Today sees Nic Myers begin her starring role of Kathryn Merteuil in the UK & Ireland Tour of Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical when it opens at Theatre Royal in Windsor. Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical is booking until June for their final dates at Theatre Royal in Brighton (24th to 28th June), and Nic is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, choreographed by Gary Lloyd, and working alongside a cast including Will Callan as Sebastian Valmont and Abbie Budden as Annette Hargrove, with the musical featuring songs from artists such as Britney Spears, Boyz II Men and *NSYNC. Prior to beginning her role in Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, Nic recently worked with Jonathan and Gary when she played Judy Haynes in White Christmas at The Mill at Sonning, which finished last month. Nic has previously been Alternate Sally Bowles in Cabaret in the West End, having already understudied the role in Paris, and she made her West End and professional debut as Ensemble and cover Linda in BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre, and whilst in the cast, she performed at events including the Olivier Awards and Britain’s Got Talent. We chatted to Nic about her starring role of Kathryn Merteuil in the new UK & Ireland Tour of Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, playing Judy Haynes in White Christmas, performing as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and being part of BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical in London’s West End.

You are starring as Kathryn Merteuil in the UK & Ireland Tour of Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, how did you feel booking the starring role and had you seen the film or musical before auditioning?

I was elated booking the role! Yes, I had seen the film many years ago but it was more my older cousins’ generation than mine as I was only born in 1998. When I rewatched the film prior to auditioning for this, I thought, wow yeah, I see why this was so successful and culty. Kathryn really is that girl. I didn’t get to see the show on stage but had heard great things and I also had a friend in it, Josh Barnett, who played Blaine last year. He said he had loved doing the job at The Other Palace and if I booked it I would have so much fun!

For those not familiar with Cruel Intentions, what can you say about the show and your character Kathryn?

The show is… hmm let me sum it up: Iconic, sultry, sexy, funny, tragic, joyous. Kathryn has iconic 90s-cult-film-Mythic-bitch status. She is a sociopathic, deeply hurt woman who knows who she is and what she wants. She understands the fundamental difference between how men and women should be perceived in the world and resents it. She is quite obviously an abhorrent manipulator and causes masses of destruction without caring about anyone else’s feelings. But in fear of judging her so I can’t empathise, I respect her tenacity and unflappable confidence. The show really has something for everyone from the talent on stage, to the amazing score of banger after banger, to the comedy and the set… you should come see us to find out more!

How has it been preparing to play Kathryn and how is it getting into character?

It’s such a fun part to play. I’ve never played a villain but it’s a great privilege to throw yourself into a character like Kathryn. She’s really meaty for a female character in musical theatre, she has deep roots in all those archaic evil stepmother/sister/villain story arcs, but with a 90s opulent ultra-rich Manhattan twist. In terms of getting into character, honestly, I just need my trusty pair of heels and the cross necklace and I’m there!

What is it like being directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and working with the rest of the cast, which includes Will Callan as Sebastian Valmont and Abbie Budden as Annette Hargrove?

I have had the pleasure of working with Jonathan twice. He directed my third year show Nice Work If You Can Get It, as well as professionally in White Christmas that we just finished at The Mill at Sonning. Jonathan is a pleasure to work with; hugely fair and kind as a director and is always lead by the actor. He really allows the individual to find the character and loves offers which he’ll then expertly shape and guide to create what you see on stage; it’s such a fun partnership. The same goes for Gary (Lloyd), our associate director, too. They’re a dream team. Will and Abbie are also a joy to play alongside. The voice on Will is truly magical, and honestly, I don’t think they could have cast the two of them better in comparison to the film. They have such great chemistry as Seb and Annette!

The musical features a 1990s soundtrack including songs by Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, Natalie Imbruglia and *NSYNC, what is the music and choreography like to perform?

It’s a GIFT. It’s so rare as a musical theatre performer you get to sink your teeth into 90s bops like this. Especially with Jeremy (Wootton) and Will (Joy) leading our music department. They’ve really created a collaborative atmosphere and wanted us as singers to take the lead to find what works best for us and put our own spin on the music, whilst still paying homage and respect to the original tracks. Each song truly fits the plot so well, nothing feels shoehorned it all just works brilliantly! And as for Gary’s choreography, all I can say is, I wish I was doing more! It looks amazing and the ensemble are working so hard. It’s so high energy! Again, Gary has paid homage to the iconic music videos of the time whilst giving it a 2025 fresh relatable spin. I guess we’ll have to see if I also pull it off in the Cruel Intentions Megamix at the end.

What are you looking forward to for taking Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical around the country and how do you think you’ll find the experience touring?

I’m looking forward to touring as I haven’t been to most places that are on our tour list. Particularly Dublin, and I’m excited to return to Manchester because that’s ALWAYS a good time. I’m interested to see how the audience reaction differs around the country and across different generations! It’s really a piece that has something for everyone – a guaranteed good night out for all.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical and who do you think will enjoy watching the production?

As I said above – there’s something for everyone whether it’s the comedy, the dancing, the drama, the bangers or just loving the film as the show really takes the script verbatim. And if none of the above interest you at all, the cast are all very beautiful and talented so you should come just to witness that if nothing else. Everyone should book to see us even, even if just out of intrigue!

How was it playing Judy Haynes in White Christmas at The Mill at Sonning over Christmas 2024?

