From Saturday 22nd November to Sunday 4th January, Gina Murray will be in the cast of The Capitol Theatre Horsham’s pantomime of Robin Hood playing The Sheriff alongside a cast including Mark Irwin as Robin Hood, Georgia Bradshaw as Maid Marian and Jack North as Little John, with tickets currently available from the theatre’s website. In the 2024 UK Tour of Hairspray, Gina played Velma Von Tussle – a role she reprised from the 2017/18 UK Tour, and she’s played Mama Morton in Chicago a number of times over the years, such as West End, China, UK Tour and South Korea Tour. Gina played Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! in Cyprus in 2018, with her previous stage roles including Serena Katz in Fame and Georgie in The Full Monty. Also a screen actor, Gina was in the cast of The Hunt for Raoul Moat, and early next year, she will be seen in an unannounced drama role. Alongside her sister Mazz, Gina co-hosted the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards, and with Brian May, she released a charity single I’m a Woman as part of the music group WOMAN, which also features Mazz, Anna-Jane Casey and Kerry Ellis, with all proceeds going to Target Ovarian Cancer and The Caron Keating Foundation, and saw I’m a Woman reach #1 in the iTunes rock charts. We spoke to Gina about opening in The Capitol Theatre Horsham’s pantomime Robin Hood as The Sheriff, playing Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, her time as Mama Morton in Chicago over the years and what Donna Sheridan was like to play in MAMMA MIA!.

What are you most looking forward to for performing in pantomime later this year, when you play The Sheriff in Robin Hood at The Capitol Horsham and what do you enjoy most about pantomime season?

I am really excited to finally get to play a villain… I’ve played a fairy many, many times and princesses too, in the past… but a baddie is so much closer to who I really am 😃 Seriously, though, panto season makes me feel Christmassy. My kids are grown ups now, so I really love to feel the energy radiating from the children in the audience – entertaining all sorts of different people – and giving them a couple of hours off from their lives and any worries they may have. That’s very special. It’s like a meditation. Not just for the audience members, but for me too actually.

What do you think The Sheriff will be like to play and how are you preparing for the role?

I’m preparing by being as mean as I possibly can. I’m very method! Ha! I imagine that playing a baddie is very different from my panto experiences so far. The reaction will sound and feel very new to me, and will no doubt take some getting used to. I have been thinking about how to play her all year. I’m of the opinion that, as an actress, the way to approach villains – not just in panto, but all villains – is to remember that they rarely are just pure evil… they often don’t even think they are bad. They feel justified and that is way more interesting to watch and play. I look to masters of the art of playing villains (for example, Glenn Close and Ralph Fiennes) to take inspiration from.

What is it like interacting with a pantomime audience and seeing families getting involved?

I love pantomime so much. One of the main reasons is that it is a very family-orientated theatrical experience. That, in itself, is reasonably rare. I love that children are introduced to the theatre via panto, very early on in life. They can see and feel the magic it brings. I was one of them once and it affected me so much that I decided to be part of it myself one day! Also, though, along with Shakespeare, panto is an intrinsically British tradition, steeped in history and culture and one where the audience are invited to participate in it in a very immersive way. That is so exciting and requires a skill set quite apart from all other theatrical skills an actor might employ and therefore results in a quite unique theatrical journey. Hopefully it leads to those children in the audience growing up to be adults that still love going to the theatre all their lives.

How was it meeting some of your fellow cast members for the first time (which includes Mark Irwin as Robin Hood, Georgia Bradshaw as Maid Marian and Jack North as Little John) at the photoshoot, and what has it been like reading this year’s pantomime script?

I absolutely loved going to meet some of the cast and crew for the photoshoot earlier in the year! It helps to build the anticipation. I can’t wait to work with them all. I knew Emma Lindars before and she has one of the best voices you’ll ever hear. I haven’t met everyone yet, but I did say hi to some of the creatives, theatre staff and crew too. They’re all utterly delightful… and laughed at my jokes… which is really all I care about. And I’m so looking forward to meeting everyone else. They’re all really accomplished. It’s so exciting!

The script is so much fun. I’m looking forward to this show such a lot. I do have a look and a read, of course, ahead of rehearsals. I avoid doing too much work before we start though, because, inevitably, there are always lots of changes in the rehearsal room. It’s always great to see how people lift the text off the page and onto its feet. When all the music gets layered on top as well it’s always so magical.

What are pantomimes like to rehearse for and how different do you find them to standard musical theatre productions?

Well, the short answer is: waaaaaay faster!!! Usually with a musical, it rehearses for at least a month and much more for a brand-new show. You’re extremely lucky if you get half that time on a panto! And in fact, we DO have half that time! It means that the schedule has to be very organised and your creative team have to be super speedy to get everything ready in time. Everyone has to be reliable, professional and really fast at picking things up, whilst not getting too stressed or exhausted! It’s always a challenge to not get too overwhelmed and keep your sense of humour. But we all know it’s always like this and somehow it always comes together in time. What a ride!

