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[0:00] Josh Mitchell: Hey theatre fans, welcome and thanks for tuning in.

[0:03] Josh Mitchell: This is just a quick heads up for everyone with warning triggers around this topic.

[0:09] Josh Mitchell: This episode does contain conversations about rape and sexual assault.

[0:12] Josh Mitchell: So please, please, please be careful as you listen through. Enjoy, and we will see you on the other side.

[0:24] Josh Mitchell: Hello, theatre fans one and all. Welcome back to the We Are Theatre Podcast. Today we are back talking about Jagged Little Pill, and I am joined by Emily who is playing Frankie in the Australian production.

[0:34] Josh Mitchell: Hey Emily, how you going?

[0:36] Emily Nkomo: I'm good, how are you?

[0:38] Josh Mitchell: I am fantastic. I am absolutely buzzing about this show.

[0:42] Josh Mitchell: Um for those, this is kind of a fresh show because it kind of started in New York prior to like lockdowns and everything like that. So the word kind of really hasn't spread much. Give us an insight into Frankie and the character that you'll bring into the stage here in the show.

[0:58] Emily Nkomo: Alright. Frankie is really she's an interesting one. She's an interesting girl. She is a passionate. Well, firstly, she is a transracial adoptee. And so she's a black girl in a white family, and she lives in Connecticut, USA, which has a very large white population, like it's like 80% white, something like that. And she is a passionate, emotionally volatile, that's the word I like to call it. She follows her like internal compass, I guess. Like she when she feels something, she follows it, which is good and bad at the same time. And yeah, she really just is longing to kind of be allowed to be human.

[1:52] Josh Mitchell: Yeah.

[1:53] Emily Nkomo: Yeah.

[1:54] Josh Mitchell: I vibe that, yeah. Um Frankie kind of starts a lot of the big turning points throughout the show as well. Like it's like she's the fire that starts the spread of everything. Um with this show, I feel like this is a really important show. Um not only from a theater perspective, but from a social perspective as well, with everything that gets tackled during this show.

[2:21] Josh Mitchell: Could very well come off very like, oh, we're trying to tell too or trying to capture too many different themes and trying to portray too many things on stage, but somehow your show does it so well. Um and Frankie is at the heart of a lot of these things.

[2:37] Josh Mitchell: So getting to go through um all the different themes and be a part of like the family dynamic, obviously. Um for those of you that don't know what goes on in the show, there's a lot of things about um addiction, drugs, um rape, sexuality, like identifying self and everything like that. So what's been the biggest kind of thing for you to learn how to portray Frankie on stage? What was that moment that you were like, cool, this is who Frankie is to me, and this is how I'm gonna bring her and bring her to be true on stage here?

[3:15] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, um, I think firstly I had to kind of turn back the time just a little bit to back when I was 16 and try and find some ties that 16-year-old me has with 16-year-old Frankie, because Frankie's 16 in the show. And try and figure out like because when you're 16, you kind of you're not really, or at least I was not really um like I thought everything that I thought was correct.

[3:47] Emily Nkomo: Yes.

[3:47] Emily Nkomo: So you kind of go around thinking, yep, what I know is correct, everyone else know, kind of a thing. So I had to kind of get that mentality and also the mentality that I have now, knowing all of these issues and or all of these themes and how they all these things kind of affect one another and kind of bring that fire of this is right, this is right, and bring that to the stage for Frankie.

[4:15] Josh Mitchell: This um obviously tackling these topics on stage um is intense for one to obviously be a part of the cast and having to kind of create a reality of sorts where yeah these feelings. So, what's this kind of um navigation period been like for you guys to all become one and feel safe um presenting these topics on stage and being able to um communicate with one another to make sure it's done in a safe environment as a cast?

