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[0:00] Josh Mitchell: In the spirit of reconciliation, we are theatre and theatrically aloud acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community.

[0:10] Josh Mitchell: We pay our respects to their elders, past, present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

[0:22] Josh Mitchell: Hello, theatre fans one and all. Welcome back to the We Are Theatre Podcast. My name is Josh, and today we are back across international borders for the first time in a while talking about Grease, the musical with Sandy herself, Olivia Moore.

[0:36] Josh Mitchell: Hello, Olivia, how are you?

[0:38] Olivia Moore: Hello, I'm good, thank you. Thank you for having me. I am really excited. I've just had a friend that's come back from the UK and was like, Grease is amazing. Olivia was amazing. And I was like, cool, that's a good sign because I've got to come in on the show. So we could chat all about that.

[0:53] Josh Mitchell: So um before we get to the show, let's dive into you and your journey through theatre. How did you start in the performing industry and how'd you get to where you are now?

[1:05] Olivia Moore: Um, so since I was about three years old, I started ballet classes. Um, but that was something that I think my parents um put me in because my sister did it, and it was just a really good way to meet new friends and stay fit, really. Um so I did that since a really young age. And then um, I think being the youngest of four, I think maybe my dramatic side probably yeah, being the youngest definitely influenced that. Um and so yeah, so I kind of so I did my dancing, um, and also so my brother, this is I'm gonna try and make this story short, but basically, my brother um plays tennis yeah um competitively when he was younger, and so every summer we were kind of like touring around the UK um to different um tournaments and things, and because I was young, I would go along.

Um, and so as kind of like a thank you to my parents for cooperating they would take me to see um a West End show every summer which um I was very very grateful for and very lucky for that um and that's kind of where like my love for theatre uh where it began and I it wasn't actually until I was probably 17 when I realized that you could actually do it as a job um I yeah I started to do um I started to do uh acting classes and I went to um I went to GSA and did their Saturday school I did like Easter schools I did that I just I couldn't get enough of it um and uh yeah so that's kind of I kind of my I mean my passion for it and my inspiration was literally seeing performers on stage and thinking wow I I want to be like that um and then yeah was there a show or the moment that gave you that thought was there a show where you kind of or a night where that you remember sitting there and being like this is um I think I think probably so I remember going to see Mary Poppins. I actually I'm not actually 100% sure what my first musical is which is actually quite bad.

[3:14] Olivia Moore: But I remember seeing Mary Poppins and I remember her flying across and I remember that moment being like magical and I was like I want to do that like that's amazing. But genuinely I think that was when I was quite young, but I think when I got older, the one that really, really stuck out for me was I went to go and see Kiss Me Kate at Chichester Festival. God, I can't even speak. You can tell it's morning here. At Chichester Festival Theatre. And there was one woman in particular in the ensemble who was just incredible. And I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. And it was then that I was like, that's that's what I want. I want to have, I want to make that impression on someone. I want to make that um she just was she just honestly was just flawless. And I I always remember that. And so I think maybe that was kind of the spark that I was like okay this is that this is actually what I really want to do.

[4:17] Olivia Moore: Yeah. Um so yeah no it's um it's funny though how you remember like certain little things that you watch and yeah and how it's kind of influenced and kind of given me drive to kind of do it now.

[4:30] Josh Mitchell: It's funny because my my moment like that was Poppins as well but mine was Bert tap dancing on the roof. So like during step in time. So like as soon as you said Poppins I was like oh hi okay yeah cool.

[4:43] Olivia Moore: I mean that that number that number as well because I I recently I've seen um Mary Poppins quite a few times and I took my because it's my mum's dream for me to be Mary Poppins. So I feel like if I don't play her I feel like she will feel like my career was there was nothing happened. Mom this is us putting it out into the universe just FYI this is the stepping but yeah so I so it was um uh my grandma and my mum um celebrated some big birthdays just before the pandemic. And so we bought them tickets to go. We went, we all went to go and see Mary Poppins, but we had to we had to wait because obviously the pandemic hit. Um and that number step in time really is so magical. Like when that music starts, I just I I was I can't I can't tell you the excitement that I had. It's just it's just so magic.

[5:40] Josh Mitchell: Yeah, yeah. We've got a touring here in Australia at the moment. I saw it a couple of months ago, and it's just the everything pulling away and the brush away. I mean, we're here to talk about Grease, but we're chatting Mary Poppins real quick. But oh my god.

