UK Theatre Network

Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story

Interview with Sarah Jane Buckley

Best known for playing Crazy Cathy Barnes in Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks and as the face of the Prince's Trust. Sarah Jane Buckley returns to the stage this Autumn in Theatre Productions seventh UK tour of Over the Rainbow, “a compelling award-winning musical telling the life story of the legendary Eva Cassidy. Following her life through dramatic scenes and stunning live renditions of her most infamous songs, Over the Rainbow is a haunting ode to one of music’s forgotten greats. This Award Winning Show has received plaudits from the Eva Cassidy Band, members of the Cassidy family and contains projection and original footage from Eva’s life.”  http://www.theatre-productions.com/

So how are you portraying the different stages of her life?

I played her last year, I listen to her music, it's a real challenge to be identical, as a singer to someone but you can always get away with adults playing kids, like in Blood Brothers. It's quite a challenging role, 25 odd songs, continuous music, lots of scenes, it's a big role let me tell you. There are 10 or so people, musicians and actors playing different parts. Maureen Nolan is playing my mum, Brian Fortuna from Strictly Come Dancing is playing my brother. When I played it last year, I took over from Zoe Tyler. We went from one end of the country to the other, from Aberdeen to the South Coast! Trying to get people into theatre, that's my passion.

How can you make a career out of theatre in the current financial climate?

Financially, it's a very tough career, a lot of my friends have dropped out. I do workshops for TV as well. If you're asking, should you do it? You shouldn't do it. If you have no choice in your soul, then you should do it. The highs are fabulous and the lows are tough. It has to be your passion, if you make a living out of it that doesn't really matter. You do it for the love of it.

When do you start rehearsals?

In about 2 weeks, they're very short, only 2 weeks. Last time I did a 6 week run, but the tours been going for 6 years. It's been very well received and very well attended. People love her music, they love Eva's beautiful voice, it's so instinctual. Unfortunately she was only really discovered posthumously. That makes it slightly easier to act as there's not much footage on the internet. She was incredibly shy, she didn't like performing.

How did you deal with the issue of making a musical about someone not interested in fame and fortune?

The directors always telling me to look down, a bit lady Diana-esque. No tits and teeth, here!

What songs will you be performing?

All the old favourites, Over The Rainbow, Times A Healer, a fantastic arrangement of Stormy Monday. She covered so many songs. She covered Imagine. She didn't really do any of her own original tunes, she only did a couple of her own songs. She died so young that she didn't really have time. She may have written some, but never released them, Golden Time I think one was called.

How was she discovered?

She used to go out gigging with a band, she did the local gigging circuit, she could have been an artist, she was a great artist and loved to paint, loved nature. It is referred to in the story. In the UK she was discovered by Terry Wogan. She was never married, but she had a relationship with Chris Biondo and even though they spilt up halfway through her life, he supported her all the way through her Chemotherapy till she died from Cancer, she was only 33.

Anything else you'd like to add?

The production's amazing, its fabulous theatre, although its heart wrenching. Please support live theatre, escape from the TV, escape from the DVDs, see real people doing acting. It's hard to imagine what theatres like if you haven't seen it, so come and support live theatre.  


Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story opens on 3 September 2011 at St Helen's Theatre Royal. See below for further details. 

http://www.theatre-productions.com/shows/Over_The_Rainbow/dates/