With the limited run of Kinky Boots open at the London Coliseum, Rachel Izen plays Pat in the rebooted musical, which is directed by Nikolai Foster and stars Matt Cardle as Charlie Price, Johannes Radebe as Lola and Courtney Bowman as Lauren. Last year, Rachel worked with Nikolai when she played Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music at Leicester Curve, and she previously worked with him in Billy Elliot when she played Grandma, once again at Leicester Curve. In the UK premiere of Fawlty Towers: The Play (written by John Cleese), Rachel played Mrs Alice Richards at the Apollo Theatre in the West End, and she was the first female in the UK to play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol when it was open at Bridge House Theatre in 2019. Amongst Rachel’s further stage projects, she played Rachel in Rags in 2020 (working with Stephen Schwartz), Gypsy, Singin’ in the Rain, A Chorus Line, and for her first show back in the UK after spending seven years in the USA, she played Mrs Brice on tour in Funny Girl. Whilst performing in America, Rachel made her Broadway debut playing Mrs Brill in Mary Poppins, reprising her role from the US Tour, and in 2015, she played Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables on Broadway. We recently chatted to Rachel about being in the current cast of Kinky Boots at the London Coliseum as Pat, playing Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music, working on Fawlty Towers: The Play and her time as Mrs Brill in Mary Poppins in the USA.

What is Pat like to play in Kinky Boots at the London Coliseum and how has the run been going so far?

Pat is an absolute joy to play, being the old lady of the factory and yet still has the legs to join in the dance routines. We’ve only just officially opened, but we are getting into our stride.

How is it performing alongside the rest of the cast and have you worked with any of them previously?

I’m one of the few newbies to the company and have been welcomed with open arms. I only knew two of the other performers before I arrived, however, this business is renowned for its welcoming and loving nature.

For those unfamiliar with Kinky Boots, can you say about the show, and how is it being part of telling the story?

Kinky Boots the Musical is based on the film, which is based on the true story of the Northampton shoe factory that was going bust but found its legs (excuse the pun) when, after a lucky encounter, it made its fortune making boots for drag artists.

Was there anything that originally drew you to the rebooted Kinky Boots musical and what was it like reading the script for the first time?

The one thing that drew me to the rebooted Kinky Boots was Nikolai Foster, the director. He and I have worked together on numerous occasions, and he is by far my favourite director. He always finds something special, unusual, unique and magical in what would normally be classed as a run-of-the-mill production. I saw the original production on Broadway and was distracted by the ‘attempts’ at British accents.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see the musical at the London Coliseum, which is open for a limited run until Saturday 11th July?

I defy anybody not to leave uplifted at the end of Kinky Boots. I was first here when I was nine years old, doing a workshop of a children’s opera, and I have since seen many productions as an audience member of opera and ballet.

Last year, you were in the cast of The Sound of Music at Leicester Curve as Frau Schmidt, how was this?

I had the most wonderful time at my favourite venue with my favourite director. To be perfectly honest, The Sound of Music has never been on my bucket list of shows that I would like to perform in. I thought that Frau Schmidt was a minor role, especially as she only appears in one scene in the film. You can imagine my surprise when I read the script and saw that she popped up all over the place. Also, knowing how Nikolai works, I knew he’d have something up his sleeve. Basically, I got the biggest laughs and best reviews I’ve ever had in my life.

Can you tell us about playing Mrs Alice Richards in the UK premiere of Fawlty Towers: The Play (written by John Cleese) at the Apollo Theatre in the West End, and how was it seeing the fan response to the stage production?

What?!!! It was such an honour but also a great responsibility to play Mrs Richards. Joan Sanderson was an icon, but I was determined to put my own spin on her. Thankfully, I received a huge thumbs-up from the master himself, John Cleese.

How was it being involved with Rags in 2020 as Rachel and the new UK production of Billy Elliot in 2022 at Leicester Curve as Grandma?

Rags was a show that I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of, as it’s basically the continuation of the Fiddler on the Roof story – part of my heritage. Working directly with Stephen Schwartz was a particular joy.

Grandma Edna is my favourite role ever. Coming out of COVID, the Curve’s future was rather wobbly, and everything rested on this production. The costumes and set were all sourced in-house, reused and recycled. We lost a week of rehearsal because of people contracting COVID, but Nikolai’s vision was absolute genius, and I can’t ever imagine the experience being bettered.

You became the first female in the UK to play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol when you played the role in 2019 at Bridge House Theatre, how did you feel taking on the role?

What a lucky lady I am to have been given that opportunity by Guy Retallack. To tell the story so economically with only four people, and so close to my home, and it was particularly lovely to have so many of my local friends able to come and see it.

After seven years in the USA, your first show back in the UK was Funny Girl as Mrs Brice, what was it like touring with the show on your return to the UK?

Another absolute gem of a role, in a gem of a show, with a gem of a leading lady.

How was the experience playing Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables on Broadway in 2015?

I had been in the first group of people to audition for Les Misérables in London originally, and I had given up any hope of ever playing the role. When I suddenly came about in New York and I walked in, Cameron Mackintosh offered it to me in the room. Huge tick!

What was it like making your Broadway debut as Mrs Brill in Mary Poppins, having also played the character on the US Tour?

I had my dream come true… Broadway! However, playing it on the tour was so much more fun. We were a huge family for nearly two years and had the privilege of exploring everything from Niagara Falls to Mexico City.

Your further theatre shows have included Gypsy at Wales Millennium Theatre, Throughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Annie at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Beauty and the Beast at the Dominion Theatre, Singin’ in the Rain at The London Palladium, Chicago at Sheffield Crucible and the Cambridge Theatre and your West End debut in A Chorus Line at Theatre Royal Drury Lane; can you tell us about some of your extensive career highlights?

Every single job brings its highlights. Well actually, getting into A Chorus Line when I hadn’t even reached 18, and standing on the stage of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane singing At The Ballet, has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had… plus Rose’s Turn (Gypsy).

On screen, you have worked on Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Daylight Robbery, The Queen’s Nose and Evita, what did you enjoy most about these projects?

The best part about appearing in Evita was putting Madonna as Eva Perón into her deathbed, and sharing the fact that we have the same size feet and that I was going to steal her slippers.

How did you originally get into acting, and what advice would you give a young theatre actor starting their career?

I went to dance school from the age of three, and all I wanted to do was dance. I’m just very lucky that I can sing and act. I come from a musical background and I was given a lot of support and encouragement.

My advice to anybody who wants to go into this profession is do your homework: research, read, and go and see as much live theatre as you can. There’s always a way to get cheap seats or see things for free (being an usher, for example). I’ve learnt from the best and from the worst and, believe me, I never miss a trick.

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch, and are there any you’d like to see that are currently open?

My father was a trumpet player who played in all the West End shows, so I was privileged to be able to see the original productions of Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, Company, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, A Little Night Music – the list is endless. Those experiences will be forever etched into my brain and my heart.

How do you like to spend your free time?

When I have free time and I’m not working, which, luckily for me, is not often, I take a ballet class on a Saturday morning at Push Studios with the fabulous Emma Hardwick. Otherwise, I spend as much time as I can in France, where my husband and I are renovating a house.

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