[5:55] Olivia Moore: The music, like the I can't even, I can't even put into words like the the like the drum of it kind of at the start, the you know, the build of it, it's just so exciting. I guess. And then it hits you that oh my god, there's actually like a 30 strong ensemble tap dancing live in front of you.

[6:14] Josh Mitchell: Yeah, sick. You can at the end you can you can see when you're watching them and it's like, oh my god, bless you, you must be so tired right now. How are you hiding how heavy you're breathing right now?

[6:26] Olivia Moore: I love it. Um so you get to where you are now. Um, talk us through getting the call for Grease.

[6:35] Olivia Moore: Um getting the call, hey, put on your leather, you are Sandy. What was that like?

[6:42] Olivia Moore: Um, so it was quite um, so it was just before Christmas. So I um I had done a few rounds and I'd met with the team before. Um so I knew them. And so it was actually really, really nice to see them all again. Um so yeah, it was it was quite a quick turnaround, which is actually really lovely because sometimes in theater you can be waiting ages to find out. So um I was actually doing my other job, which I've been doing in the pandemic, which was um like an online, I was basically like um like an online host for conferences.

[7:09] Olivia Moore: So um I was just sat doing that um and just yeah, got the call. And my partner Piers like immediately went to the kitchen, got some champagne. Um and yeah, it was just um it was really surreal, like really surreal. I think, you know, I accepted that I probably wasn't gonna work for a while, and you know, and I became really uh like happy with that. I kind of came, you know, I I was at peace with that. And I think so I didn't expect anything. And so it came as a really lovely surprise. And I think as well, just before Christmas, it was really lovely to be like, oh, like I've got something to go into the next year, and yeah, and so yeah, it was it was amazing. It was so amazing. I'm so glad that Piers, my boyfriend, was able like was was saw the phone call and um yeah, just great day.

[8:22] Olivia Moore: And then I went back to my job and I was like, hello, like I'm not operating today. I'm okay. I didn't get some really big news just two seconds ago.

[8:31] Josh Mitchell: Yeah.

[8:32] Josh Mitchell: Um coming out of your last show with the pandemic and having to shift back into regular work. Um, did you find it easier now with having to with what we went through in the pandemic to come out of a contract? Did you find it easier to kind of slip back into a regular job and accept that it might be a little bit longer until you find that next contract was it and it's a weird headspace with obviously theater because you don't know when that next contract is but like with what's gone on what was your kind of process of dealing with that change.

[9:20] Olivia Moore: Um so I think when the pandemic first hit I actually kind of allowed myself to just rest for a bit I think a I I think it was a very you know unknown period of time. But I think I think a lot of performers thought okay I'm actually gonna take advantage of this time and just relax. I think our bodies constantly kind of powering through and so you know if I'm being completely honest like definitely like the first few weeks maybe even the first few months I absolutely did nothing I watched Netflix and at lots of food even though I definitely had COVID at the start so I couldn't taste any of it um but yeah I I really allowed my body just to kind of reset and just kind of rest.

[10:07] Olivia Moore: And then so trying to get a job uh during the pandemic was really hard. I applied so many different so many different jobs um and I couldn't even get my foot through the door for an for an interview. So it was really stressful and then this job opportunity came up and it was working from home so it was perfect because the pandemic, obviously, you know, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. Um and honestly, like I think because I've been trying so long to get a job and you know, I was stressed and things, it came about and I was just so grateful. Um, it honestly is a lifesaver. I'm still on their books now, so that when I finish Grease, I'm gonna go back.

[10:51] Olivia Moore: Yeah um and I think I think because of the situation, because of everything that was happening, I personally was I I slotted into doing a different job in a different um completely different industry um quite happily just because I was just so grateful to work. Um and also like I kind of I kind of really wanted to go for it and I ended up getting promoted in this job, and I really, I really wanted to make something of it. I didn't just want it to be a job that I did in the pandemic, because like you said, you never know when you're gonna get a job. I don't know. Waitress could have been my last job ever in theater. So I really wanted I I'm the sort of person as well. I I can't, I have to put 110% into everything. Um, and yeah, and I end, I I really really enjoy this job. I mean, I obviously haven't done it for a while, but I really enjoyed it. I met so many different people from so many different backgrounds.

