Currently, Lucinda Lawrence is continuing her run as Deb in Elf the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, which is open until Saturday 3rd January 2026, and in the musical (which is based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell), Lucinda works with a cast including Joel Montague as Buddy, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jovie and Aled Jones MBE as Walter Hobbs. Over the summer, Lucinda was playing Queen Camilla in The Diana Mixtape at both London and Salford, and she previously played Kate in Mamma Mia! The Party at The O2 Arena. Having played Rhonda in Cool Rider in 2014 at the Duchess Theatre, Lucinda reprised her role for the 10th Anniversary concert at The London Palladium, and she was in the original London cast of 9 to 5 the Musical at the Savoy Theatre as Margaret/Ensemble, and toured with the show in 2019/20 as Roz Keith and understudy lead character Violet Newstead – who she went on to play a few years later in Korea. Further stage work for Lucinda includes playing Velma Von Tussle in the 2018 UK Tour of Hairspray, Cherry and cover Mrs Teavee and Grandma Josephine in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and being in the cast of 42nd Street and White Christmas. On screen, Lucinda was in the 2022 film Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical and the 2023 release of Wonka, and she is the narrator of the BBC One series Garden Rescue. We found out from Lucinda about being in the cast of Elf the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre as Deb, playing Kate in Mamma Mia! The Party at The O2 Arena and being in the original London cast of 9 to 5 the Musical.
What are you looking forward to for continuing your run as Deb in the West End production of Elf the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, which is booking until Saturday 3rd January?
Deb is a really fun, larger than life character who I love playing. She instantly sees the fun side of Buddy. Doing a Christmas show in Covent Garden is like living in a hallmark movie… in a good way!
Can you tell us about Elf the Musical, and what is it like bringing the story to the stage?
Elf is a film my family always have on to decorate the tree. We love it, and the musical adaptation has taken all the joy of the film but dipped it in amazing songs and big production numbers. Even if you don’t know the film, you’ll fall in love with Buddy and his unrelenting Christmas spirit.
With Amy Sedaris playing Deb in the 2003 film, what can audiences expect from your portrayal of the character?
Amy Sedaris is fab in the film, so warm, caring and funny. I hope I’ve brought those qualities to Deb, plus a few moments you won’t be expecting. She instantly sees how good Buddy will be for Walter and the office, and this brings out her wild side.
How does it feel to be spending the festive season in a Christmas-themed musical?
It was strange opening a festive show in October before Halloween but now we’re into November I think it all feels more Christmassy.
How familiar were you with the musical version before booking your role of Deb and how did you prepare for opening in the show?
I came to see my friend, Georgina Castle, play Jovie two years back and absolutely loved the show. I remember thinking Deb was a really funny role I’d like to have a go at. I listened to a lot of Natasha Lyonne to get into the New York ‘girl about town’ accent. There’s quite a lot of dancing in the show so I’ve been keeping my lower back healthy and stretching too.
What do you hope audiences will take from the production, and why would you recommend booking tickets?
I hope audiences come away feeling full of Christmas spirit, the show is about having faith, in Santa, in people, and spreading a smile which the world could really do with right now. I also do a dance with a hot chocolate which is worth the band A ticket price alone.
Over the summer, you were portraying Queen Camilla in The Diana Mixtape at London and Salford, what was the show like to be part of?
The Diana Mixtape was a bonkers fever dream, and I’m so glad I got to be part of it. Working with the best drag queens in the world taught me so much. They bring themselves on stage every night even when they’re playing a different part, it made me feel like I could make Queen Camilla really bold and play things different every night depending on how far the audience were willing to go.
How did you find the experience playing Kate in Mamma Mia! The Party at The O2 Arena and how different did you find this show to your previous projects?
Playing Kate in Mamma Mia! The Party was a brand-new experience in immersive theatre. You’re in amongst the audience and they really feel they know you. I loved working that closely with them, you had to be on your A-game and make them feel like you were this host, my years of waitressing came in handy.
How was it performing in the Cool Rider: 10th Anniversary Concert at The London Palladium last year as Rhonda, and reprising the character from the 2014 run at the Duchess Theatre?
Cool Rider has a very passionate fan base, and they will shout your lines back to you which is a surreal experience. It’s been a lot of fun both times I did it. The crowd at the 10-year concert made sounds akin to Beatlemania, they were so warm and loud.
How was your time in the original London cast of 9 to 5 the Musical at the Savoy Theatre as Margaret/Ensemble?
I enjoyed playing Margaret and being part of the ensemble. We got to meet Dolly (Parton), and I’m a huge fan, so that was a real highlight.
What was it like taking 9 to 5 the Musical on tour in 2019/20, this time playing Roz Keith, and how was it understudying the lead role of Violet Newstead?
Going on to play Roz meant I got to take the show to Liverpool. Understudying a part that big is a lot of pressure but I’m glad I did it. I was lucky enough to play the role in Korea a few years later which meant I had a bit more time to fine-tune the character.
You played Velma Von Tussle on the 2018 UK Tour of Hairspray, what did you enjoy about playing the character and telling the story?
Velma Von Tussle is probably the nastiest character I’ve played. It’s always fun playing a baddie. The show is so high-energy with a very important message.
Do you have any favourite memories from working on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in which you played Cherry and covered the roles of Mrs Teavee and Grandma Josephine, in the West End at Theatre Royal Drury Lane that you can share?
My fondest memory of Charlie was how close we all were as a cast. We’d climb up to the top floor to descend from the pipes in the factory in act 2, and it meant we were up there for 20 minutes, no phones, just chatting and laughing. I love a show that’s multigenerational, getting to know people of all ages.
Can you tell us about some of the further projects you’ve been involved with over your theatre career so far, which have included Fiddler on the Roof, White Christmas, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, 42nd Street, Love Never Dies and Mary Poppins?
Probably the most memorable story from other shows I’ve done was being thrown on for Peggy Sawyer at the half, on press night for 42nd Street. It was a proper ‘life imitating art’ moment. I had barely any rehearsal and somehow got through it. The cast were very supportive.
As a screen actor, you filmed for the 2022 release of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical and the 2023 release of Wonka, what was it like on set of both?
I was a dancer in Wonka and it was freezing while we were shooting so any breaks we got we’d run to the heaters and warm up our cold wet feet. Matilda was filmed during COVID so there are so many people who I worked with that I’ve met since and we barely recognise each other as we were in masks the whole time until the cameras were rolling. Seeing the end results of the films and all the hard work that goes into them is very rewarding.
How is it being the narrator for the BBC One series Garden Rescue and do you have a favourite aspect of recording for the show?
Narrating Garden Rescue is a real treat. I’m very much the last piece of the puzzle, the show is shot, edited together and then I chatter over it in a recording booth in Soho. I’ve never met any of the fabulous gardeners sadly, maybe one day!
How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?
I started out wanting to be a dancer, and a choreographer, and still really enjoy movement directing alongside acting. The acting became more of a focus later. I think I always knew I wanted to be in theatre, it’s where I seemed to fit in growing up.
What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch and how do you like to spend your free time?
My favourite theatre to experience is often stuff on at the Soho Theatre, I love a one-person show and seeing what one actor can create. I love watching films and having lazy mornings with my family when we all have time.
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