Why would you recommend booking tickets to The Capitol’s pantomime of Robin Hood, which is booking from 22nd November to 4th January 2026?

This year is unmissable for so many reasons! It’s going to be the final show at The Capitol for quite a while and so we are all going to go above and beyond to ensure it is one to remember! We will embrace the good old-fashioned panto traditions but also combine them with a modern edge to ensure it’s as relevant and inclusive a show as possible and that there is plenty for absolutely everyone to enjoy, no matter what their age or background. The talent up there will be amazing and our aim is to give you as brilliant a time as possible!

You played Velma Von Tussle on the 2024 UK Tour of Hairspray, how was it returning to the character having played the role on the 2017/18 UK Tour and what is she like to play?

Velma is so much fun. I was delighted to return to playing her, as I loved to hate her so much! She is probably the only baddie I’ve ever played really – up until the Sheriff, that is! They’re both very glamorous women and really flawed people. Hairspray is a great show and continues to be popular because it deals with issues that are (sadly) just as relevant today as ever. And, of course, the songs are fabulous. I absolutely loved singing Miss Baltimore Crabs, not least because the boys lift me up and glide me all over that stage, even flipping me upside down at one point! Singing upside down is a rare joy – and one I just couldn’t pass up again. Ha! The trick with Velma is making her simultaneously hateful and likeable (Michelle Pfeiffer does that really well in the movie!) I so enjoy the challenge of that. It’s not easy but it’s a lot of fun.

What do you enjoy most about performing in Hairspray and how is it telling the story?

I love the glamour! Velma’s outfits, hair and makeup are so gorgeous. I also love the frankly outrageous things she says. She has some horrifying attitudes and the best way to expose them is to lay them bare for all to see. It’s a very good reminder that just because someone is rich or powerful or glamorous, doesn’t mean they’re a good person… And, of course, vice versa. Nastiness comes in all shapes and sizes. Also, sometimes there are good traits in someone that sit right alongside some really awful ones… that can be very confusing. And so interesting. It makes us think – and Hairspray definitely makes audiences think. And surely, that’s the point. It’s quite a responsibility to play a role like that. I feel lucky to have gotten the opportunity twice.

Having been part of Chicago many times over the years as Mama Morton (West End, China, UK Tour and South Korea Tour), how do you find the experience working on the production?

Mama is probably my favourite role ever! I’m such a fan of the show. The music is so amazing and the story is perfectly told. I love it so much. There are many different ways to play all the characters and the story and writing is so powerful that they all work, if you stick to the text. Every time I revisit her, I enjoy her so much. I find new things to play and rediscover old ones. The show doesn’t rely on fancy sets or costumes. It just works. I love working with new casts in front of audiences around the world and it’s so many years after it was written, yet it still holds up. It’s still as relevant as ever. Once again, like Hairspray, Chicago is a show with something to say. Not only does it entertain beautifully, but it does make you think. Mama is such a badass. She’s not a baddie exactly. But she definitely has some flaws. Again, she’s a fascinating combination of glamour, power, selfishness and humour. She’s an addiction for me! I hope I see her again soon.

How was it taking on the role of Donna Sheridan in MAMMA MIA! in Cyprus in 2018?

This interview is making me realise how lucky I’ve been, getting to play all these iconic women! Donna Sheridan is no exception. Of course, my sister, Mazz has just finished playing her for many years in London… and boy, she was INCREDIBLE! But… I was first! Ha. Mazz was playing Tanya when I got the role of Donna actually, but we didn’t ever work alongside each other in the show, sadly. I travelled to gorgeous Cyprus with a fabulous team and we were looked after beautifully. My young sons came with me (as they did to South Korea actually). It makes the experience even more special to share it with them. And on an idyllic island with such links to Greece too? Unbelievable! The thing about Donna is she is a strong, single mum, doing the best she can. I’ve been a single mum myself for many years and so that was kind of cool. Donna is a business woman, but also a great mum and has a really good sense of humour – and, of course, she gets the best songs! The honour of playing her was amazing and to sing those songs every night was a gift and something I’ll never forget.

Throughout your successful theatre career, you’ve performed in many other shows including Sideshow in Concert as Auntie/Fortune Teller, The Full Monty as Georgie Bukatinsky and Fame as Serena Katz (all in the West End), and also worked on screen in series such as The Hunt for Raoul Moat as Lesley Stobbart, what are some of your stand-out highlights?

I’ve been so fortunate in my career. I’ve achieved a lot of the ambitions I had as a little girl, to be the lead in the West End, to play the Palladium, to release my own music…

My first West End was playing Patsy Cline and I’ve been in love with country music ever since, writing and releasing my own. Mazz and I sang my song DEAD INSIDE at West End Live and released it on all major platforms, so it’s available right now. That is such a massive thrill for me!

