ANNALENE BEECHEY, Dublin 1975

Her professional debut was at the age of 18 understudying Cosette in the First National Touring Company of Les Miserables in Dublin/Edinburgh and later went on to play the role at the Palace Theatre London for two years

Other Theatre credits include, the alternate Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Her Majesty’s’ Theatre, London) and Sadie Sears/understudy Julie Jordan in Royal National Theatre’s CAROUSEL (Shaftesbury Theatre, London); Belle in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Theatre Royal, Nottingham) opposite Anton Rogers; Johanna in the Celebrated Anniversary Concert of Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD (Royal Festival Hall, London) opposite Len Cariou, Davis Gaines, Judy Kaye and Pia Douwes. She also has played Anne Egerman in Stephen Sondheims’ A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and Dorothy in the RSC version of THE WIZARD OF OZ (both at Leicester Haymarket). Belle in Disney’s’ Beauty and the Beast (National Tour, including The Point in Dublin) and previously at the Dominion Theatre London with Gemma Craven; Molly Cassidy in the World Premiere of THE HA’PENNY BRIDGE (The Point, Dublin); Alice in Carl Davis’ version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS (at the Derby Playhouse), Standby Glinda in Wicked (Apollo Victoria, London) and, recently, Pat Collins in the World Premiere of MOON LANDING (Derby Playhouse).

Currently she is performing the role of Annette in the World Premiere of Boublil/Schonberg/Legrand’s MARGUERITE opposite Ruthie Henshall (Theatre Royal Haymarket, London).

- The first musical you saw and/or most impressed you: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

- You would like to make a duet with Josh Groban singing the song ”One Hand, One Heart” from WEST SIDE STORY

- London or New York? Mmm…tricky. Love both, but have always wanted to work on Broadway…

- Do you keep the brochures of the musicals you watch? Yes, but my husband is much more organized with them than I.

- The worst moment you’ve live on the stage was: (as a performer and/or as a spectator) I have had many moments of forgetting words or falling over. But, I did watch Chip in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST roll off the edge of the stage in his trolley. No-one could get to it to stop it but thankfully he wasn’t hurt and the little boy loved the drama.

- An unforgettable moment: (as a performer and/or as a spectator) Performing as Cosette in an open air concert of LES MISERABLES in front of 26.000 people with Ruthie as Fantine as it happens.

- Some superstition before the opening night? Not really. I always run out of time and am never quite ready by the time we are called to the stage, so I suppose that has almost become tradition… but no superstitions.

- A musical character that you would like to BE (not perform): Oh, I don’t know… The Lady of the Lake in SPAMALOT, she gets great dresses to wear!!!!

- A character of your opposite sex that you would like to perform: Tony in WEST SIDE STORY

- The more/less that you like of your work: I love working with different people, and working on such a range of projects. I don’t like mid-week matinees though!

- A musical movie: MOULIN ROUGE or the classic, CAROUSEL, or WEST SIDE STORY… so many!

- The last CD/DVD related to Musicals that you have bought is: ‘Lord of the Rings’ musical CD

- A sentence of a musical: A line from the diary/play of Anne Frank I did when I was younger: ‘I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart’. It has always stuck with me.

- Agree or disagree with TV Shows finding new Musical Stars: I think bringing musical theatre into peoples homes through the television is great, but casting a leading role through this medium I disagree with.

- You feel proud of: My husband Simon Greiff! He’s a fabulous actor. And I am proud of the work I’ve done especially MARGUERITE.

- Of this moment you’re living as an actress, the most important to you is: I like to be able to work on interesting projects and still be able to spend plenty of time with my husband and friends.

- Projects: Currently too busy with MARGUERITE as we are about to record the CD of the show!