[4:50] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, the company management like did that really really well. We've introduced check-ins with each other before we tackle those heavier scenes. So we'll start the day or before the scene or before the act. We'll just check in with one another, make sure that well, just see where everyone's mind space is, and then you can tap out anytime if you're feeling overwhelmed, you don't have to. You like you don't have to be scared of thinking, oh I can't leave, I can't take a break. Like we just have a sign, like tap out, go out the room, you can come back whenever. No one makes a big deal out of it. And it's just really like it's really comforting, and everyone is super um loving, so the environment is really it's really good to like if you really feel open already before we even have to do any of the scenes, which is good.

[5:36] Josh Mitchell: Yeah, and this is your first professional show as well. So getting into this environment of going on tour and being in this room doing this big like touring show. What's that been like for you just to as a person get to experience this?

[5:52] Emily Nkomo: So exciting. I still pinch myself every day in bed. It's so exciting, and when I think about it, like when I really sit down and think about it, it's crazy.

[6:03] Josh Mitchell: Yeah, right.

[6:05] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, and I'm just kind of going in, like obviously I don't know what it's gonna be like, so I'm just going in really open-minded and like we'll see how it's like when I get there, I guess. And I don't know, it's been so amazing so far. I've just been like amazed.

[6:19] Josh Mitchell: Yeah, we'll come back to the show in a second. What was your introduction to theatre itself? How did you get into performing and everything like that?

[6:28] Emily Nkomo: Um, so I started off singing, so I started singing when I was seven, and the reason why I was put into singing is because my mum says I talked a lot as a kid, so she thought it would be better to make my voice do something else.

[6:43] Josh Mitchell: Yeah.

[6:43] Emily Nkomo: So she put me into singing lessons. And then when I was around nine, I joined our local it was like kind of a kids' theater company thing, and would like you know, do all these half for half the year, we would just do like acting exercises, and then for the later half of the year, we would put on a little skit and then perform it at the end of the year, which was really fun. And then I joined dancing after that, so I kind of did them all separately, yeah.

[7:12] Emily Nkomo: Growing up. And then I did some work on film and TV for a bit, and then I came back for this.

[7:20] Josh Mitchell: How good. Um do you remember your first introduction to musical theater? Like what was that? Do you remember your first show that you saw?

[7:28] Emily Nkomo: Um, the first show I saw would probably be Matilda. I think it was Matilda, that was the first show I saw.

[7:36] Emily Nkomo: And like that I think that musical was like the first time I fell in love with musicals because I sang that. I sang "Quiet," and I sang "Naughty," and I sang "Revolting Children" like during my singing lessons, and I loved it. I loved just you know embodying characters, especially from that show.

[7:53] Josh Mitchell: Yeah.

[7:54] Emily Nkomo: Now getting into this professional space and getting your hands on this script. What was kind of your process in reading through and then figuring out how to like place yourself into Frankie and getting that kind of creative vibe flowing heading into rehearsals and everything like that?

[8:14] Emily Nkomo: Yeah. Um so I began by um obviously reading the script when I when I received it. I read through the script and um I really enjoyed English in my last years of school. I really enjoyed like my 11-12 English.

[8:30] Emily Nkomo: So I kind of I just analyzed the show like I would any novel that I did in 11 and 12. So I went through the themes, I went through the characters. I also tried to find the ties within each storyline, like seeing how they all intertwine, which I think is really good to get a whole picture before I try and put myself in.

[8:49] Emily Nkomo: Yeah.

[8:49] Emily Nkomo: So I did like the overall, you know, themes and things like that, just so I'd get what I'm trying to present or what Frankie is trying to do. And then I went into a character dive of Frankie and tried to, you know, tie her to me and even try and find some of the differences and similarities.

[9:07] Emily Nkomo: And I love finding like the inconsistencies within her personality. I loved trying to do a deep dive into that and try and bring those out.

[9:19] Emily Nkomo: Yeah. And yeah, and I just enjoyed doing that, which made me really excited to come into the room.

[9:25] Josh Mitchell: Yeah.