I think playing Serena in Fame was very special too though. I was obsessed with Fame (the TV series) as a kid and all I wanted to do was be in it. Then my dream came true. It was magical… albeit short-lived! We were the West End takeover cast and only survived for three months, before Grease came in to replace us at our theatre! That’s showbiz!

Georgie in The Full Monty marked my last West End lead before motherhood. The Broadway stars I worked with in that show, were out of this world and a couple of English treasures in there too: Dora Bryan and Lynda Baron!

But my screen roles are becoming more and more important to me. The Hunt for Raoul Moat (ITVX) was an amazing piece of TV drama and I was honoured to be trusted to play Lesley – a real person. A massive responsibility and one I took very seriously. I do love comedy but I also relish playing dramatic roles and she was so different from me in many ways. That was challenging and I learned a lot.

Early 2026 sees me in another TV drama role and this character is, again, very different from me. She appears in a well-loved British show and I’m so excited to be a part of it. She’s not glamorous in any way and that was a welcome change! I just can’t announce which show it is yet! Keep watching out for it.

What was it like co-hosting the WhatsOnStage Awards at The London Palladium with your sister Mazz earlier this year?

EPIC! Honestly, I love working with Mazz so much. It doesn’t happen very often, so when it does, we grab it! We had so much fun co-hosting these wonderful awards. I loved writing it all with her too and then just improvising and rolling with the punches of a live show like that in such an iconic venue! It was really special. WhatsOnStage really looked after us and trusted us with their baby. I’ll never forget it. I also loved singing with her too and being silly… we did a lot of that, even dressing up! What’s not to like?

How was it recording your charity single I’m a Woman with Brian May as part of the music group WOMAN alongside Mazz, Anna-Jane Casey and Kerry Ellis (with all proceeds going towards Target Ovarian Cancer and The Caron Keating Foundation) and what was it like seeing the song reach #1 in the iTunes rock charts?

Again, the opportunity to work with my sister is always welcome. But when you add in West End stars like AJ Casey and Kerry Ellis and then a rock God like Dr May?!!!! Wow! I can’t believe it happened. The feeling of watching the song climb up the rock charts and reach number one was incredible! And this was during the pandemic. So it was amazing that we even managed to film the video. It was a shame we didn’t get to gig it live because of the rules, of course, but it was a dream come true to work with my sensational friends and true rock royalty and now the recording is there forever and earns money for those fabulous causes every day.

Where does your love of performing come from and how did you originally get started in the industry?

It’s in the blood! My whole family is in the business. There was really no choice, I suppose! My father, Mitch Murray CBE, wrote many number ones in the 60s and 70s and founded SODS (Society of Distinguished Songwriters) but he wasn’t really ever a singer, however, my mother Grazina Frame, most definitely was… and an actress too. She appeared on TV, on stage and on records and in movies. They both worked with so many greats. Mazz and I were really lucky to be encouraged into the business and supported by our folks, training at a fabulous, family-run school called Redroofs Theatre School. My voiceover career started when I was very young and thankfully is still going strong too. Our parents are such a support even now and our stepfather Rob Dallas too. He’s a composer and producer, so between them all they keep us grounded, offer advice and show up to our big nights!

Now both my sons are following us all into the profession. Joe, my eldest, is 20 and is multi-skilled: acting, singing, dancing, drumming, modelling, producing, lighting… you name it! And his brother, Max is 18 and is currently starring as the deeply troubled Joel Marshall in EastEnders. He has done an amazing job of that, I think, especially for someone so young. He sings, plays guitar and writes too. They make music both together and individually. I’m very proud of them and, of course, we have all warned them it’s not the easiest industry by any means, but equally, it can be the most exciting and rewarding. The next generation of Murrays…

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?

Good question! Well, apart from the ones I’ve already mentioned… I wanted to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but missed it! I know folks in Operation Mincemeat, Stranger Things and Harry Potter, so they’re next on my list… also, next year I’m going to go see some plays at The National, The Old Vic, The Young Vic, The Donmar Warehouse and basically see as much as I can. I’d like to see some Shakespeare too. I’d like to play Mama Rose in Gypsy one day and Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street – I saw my mummy play that role and it was awesome. (You didn’t ask but… anyway…! Please, Thanks, Universe! xxx)

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

My family is very important to me, so spending time with them is top of my list, as well as spending time with my wonderful boyfriend, Sean, and his lovely kids too. They’re local to Horsham, so I’m looking forward to discovering more about the area and all it has to offer. I’m a big fan of eating out and also cooking. I love barre classes (ballet and pilates combined) and staying fit and healthy (wine and cake is nice too though!). I’m going to record and release some more of my own music soon and I love catching up with my friends whenever I can. I’ll aim to watch more movies and TV this year as well!

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