With the most recent series of The Voice Kids airing on ITV last year, Victoria Alsina auditioned for the show singing How Far I’ll Go from Moana, resulting in will.i.am turning and her subsequently joining Team Will. Having won the Battle Rounds to reach the Semi-Finals, Victoria progressed to the Final where she performed Black Eyed Peas’ hit single Where Is the Love? with her mentor will.i.am. When theatres returned briefly at the end of 2020, Victoria was cast in A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre making her West End debut, and she’d previously toured with The King and I musical. Victoria spoke to us recently about her time on The Voice Kids, performing with will.i.am and making her West End debut in A Christmas Carol.

How was the experience auditioning for The Voice Kids and having will.i.am as your coach?

I expected to be nervous, but I actually wasn’t. The first audition took place in a studio at ITV Manchester and there was a panel of judges made up of producers and directors and they blew me away because they were cheering me on as soon as I started to sing! When will.i.am picked me I was in heaven, dream come true!

How did it feel winning the Battle rounds to go through to the Semi-Finals?

I couldn’t believe it! When I was on stage I was crying with joy because I didn’t think that I would be chosen by will.i.am as the other two singers were very, very good, and I’m so grateful that Will chose me to be in the semi-finals.

What was it like performing Where Is the Love? in the final with Will?

It was really exciting because that was actually my favourite Black Eyed Peas song and I got to sing with will.i.am himself. I was a little nervous at first, but then noticing that the audience and judges were loving it calmed me down a bit. We gelled together very well and managed a decent performance.

Do you have any favourite memories from your time on The Voice Kids?

Well, actually every single moment and memory of being involved with the lovely people at ITV and The Voice Kids UK was amazing, thrilling and exciting. One funny memory was during a rehearsal for the final where I had to go up some steps and getting glitter all over my hands from the rail and I couldn’t hold the mic because my glittery hands were too slippery, the crew fell about laughing, me too (giggling) and we went again.

Where does your love of singing come from and at what age did you start?

Since I was three years old, I was hooked on Daddy’s music in the car and couldn’t help myself trying to sing along – thank goodness Daddy’s musical taste is good (laughs), Adele, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and many more great ballad singers.

You recently performed in the West End at the Dominion Theatre in A Christmas Carol, what was it like being part of the cast?

Yes, West End debut at only eight years old, right? Well, I love performing, wherever it is, TV, theatre etc. Like I said, I just get on with doing what I’m asked to do and enjoy myself to the fullest. I suppose I’ll have to wait a few more years to realise what eight-year-old’s achievements are in more meaningful ways. The A Christmas Carol cast were incredible, very talented and I learned a lot from being involved in a show of that quality. By the way, the lead actor Brian Conley really is funny and joking about all the time off-stage as well (laughs).

What was the atmosphere like being able to perform during the pandemic before theatres were closed again?

Well, it’s incredibly sad that the theatres are shut again. I am very grateful to have performed in the last show of the run, the night before theatres were going to shut. Everyone in the staff remained very professional and inspiring and kept us very happy. Sad and exciting, all at the same time.

Can you say how it felt making your West End debut?

Everyone around me kept telling me with big broad smiles what a great opportunity and achievement it was, and to be honest, I’m just starting to appreciate it all. I am very lucky to already have the ability at my age to perform at famous places like the Dominion Theatre. It’s like wow, right? (laughs).

You’d previously toured with The King and I, how was this?

It was brilliant, touring around the country and a few places in Europe. My favourite venue was Milton Keynes… just joking (laughs), snowy Switzerland and Ireland were lovely places to perform in. Touring was exhausting because some days we had two shows in one day with a meal in-between and back to the dressing rooms. My castmates were lovely and I made a few friends along the way. The King and I was a very glamorous show which I love being in. A happy story with a sad ending. I loved it.

What did you enjoy most about touring with the musical?

Sharing hotel rooms with a castmate was a lot of fun. We stayed in some really cool hotels, and they took us out at every venue. Costume changes were very exciting, and we had to hurry a lot, what a buzz.

Have you always had an interest in acting and what inspired you to perform in theatre?

YouTube actually has been very influential. I’ve always loved to study singers and actors to see how they do what they do so well so that I could copy them as well in the beginning.

What do you like doing other than performing?

I love to paint and draw. Online tutorials are very accessible to me on my phone and tablet, so I’ve been able to teach myself watercolour painting and portrait sketching.

We understand you’ve worked on commercials, can you tell us about some of them?

Well, I made a TV commercial for Booking.com when I was six years old. I remember that they gave me a monkey toy to play with on set because I was playing an even younger daughter to a pretend dad.

Who are some of your favourite music artists to listen to and do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch?

I absolutely a-d-o-r-e Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Adele. As far as theatre shows are concerned, I love Cats and The Grinch.

Victoria Alsina is represented by Warren Bacci at Top Talent Agency

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