We interview Southend's very own
Elizabeth Elvin
currently starring in
Ray Cooney's No 1 Farce
Out of Order
coming to the Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
10th July to 15th July 2017
Elizabeth Elvin
currently starring in
Ray Cooney's No 1 Farce
Out of Order
coming to the Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
10th July to 15th July 2017
We chat to local actress, the delightful Elizabeth Elvin, on press launch day, back in February, where she excitedly tells us that she cannot wait to get back on to the very first stage she performed on and how much she loves the Palace Theatre. Elizabeth is playing the role of Nurse Gladys Foster in Out of Order and is clearly full of fun and enthusiasm not only for the play but for her craft - we can't wait to catch up with her again in Southend!
You actually come from Southend don’t you?
I live in Barling Magna. I love living there. I was born in Thorpe Bay and I then went off to do my career for years and years and came back, funnily enough, just as Roy Marsden was taking over the Palace Theatre and I worked there while my children were growing up, so it was absolutely gorgeous.
Have you children followed you into acting?
No, although they're both very good. My daughter's doing archeology and my son is doing engineering but they both used to do little school things at the Palace Theatre.
Do they come and see you in plays?
Oh yeah, they’ll be there on the opening night in Southend for this as well. They do enjoy it but you know you have to have that absolute bug of really wanting to act because you do get kicked in the teeth quite a lot; and you do just have to get up and get on with it if you’re going to have a career in acting.
Was that something that ever happened to you?
Not really but just at the beginning, there’s so much competition, you know, when you come out of drama school. There’s thousands of graduates and you just have to keep going. I got a lucky break at Glasgow Citizens Theatre which was my first Rep and then after that I got recommended for something else and then you're off; but the Palace Theatre was the very first stage that I stood on at the age of 3 with the Mallory School of Dancing. I used to go and watch my mum, Eddie Hill, who was with the Borough Players and then she went on to the East Essex Players and did some wonderful, marvellous productions actually. So from the age of about 3 to 8 years old, I used to go to along to all of her rehearsals and then watch her perform at the Palace.
I used to love going to the Palace Theatre. I think it’s one of the nicest theatres in the country and I’ve done hundreds of plays, all over the place and that theatre is the place that I love. You know, it just has a certain smell - I just love it and I can’t wait to go back.
I live in Barling Magna. I love living there. I was born in Thorpe Bay and I then went off to do my career for years and years and came back, funnily enough, just as Roy Marsden was taking over the Palace Theatre and I worked there while my children were growing up, so it was absolutely gorgeous.
Have you children followed you into acting?
No, although they're both very good. My daughter's doing archeology and my son is doing engineering but they both used to do little school things at the Palace Theatre.
Do they come and see you in plays?
Oh yeah, they’ll be there on the opening night in Southend for this as well. They do enjoy it but you know you have to have that absolute bug of really wanting to act because you do get kicked in the teeth quite a lot; and you do just have to get up and get on with it if you’re going to have a career in acting.
Was that something that ever happened to you?
Not really but just at the beginning, there’s so much competition, you know, when you come out of drama school. There’s thousands of graduates and you just have to keep going. I got a lucky break at Glasgow Citizens Theatre which was my first Rep and then after that I got recommended for something else and then you're off; but the Palace Theatre was the very first stage that I stood on at the age of 3 with the Mallory School of Dancing. I used to go and watch my mum, Eddie Hill, who was with the Borough Players and then she went on to the East Essex Players and did some wonderful, marvellous productions actually. So from the age of about 3 to 8 years old, I used to go to along to all of her rehearsals and then watch her perform at the Palace.
I used to love going to the Palace Theatre. I think it’s one of the nicest theatres in the country and I’ve done hundreds of plays, all over the place and that theatre is the place that I love. You know, it just has a certain smell - I just love it and I can’t wait to go back.
Elizabeth with co stars, Sue Holderness and Susie Amy
You did Shirley Valentine there and won a Best Actress Award for it too, didn’t you?
I did, yes. The role I’m doing for Out of Order is slightly different this time, though [laughs]; having been on stage for 2 hours non stop, cooking egg and chips and drinking wine and all the rest of it with Shirley Valentine, now I’m coming on as Nurse Gladys Foster; she's quite different - quite a feisty character!
Are you looking forward to working with the rest of the cast?
Oh yes and I’m really looking forward to working with Ray because I’ve actually been in six of his plays - they’re wonderful plays - but I’ve never actually worked with him. We’ve met lots of times, so I’m really looking forward to it.
I think this play is just what audiences need at the moment. They need a bit of fun and you’ve got everybody just going.. [does a massive belly laugh].. because that is just what it makes you do! Also, with the play being quite physical - jumping in and out of windows and things going wrong - it’s wonderfully funny. But you know, farce is like a big military operation. You need to be very, very disciplined and if you do something even fractionally wrong, you can lose your laugh.
No pressure then?
Well, I don’t even come on till the second half. So I’ll be sitting in the dressing room up til then, being fanned on a chaise longue. [laughs]
Interview: Kim Tobin
I did, yes. The role I’m doing for Out of Order is slightly different this time, though [laughs]; having been on stage for 2 hours non stop, cooking egg and chips and drinking wine and all the rest of it with Shirley Valentine, now I’m coming on as Nurse Gladys Foster; she's quite different - quite a feisty character!
Are you looking forward to working with the rest of the cast?
Oh yes and I’m really looking forward to working with Ray because I’ve actually been in six of his plays - they’re wonderful plays - but I’ve never actually worked with him. We’ve met lots of times, so I’m really looking forward to it.
I think this play is just what audiences need at the moment. They need a bit of fun and you’ve got everybody just going.. [does a massive belly laugh].. because that is just what it makes you do! Also, with the play being quite physical - jumping in and out of windows and things going wrong - it’s wonderfully funny. But you know, farce is like a big military operation. You need to be very, very disciplined and if you do something even fractionally wrong, you can lose your laugh.
No pressure then?
Well, I don’t even come on till the second half. So I’ll be sitting in the dressing room up til then, being fanned on a chaise longue. [laughs]
Interview: Kim Tobin
Tickets are available to purchase now from Southend Theatres Box Office by calling 01702 351135 or go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk
For more information about Out of Order click here
For more information about Out of Order click here
Chatting to Elizabeth on press launch day - such a delight to talk to!