Recently, Asanda Abbie Masike has finished her run as Helga in Roald Dahl’s The Witches at the National Theatre, a role she shared with Chloe Raphael and Jersey Blu Georgia. Roald Dahl’s The Witches was directed by Lyndsey Turner, and Asanda recorded in the studio for the song Get Up! with her fellow Helgas and some of the young Ensemble members. In 2021, Asanda was in the original West End cast of Disney’s FROZEN the Musical as Young Anna (Stephanie McKeon), before taking over the role of Young Elsa (Samantha Barks) later in her contract. During the pandemic in 2020, when theatres could reopen for a short while, Asanda made her professional and West End debut in A Christmas Carol as Grace Smith. Catching up with Asanda, she talks about playing Helga in Roald Dahl’s The Witches at the National Theatre, her time as Young Anna and Young Elsa in FROZEN the Musical and making her professional and West End debut in A Christmas Carol during the pandemic.

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Helga in Roald Dahl’s The Witches and how would you describe the character?

Helga is not girly, she is mire of a tomboy and she doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do, and she is caring.

What was the show like to be part of and how was it working alongside the rest of the cast?

It was an amazing experience and I met such talented people.

How did you find the experience performing at the National Theatre and being directed by Lyndsey Turner?

Lyndsey was an awesome director. She is incredibly talented and she is hilarious.

You recorded the song Get Up! from the musical in the studio with your fellow Helgas Chloe Raphael and Jersey Blu Georgia, as well as some of the young Ensemble cast members, how was this?

It was so much fun. We all went to the studio in a bus. In the studio, we played Among Us until we were called to record.

What did you enjoy about playing Helga and is there anything you will miss most about performing in Roald Dahl’s The Witches?

The thing I will miss in The Witches is my costume, which is my jacket and my beard. I will also miss my friends.

In 2021, you were in the original West End cast of FROZEN the Musical as Young Anna (Stephanie McKeon), how did you feel finding out you’d booked the show and how was it originating the role in London?

I was so happy and thrilled that I would be an OG Anna because I have been a FROZEN fan ever since it came out. I knew all of the songs and I would sing them non-stop and it made it more easier to play the role.

What was it like taking over the role of Young Elsa (Samantha Barks) and what was the character like to play?

Elsa was a sensational character to play. I loved doing the magic snow.

How was it performing the musical numbers in FROZEN the Musical and what are some of your highlights from working on a Disney production?

I loved doing that show and one of the highlights was meeting all the astonishing cast.

When theatres could reopen briefly during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, you made your professional and West End debut as Grace Smith in A Christmas Carol at the Dominion Theatre, how was this?

It was my first time performing and I loved being in rehearsals, and the music was amazing. I’m just so sad that it had to end so quickly.

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do professionally?

My parents put me in an agency because ever since I could talk, all I would do was sing.

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

I love Hamilton and I hope that I could be Angelica.

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

I love to crochet, do some diamond dots and play with my brothers.

What do you enjoy most about working in the acting industry?

You get to learn lots of new stuff and you get to meet wonderful people.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping 2024 brings for you?

I don’t have anything lined up at the moment, but I wish to be in The Lion King.

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