFTA. Yeah, I'd like to do that, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so who yeah so who knows, who knows what the next year will bring, but TV, hopefully. I want to write my mum and dad's story. That's the next thing and I've started it. So amazing, yeah, yeah. So I think realistically, like in order to get money. I think because, like the likes of Baby Reindeer Fleabag started off as one man shows. Yeah, and.
Speaker 3:I think I might try it like that first Try and get in Dublin Fringe or something, so then people can see it, and then try and get money that way from like I don't know who knows, they all have to start somewhere. Baby Reindeer and Fleabag and this Country, all those sort of like, yeah. So I want, yeah, yeah, and Mark keeps hounding me too. We need to make, we need to write one with dad's story yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:Well, we'll be here 100% behind you, whatever direction you go, we'll be there.
Speaker 3:I know it's a good story. Yeah, yeah, and before we, get to you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you need to do funding for that, you should do another wee cabaret, because that's one of my last memories of you. You were going away to Rada. You did like a fundraiser.
Speaker 3:I did them every year and, bless you, you were always so supportive. It was amazing.
Speaker 1:One of the best cabarets. I remember. It lives in my head. You singing Stars and Moon.
Speaker 3:Oh, that was a lovely song.
Speaker 1:I can't ever forget it.
Speaker 3:Do that again that would be great. Well, I'll get Taryn to do something in it, will I? It might lower the bar, but you know, it'd be great to see him catch up with him and then he could fund the mum and dad story maybe yeah, he could for sure I don't even need to do a concert.
Speaker 3:What am I doing? Dublin Fringe what am I doing? Just ask Taryn, get it on the Netflix. I remember my dad like what did he get it on the Netflix? I'll say the Netflix, what's the way forward? But yeah, so that's the next sort of year or two I want to try and get a bit of TV and write so and go to a coffee shop and just yeah, write down everything because it's a lovely story and the world needs to hear it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's a nice story to come from Northern Ireland. That's not about religion. Do you know a little bit? But, like that's not about religion, do you know? Yes, it's sort of a little bit, but that's not the whole be all and end all. No, it's love. Yeah, yeah, a cast already. Who do we want Kathy Burke as Mount Elizabeth? No, polly McGlynn has to be in it. I can just get all her mates. You two, who do you want to play? I can just get all our mates.
Speaker 2:You two, who do you want to play? We'll play ourselves.
Speaker 1:Ourselves. I'm there for you, gliss. I'll do whatever you need me to do. I'll make the coffees. Will you stop? I'm a good runner. I would say I'd be a good runner, you would, I think.
Speaker 3:I would, and you'd be a good producer, lauren, too. I can see you flipping them all into shape. Yep, bish bash bosh, but um what? Someone tell me, you're still teaching away, aren't you still? Teaching away, still teaching away oh, aye, yeah, absolutely nice for the weekend and where are you? Lauren, now you're doing your. How's your business going?
Speaker 2:yeah, it's going good. It's plod that while we're here. Yeah, we've got all that and still I'm doing some teaching as well. So speech and drama.
Speaker 3:Oh God, that's right, Amazing. Yes, what do you call it? Let's give a little plug here while we're here. She's good, Tell, tell tell.
Speaker 2:Well, jennifer slash Molly, thank you so much for coming on. We actually could not love you anymore and appreciate it. And please say thank you to Mark for holding forward.
Speaker 3:I will chatting to us you're not allowed to come out. All good, he's allowed to watch the man United match every week. Sorry, mark down the back, you're not allowed to come out. Yeah, no, all good, all good. He's allowed to watch the man United match now. So I'm going to do every week.
Speaker 1:I know, sorry, mark, I'm saying you have a podcast recording to do every week. Sorry, mark, just going to do another wee podcast here next week with glass of wine sorry, mark working away here same place next week I'll see you there.
Speaker 3:Thanks very much thank you, see you soon come down to the dark side, come down to Ireland, I mean like Dublin. Oh, I can't hang up yet.
Speaker 2:Yes, take care. I hope that you enjoyed that that was much as we did. I just love her so much she's the best she is the best. Next week we are back with interesting. I think it's going to be another it's going to be an interesting episode, so I would definitely tune in for that.
Speaker 1:I can't remember what we're doing next week, but anyway, yes, tune in. Be great fun. Once again, jennifer, great fun see you next week.
Speaker 2:Bye.