[11:53] Olivia Moore: Um actually a lot of performers ended up doing it. So I met loads of performers through doing this very non theatrical job. Um but yeah, it was it was actually a breath of fresh air. It was something new to focus on, and it was it was really good to focus on it in such a crazy time. Um so yeah, I I really enjoyed it and I'm still very appreciative of that job.

[12:17] Josh Mitchell: Beautiful. Now let's tackle the big questions.

[12:19] Josh Mitchell: Um, tackling an iconic show, an iconic character. Um that this is probably one of the more well known in a wider scale when it comes to screen to stage adaptations.

[12:42] Josh Mitchell: What was it like going into that rehearsal room and getting to see this show come together in the time frame that you guys had being that turnaround? But seeing this show that we it movie that we all grew up with turn into that stage show with you now being that leading force of Sandy. What was that like for you?

[13:12] Olivia Moore: So because this is my first part, um it was I was nervous, I was excited, I had so many different emotions, um, but I definitely went into the room feeling like I had responsibility, um, which I'm very grateful for, but also yeah, it was it was really but we had a whole so the production, the newer production of Grease had already been on tour twice. So we we had kind of, you know, um we had the support and guidance of so many creatives.

[13:46] Olivia Moore: I'm gonna list them, I'm gonna try and list them all now. We've got um, so we have Nikolai Foster, the director, we've got uh Del White, uh Richard Rowe, Arlene Phillips, um Dan Glover. We had a whole team that knew this show inside out.

[14:03] Olivia Moore: Yeah. Um, so it was so reassuring to know that I was in safe hands. Um, because like you said, also taking on such an iconic role um can be really daunting. But do you know what? It was it was so amazing because since day one, they always asked for our opinion. They always valued our input.

[14:26] Olivia Moore: And I think as an actor, to be so creative and so have creatives that are so open to adapt things and change things for the cast that they have is so refreshing and it's so exciting. And I think even with a show like Grease, that is so well known, you know, people come expecting certain things.

[14:47] Olivia Moore: It's not like a new musical where people are open-minded to kind of wow, what's this gonna be like? People expect certain things. So to come into a rehearsal room and literally have Del and Nikolai, like, okay, so let's just do it. Let's just do the scene and let's see what happens.

[15:05] Olivia Moore: And then like so much of the blocking that we've got in the show has kind of just like come naturally from us from kind of bouncing off each other, and you know, which was wonderful, like it was really, really wonderful. And it makes you feel as an actor, like your choices and your you know, your natural instincts are valued and appreciated.

[15:28] Olivia Moore: And you know, sometimes things do have to change, but yeah, I think the rehearsal process, like when we started that, I personally was like, oh, okay, this is gonna be a challenge, but also this is gonna be a really, really good kind of process for me to also navigate through because I have got a say in it.

[15:50] Olivia Moore: Um, so it was fantastic, and I'm so grateful for that rehearsal process. And I think I speak on behalf of everyone. Like we had it was full on because the first week was just dance. Um, but it was it was a really lovely room to be in.

[16:01] Olivia Moore: It was a really lovely creative room. Yeah, and big dance heavy show too when it comes to dance. So what obviously with a dance background kind of probably would have come a little bit easier, but learning all the different styles and everything that you guys have to put into the show, obviously tracking back 60 odd years now.

[16:28] Olivia Moore: Um, what was that like kind of learning that 60s swing kind of vibe that has to go into the show, plus obviously the iconic scenes um that go into making Grease. Um, what was that like for you getting the dance side of things down?

[16:50] Olivia Moore: So I don't necessarily do much dance in the show. All of my dance happens right at the end. So I don't do the hand jive, I don't do I I get to watch it. Lucky which on a Tuesday day is actually quite lovely.

[17:06] Olivia Moore: Um, but yeah, but so so watching, so I watched a lot of like the rehearsal process, and the thing is they are such the choreography is full out. Yeah, like there is no time to rest, you know, it is cardio central.

[17:22] Olivia Moore: Um but it was really interesting because you know, when you know that you've got a big number, you know, there is so much power and force coming from everyone. And it was so interesting listening to Arlene because she was saying, you know, the style of this of this movement in this time was so easy.

[17:41] Olivia Moore: I don't want to see you working hard, I want it to be cool, chilled, like bouncing, like rather than just like firing through, like trying to get through. Like, I don't, she, yeah, she was just like, I don't want, I don't want it to look hard. I want it to look easy.