[9:25] Emily Nkomo: Try portrayal that I wrote down. And I think Frankie would be one of the most interactive characters in the show as well. She has so many core relationships with so many people in this show.

[9:38] Josh Mitchell: So getting to build that whole relationship up with Nat, Tim, Aiden, everyone like that, what's that been like to kind of build the actual core relationships of this family and relationship dynamics with these people?

[9:55] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, it has been so easy. I thought that I was gonna have to go and be like, oh, like I have to pretend to like these people. It was so easy. They're so loving, so open and like we'll have like little hangouts after rehearsal or just like just to get to know each other. And even like the first day I just felt like I knew them already and even when that came into the room, she came in a bit later. Um, I was really scared that, oh, I was gonna have a really good relationship with the rest of the family and not with Nat, but seamless, seamless. She was just amazing. So all that you see on stage is pretty much real. We all love each other. Yeah. And yeah, it's been really good, especially how we tap in, especially when we have to do any of those tougher scenes or anything. Yeah. But it's really good to know that they actually like me underneath all of those scenes.

[10:49] Emily Nkomo: A little bit better. Um, speaking of one of the parts of this show that really captivated me was the choreography. As a dancer, let's just break down this choreography for a second, because it is so, so good. And for those of you that haven't seen the show here in Australia, like I saw it on Broadway just before all the closures happened. And I was like, it just blew my mind. Just so what's it been like? Not only like singing acting kind of comes naturally at some point, but some choreography just is like so intense. So what's this been like trying to break down all the choreography that's out there?

[11:29] Emily Nkomo: Um, we got taught the choreography by the assistant choreographer from Broadway who flew here. Yeah, Mark. Yeah. And he's amazing. Like he really like it's not just a bunch of moves, like he really ties it to what we're trying to portray in that scene or even the words. So it's not just like, oh, I'm dancing and I'm singing and I'm acting, but he really ties that all together so that it comes out looking that amazing instead of just a bunch of dancing. It really is like you can feel it, and he leaves it really open, like you can do a different arm if you want to. Um, if you feel like you want to do it a different way, he'll let you, and that's I think that's where the authenticity in the dancing comes through.

[12:12] Emily Nkomo: Yeah. And uh you like you've seen the show, so you see your hand in my pocket. Yes. That took me way too long to learn, and I got so many bruises, but it's an amazing dance. I love it now. It's like second nature now, it's just so good. Um, being I keep jumping around all over the place just 'cause we keep hitting different things. Um, but some of the themes in the show are I think a little more prevalent um after the last two years that we've had. We've had a lot of things come up, um, especially with the whole Me Too movement and everything like that. So what does it mean to you to be able to play a part in bringing these themes into light and kind of forcing the audience to have that conversation with you guys and be a part of that discovery of, oh, okay, this is what this is?

[13:08] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, I am so, so thankful. I'm so thankful that I get the opportunity to do that and to not even like we're not introducing these issues of topics and things, like they've been here. They've been here. Like we've even the script has had a little bit of a change, like introducing more of um Frankie figuring out her blackness and like it even ties into the Black Lives Matter movement as well. Yeah, which I think is really good. Like it's an evolving show, so as things happen, they tie things into the production, which I think is amazing. Yeah. And yeah, I'm just really thankful to be able to do that for a lot of the audience.

[13:48] Emily Nkomo: Yeah. Yeah. I remember leaving the theatre in New York and I think it's the first time I've ever felt left a theatre feeling confronted, but also like wanting to challenge myself more. Like there's no way I should have left the theatre feeling that confronted. Like I think it was just like a it was a really cool moment for me where I was like, okay, why do I feel like that was targeted at me? Like why were there so many moments there where I was like, Whoa, why is my thought process like this?

[14:20] Josh Mitchell: Like I love that you felt like that. That's like that's our aim, is like not to be judgy, like they always say if we're looking at a character, don't be judgy, like just you know, kind of be encouraging and like look into yourself and trying to change a little bit, but it's not like a you did something wrong. You need to change, like that's not what we ever want to do. And that's the only reason why you can like encourage people to change too properly.