White Christmas was a real festive cosy joy. Again, directed and choreographed by Jonathan and Gary so I was lucky enough to experience them as a team prior to Cruel Intentions! The Mill is such a lovely little venue and we were really well looked after. Playing a part like Judy is not something I saw for myself and so vastly different from Sally Bowles and Kathryn Merteuil, so I really got to experience a variety this year, I’m very lucky people let me do all this stuff! I really enjoyed dancing Gary’s choreography with Connor Hughes, that kind of pas de deux is something that I doubt I’ll get to do again any time soon.

You were Alternate Sally Bowles in the West End production of Cabaret, having previously understudied the role in Paris, how was it taking on the role of Sally and seeing the audience response to the musical?

The shows were two entirely different productions so it was fascinating to be involved in two very different interpretations with the same source material. How French and English audiences react is also wildly different. The French is much more reserved, as you can imagine, we really had to earn them by the end of the show. But everything was different even down to the layout of the theatres; the West End production is so immersive and contained, which makes it thrilling. Our production in Paris was a much larger venue so it made the cabaret numbers much showier and grander. I loved both for different reasons! So much varied from the style/genre of the choreography, to the character choices created by the principals and the creative team, to the literal score being different! It was also very different approaching the show as Alternate Sally and as an Ensemble member. Having done it in Paris and never going on for Sally, given that I was second cover, getting Alternate in town was a huge pinch me moment. I was like, wait, I’m actually going to play Sally… multiple times…? I learnt so much as an actor and about myself from alternating Sally Bowles in town and I will attribute what I learnt on that job to any successes I have in the future as an actor.

What are some of your favourite memories from performing as Sally Bowles and being part of the West End company?

Probably going on as Sally for the 1000th show of Cabaret with one of my good friends Toby Turpin as the Emcee. We were both at ArtsEd together and both quite young playing leads in the West End and it just felt really special. When we were on together, we found it very funny to call it Cabaret Schools Edition/or Cabaret Junior. But definitely my top favourite memory goes to my debut with two of my best friends, my parents and my grandparents watching. That was one of my proudest moments to date. Generally, the gorgeous souls that live in that building made the whole year a joy.

What was it like making your West End debut in BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre as Ensemble and cover Linda and what was the musical like to be part of?

BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, I have said before and will say again, was the best year of my life to date. I made my best friends that I will take with me for life. We were all in our 20s, all fresh out of the pandemic so the excitement to get back on stage was palpable. It was my first job, and I believe there was six of us in total, as well as 14 West End debuts, amongst the cast… and we were putting on a new show in the West End… all of that combined made it a very special, exciting building to be in. We were literally working with Bob Gale, the writer of the Back to the Future franchise, who was in the room with us every day and all six weeks of previews. How mad is that. We also did every extra-curricular performance opportunity you can imagine that year; the Oliviers, WhatsOnStage, Big Night of Musicals to 13,000 people, Britain’s Got Talent, West End Live, all of it! Imagine that being your introduction to the industry. We truly had a great time.

How was your time training at ArtsEd and can you tell us about some of the shows you performed in whilst there, before graduating in 2020?

I had a blast at ArtsEd. Everything I know is because I trained at that school, and I can’t thank the staff and my peers enough. You learn a lot from the people around you also studying and discovering at the same time. My third-year show was Freaky Friday where I played Katherine Blake (another Katherine, hehe) and that was truly one of the moments where I realised that I could actually lead a show and sing hard things and enjoy it so much too! We had loads of extra performing opportunities whilst I was there but a couple of highlights were the Oliviers singing in the choir and I also got to play a very small featured role in On The Town at the Royal Albert Hall with a 60-piece orchestra, which was amazing, as well as singing in the choir for West Side Story at the BBC Proms! So many fun moments. I think I sang at the Royal Albert Hall four times whilst at ArtsEd… crazy! Grateful!

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

Honestly, it all stems from my grandma, she was my acting teacher from the age of about seven. When I started having singing lessons, my teacher told me about her daughter who did a youth theatre group, she was 13 when I was nine. As soon as I did my first show with that group I didn’t stop, three a year including a trip to the fringe for nine years straight until I was 18 and auditioning for drama schools. It was like an infection that snowballed… once I started tap dancing it was “Mum, can I have singing lessons?” then it was, “Okay, now can I do speech and drama lessons?” then it was acting exams, then it was ballet, then it was musicals, then it was playing piano then it was auditioning for classes and troupes. It’s all I’ve ever done and all I’ve ever known. I eat, sleep and breathe musical theatre, it was just a natural love affair that started very young, and I don’t see me divorcing it any time soon.

What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

Of things currently on, I LOVED Operation Mincemeat, a lot. I loved Standing at the Sky’s Edge, I loved Next to Normal, and I really loved Titanique. There’s an eclectic mix there! But truly, I love the art itself, and I love when it’s done really well. Storytelling through song and dance and speech, be it tragic or hilarious or ridiculous or genius or deeply moving or confusing… I just love it all. And I love when you can tell that something has come together because every single member of that team from creative to backstage to technical to cast to music department to wigs and make up are all so good at their jobs that it has been a colossal team effort, and it reaps rewards because of it. I think those pieces were just a few things I saw last year and this year that did that and reignited my love for the thing as I was watching them.

How do you like to spend your free time?

At the moment, mostly resting and enjoying time with my builder boyfriend (when we can find five minutes to see each other, as you can imagine our schedules don’t align too well!). I love the gym and Pilates and fitness in general. If I’m not at the gym or taking a walk to a coffee shop, I’m reading or cooking. Just the standard nice, enjoyable things!

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