[17:55] Olivia Moore: I want to look relaxed and chilled. And I think that also helped everyone get through it. Yeah. Because I think mentally they probably approached it like this is an easy, this is a chilled dance. I'm not, you know, rather than like, I'm doing the hand jive now.

[18:08] Olivia Moore: I'm not really out of breath. So yeah, so that was really interesting because it massively it changed everything. Yeah. Um, and I actually part of my blocking is I come down, um, I come onto stage um towards like the end of the hand jive.

[18:24] Olivia Moore: So I do actually sit and watch it. I watch it from the wings anyway, but um, and yeah, and seeing the change um was uh was really interesting and it was and it was interesting to kind of I think it was I think it was a hard adaptation because you know it's probably it must be really hard doing something so physical and so draining and trying to make it look chill.

[18:46] Olivia Moore: Easy, yeah. Yeah. So um, but I mean everyone made it look so so easy and and yeah, it's um it is fantastic. From your perspective, um, obviously growing up with the movie and probably parents that were very this is kind of one of those movies that's kind of like Wizard of Oz kind of where parents were like, here we've got to watch this.

[19:16] Olivia Moore: You've got to have this in your life. Um, from your perspective, being in the show, how do you feel it translates to stage on this like the new adaptation side of things? Um seeing audiences' reactions and everything like that.

[19:36] Olivia Moore: How does it come across from your perspective? Um, I think it's come across really well. I think you're always theatre, you're always gonna have mixed reviews. Yeah. I think I think that is the lovely thing about theatre. Everyone's got an opinion, everyone's got a different experience.

[19:52] Olivia Moore: Um, and I think but I think the people have noticed the changes that we've made, you know, some changes that we have made to represent the world that we're in now. And so I think it's nice people notice it because that's what we want.

[20:08] Olivia Moore: We want people to know how we've changed and why we've changed for the better. And you know, so um, but from what I've heard from people, you know, I mean, my friend came to watch a show last night, and I mean, I don't know if she was just being nice, but she said it was the best production of Grease she's ever seen.

[20:25] Olivia Moore: So hopefully she was being honest. Um, but yeah, I think I think it does translate well. I think some people probably do come expecting certain things, and maybe they might be there, but I do think on the whole, like the cast that we have, the material that we're doing, the choreography, I think you can't help but have a good time.

[20:46] Olivia Moore: Yeah. I think if we if people leave not having a good time, then we haven't done our job.

[20:53] Olivia Moore: Yeah. Um, but yeah, I think it does translate well.

[20:57] Olivia Moore: Getting those bums in seats and getting through that first show and then first week of previews and opening the show. What was that like for you seeing that first kind of crowd reaction?

[21:11] Olivia Moore: Um to this show, obviously, uh, from your perspective at the end of the day after all the hard work, what was that emotion, especially being that first show for you getting to kind of wear that crown?

[21:27] Olivia Moore: What was that like? Kind of taking that bow and being like, Yeah, I've made it. Honestly, it was it was um that was the first show back since the pandemic. So just being in front of an audience was surreal, overwhelming and just really emotional.

[21:45] Olivia Moore: I just couldn't really, it was I just couldn't really believe I was standing on stage doing it again. Um it was yeah, I just thought I was, I just constantly was like, I feel like I'm gonna cry. I think I'm gonna cry.

[22:00] Olivia Moore: Um, but it was it was amazing. Like the audiences, and to be honest, obviously, like in you know, our you know, our first night and previews, you know, the love and the support was just came flooding in.

[22:13] Olivia Moore: Um, but I have to say, like in general, the audiences at Grease are fantastic. Um, they are so supportive, they're very vocal, they always cheer, and you know, it really does, you know, theatre is wonderful, but at the end of the day, like it is it is a job.

[22:33] Olivia Moore: And so sometimes you can have days when you're feeling not very well, or you can have days when you're feeling tired, or you know, something's happened and you're just feeling you know not great. And so to come in to work and have that level of appreciation is just it really does help you get through.

[22:50] Olivia Moore: And I've never really, well, I have kind of because I I feel like previously the job that I did before Waitress Heathers, that does have a large following, and you know the the audiences that came to watch that were amazing.

[23:05] Olivia Moore: Um but I feel like the audiences that come to watch Grease are are so different, like it is just different.

[23:13] Olivia Moore: Um yeah, they're they're fantastic. I I will never forget the first time I sang hopelessly. Um it was just like the reaction was just so I I can't even explain it.