[14:43] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, exactly. Um, with the music, what was your kind of um exposure to Alanis and her music prior to this show?

[14:55] Emily Nkomo: So I was born when it came out. I was I was born. But um, because I did singing growing up, there was a cut like I remember songs like Ironic and I think Hand in My Pocket. Some kids would sing that at a second sometime. So when I listened to the cast album for the first time, I was like, why don't I know these lyrics? Yeah, it's kind of like those really um the biggest songs. There's some in here that I had never heard of. So obviously, like one Hand in My Pocket and Ironic, yeah, cool. But there were some songs I was like, oh yes, of course, how can we forget that? Of course. Um, there's like some songs there, I was like, these absolute slaps. How have I never heard these before?

[15:40] Emily Nkomo: Yeah, that was me with Not the Doctor. I love Not the Doctor now. Um, what uh this is kind of some insight for people to look forward to moments. What's your favorite moment so far coming out of rehearsals? What are you looking forward to most being able to put in front of an audience?

[15:59] Emily Nkomo: Ooh. Yeah. Ooh, I think there's a lot of moving moments. Like and I I would love that for everyone to have that experience you had of being like walking out and being like, I kinda wanna change myself. Yeah. That's what I'd love to do. And also what you're saying with how Frankie has all these different core relationships. I would love I'm just really excited to you know portray them all a little bit differently and kind of yeah, show those the complex relationships because they're relationships that people have every day. So I want to be able to do that justice and hope that people can see the audience and be like, okay, I relate to that one.

[16:42] Emily Nkomo: Yeah. Is there a moment um like a scene or something that you're not involved in that you just really love being able to sit and watch every day in rehearsals? Like is there a moment that you just as like an audience member being in that rehearsal room, you just love being a part of?

[17:01] Emily Nkomo: Any yeah, any um of the parent scenes, anything between that and Tim, they do amazing and their characters have like some of the funniest jokes. But I love that. I love it.

[17:14] Josh Mitchell: So Sydney starting in like a week and a half. Oh my god, how scary is that?

[17:21] Emily Nkomo: How do you do next week?

[17:24] Josh Mitchell: It's next week. Oh my word. That's crazy.

[17:27] Emily Nkomo: Um, so December 2nd, guys. Uh if you haven't got tickets, make sure you get in because it's only in Sydney for a month. Crazy. Yeah. It's gonna be nuts, but you will not want to miss this show. This is just one of those incredibly uplifting. There's something in it for everyone. Like I don't think anybody going to this show won't connect to one character somewhere along. And even if you don't like the story, how can you not love Alanis' music? Just go for the music. Easy. Yeah. Little rock concept. Easy.

[18:00] Josh Mitchell: Um so tickets are available now. Just head to let me pull up the website, jaggedmusical.com to find all the info that you need. Um, I'm so excited to see you guys on stage. This is gonna be incredible. So excited. Um, what coming out of lockdown? This is the final question. We're gonna wrap up on this. Yeah, coming out of lockdown, um, getting back into a creative space, getting to put a show on. What are you most excited for about having that first audience in on the second?

[18:30] Emily Nkomo: Oh, I'm excited to feel audience interaction. I've not felt that in a little bit. Like in the room, it's great, I guess. Like we really don't have a real audience and like be able to feel that some of this stuff is hitting them and like feeling that reciprocation. I'm so excited to feel that.

[18:48] Josh Mitchell: There we go. We are gonna wrap it up on that note, guys. We will be back next week. We are sticking on the jagged train. We have a whole four episodes coming to you guys from Jagged Little Pill Australia. So make sure you're following along. All socials for everyone are down below, so you can check out Emily, you can check out Jagged, make sure you do it. Everything's down below, and we'll be back next week with a brand new episode. See you guys.