‘It’s just so different’ - Sheridan Smith says new project is the ‘biggest challenge’ of her life

Virgin Radio

9 Apr 2024, 10:28

Sheridan Smith has told Chris Evans that her latest project is “brave and bold” and “different than anything I've done before”. 

The beloved actor and singer joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar to talk about starring in new musical Opening Night, which is now playing at London’s Gielgud Theatre. Sheridan enthused: “It's so different than anything I've done before. It’s been a once in a lifetime opportunity to do this. It's a very different musical, it’s very brave, new, bold, it's never been done before. So it's not doing a rehash of any old musical.”

Opening Night follows a theatre company's preparations to stage a new play on Broadway. But drama ignites backstage when their leading lady is rocked by tragedy, and her personal turmoil forces everyone to deliver the performance of their lives. “It's not like a jazz hands kind of singer-dancey show. It's quite a dark play,” she told Chris.

“It’s just so different, and so out there, and the biggest challenge of my life. So, I'm enjoying it.”

Based on John Cassavetes' legendary film, the production has music and lyrics by Rufus Wainwright. Sheridan plays Myrtle; the leading lady. She explained: “It’s a play within a play, and she's having a bit of a nervous breakdown, to say the least. And one of the fans dies at stage door, and then that sends her into this really dark spiral. So she's already in a dark place. 

“She hates the play that she's doing. She starts improvising and going off piste. It's so layered. If you want to think and be really challenged, it's the show for you. Myrtle, she's a great character. She's kind of hanging on by her fingernails, and you never know if she's gonna make opening night.” 

The Gavin & Stacey and The Castaways star added: “As an actress, I just wanted to challenge myself to something new.”

At one point, Sheridan is required to leave the stage and head out onto the London streets, followed by cameras, which film the musical. Confirming that it is done “live every night”, she explained: “There's a scene where she's very drunk, and I'm sat outside and the cameras come outside and the company come outside. So all the actors I’m working with are brilliant, and they're playing like the director or the producer of this play within a play. And they all come outside and find me slumped in Soho, drunk, and I’m crawling across the floor of Soho every night!

“I'm covered in bruises!”

Further explaining, the actor told Chris: “It’s right between two pubs as well, so people are all outside hammered, and they all want to come and help me!

“The security wouldn't let me go out too far the other night, because someone was being arrested and restrained on the floor.”

Talking more about Opening Night, she said: “I think we need new stuff like that. You know, it's brave and bold, and you can't keep doing the same thing. You want to keep it alive. 

“The rehearsal process was hard, finding all those emotions and living in it all day. But now the show is set, I use it like therapy. I cry so much on that stage, so much, and kind of throw myself into it. And then I can leave it on the stage and go home to my son.

“It's so cathartic. I actually love it.”

Opening Night plays at London’s Gielgud Theatre until 27th July.

Tickets are available now at openingnightmusical.com.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.