[23:28] Olivia Moore: Uh like I just and in a moment like that, when you're on stage on your own, I can't you can't help but feel really vulnerable, especially a stage theatre like that.

[23:36] Olivia Moore: So then to feel that kind of like warmth from everyone, especially with a song like hopelessly to start with, where you're already in that vulnerable state, and then it ends and you're like, it's just me.

[23:50] Olivia Moore: Yeah, I think also knowing that my parents were there, my boyfriend was there. Um it was just it was kind of like a moment of like I did it, like yeah, I did it.

[24:01] Olivia Moore: Oh my gosh. So um it was, and it still continues to be incredible. The audiences are fantastic, and um yeah, it's just such a great vibe.

[24:07] Olivia Moore: Such a great vibe. Um, awesome. We're gonna go into our wrap-up phase now. So a few quick questions.

[24:19] Olivia Moore: Um, for those people still yet to come see this show, which is on a limited run, FYI for the you that are able obviously to get into London um to see it. Dominion Theatre is where it's at.

[24:31] Olivia Moore: So make your fingers wiggle right now. Get to yes. Didn't know where I was going with that, but it worked.

[24:39] Josh Mitchell: No, it worked, it worked.

[24:41] Olivia Moore: Um from your perspective, we've got three questions.

[24:46] Olivia Moore: While on stage, what is your favorite moment to be a part of in this show?

[24:53] Olivia Moore: Okay. Whilst I'm on stage. Um, oh when's my favorite part? I am gonna say I'm gonna, oh, that's hard.

[25:07] Olivia Moore: Yeah. Because basically, just any time that I'm on stage with everyone, a lot of my a lot of my stuff is quite, I'm either with just Danny or it's just the girls.

[25:17] Olivia Moore: So whenever like summer nights or the end, I love I love it when I get to see everyone because I don't get to see everyone for the majority of the show.

[25:26] Olivia Moore: So I think okay, I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say you're the one that I want and the finale because that kind of like merges into one because because everyone's together, we're all dancing, and it's all just a lot of fun.

[25:38] Josh Mitchell: Beautiful.

[25:39] Olivia Moore: Um overall, what's your favorite song in the show?

[25:46] Olivia Moore: Summer nights.

[25:47] Josh Mitchell: Summer nights.

[25:48] Olivia Moore: Okay.

[25:49] Josh Mitchell: And last but not least, the big question.

[25:53] Josh Mitchell: Um give me an elevator pitch right now of why someone who's sitting on the edge has seen Grease and goes, I don't know. Why should they come see this show?

[26:06] Olivia Moore: Because everyone in life has struggles. People have days when they wake up and they feel rubbish, but this show, honestly, you will leave with a smile on your face.

[26:16] Olivia Moore: It's so electric, it's so fun. There's so many dance routines. You're you are guaranteed to have a good night.

[26:22] Olivia Moore: Um so even if it's just one night that makes you feel better, make sure it's Grease the musical.

[26:28] Josh Mitchell: And that was without hesitation.

[26:30] Josh Mitchell: That was just boom.

[26:32] Josh Mitchell: That was solid.

[26:34] Josh Mitchell: I didn't even get an um or a thought.

[26:36] Josh Mitchell: That was just straight in.

[26:37] Olivia Moore: That was fantastic.

[26:40] Josh Mitchell: Thank you very much.

[26:42] Josh Mitchell: There we go.

[26:42] Josh Mitchell: That that I'm not even going to try and sell this show to you guys.

[26:45] Josh Mitchell: The links are in the description.

[26:48] Josh Mitchell: Description box below for anyone looking to get tickets.

[26:51] Josh Mitchell: Limited run.

[26:52] Josh Mitchell: So make sure you don't hesitate.

[26:54] Josh Mitchell: Just get in if you've got a spare night.

[26:56] Josh Mitchell: If you can make the trip, get there, do it.

[26:59] Josh Mitchell: See Olivia do her thing because from what I've heard, she is an absolute goddess on stage.

[27:05] Josh Mitchell: And we should all see her do her thing.

[27:06] Olivia Moore: Um that's all right.

[27:09] Josh Mitchell: Um, and we we will be back very soon with a brand new episode of the We Are Theatre Podcast.

[27:17] Josh Mitchell: Thanks, guys.

[27:17] Olivia Moore: Bye.