Maya Sewrey has just finished playing Caroline/Young Charity in the sold-out world premiere of The Greatest Showman at Bristol Hippodrome, having workshopped the production in 2024 and 2025, and she originated the role alongside Oliver Tompsett (P.T. Barnum), Josh St. Clair (Alternate P.T. Barnum) and Samantha Barks (Charity Barnum), and the musical was directed by Casey Nicholaw. With Chichester Festival Youth Theatre, Maya played Young Cinderella in Cinderella in 2024, and she made her professional debut at Chichester when she played Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music. In 2024 and 2025, Maya was a finalist for West End Calling, and last year, she performed at Tate Modern for Disney with Kaylen Luke and Cristiano Cuino. Also working on voiceover, Maya has recorded for Moonbug’s TV show Little Baby Bum. We found out from Maya about originating the roles of Caroline/Young Charity in the world premiere of The Greatest Showman in Bristol, what the musical was like to be part of, her time as Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music and being a finalist for West End Calling.

You have just finished playing Caroline/Young Charity in The Greatest Showman at Bristol Hippodrome; what was it like seeing the show develop from the workshops in 2024 and 2025, and how did you feel on your first performance in Bristol?

It’s been a crazy journey. I was involved with the show for 19 months in total, so I was lucky to get to know everyone really well and get a unique perspective. What the team have created is just amazing.

When I started out, I had absolutely no idea how much went into getting a show to the stage. It’s been an incredible experience to learn about how a show is developed and how many people are involved in the decision making. I still can’t believe I got to sit in a room with Justin Paul and Benj Pasek and try out different vocal arrangements. A really great song that Caroline was involved in was cut in the last workshop. I was so sad, but because I was able to see the process of getting the show to the final product, I was able to understand why. It’s great though, so I hope it gets heard one day!

I worked with so many different adult cast and creatives throughout the process and absorbed as much as I could about the industry.

Opening felt surreal, but it was so special to finally see the audience’s reaction. I could see how much it meant to everyone because they had put absolutely everything into it, and finally people got to see the amazing show they had been building for so long. It felt like a blur. One moment I was taking my first bow and, before I knew it, it was my last.

How did you find the experience originating the roles of Caroline/Young Charity, and how was it playing two characters in a musical?

I loved it because it meant more stage time and loads of beautiful costumes! I feel very grateful to have been the first young actress to portray these roles in what I know will be a really long and successful production.

Young Charity and Caroline have quite similar personalities, which helped. I remember one night it was really funny when a little kid in the front said quite loudly, “That’s the same girl” when I came back on stage after a quick change from Young Charity to Caroline. Sam (Barks) and I were trying not to laugh, as it was a really quiet moment.

Had you seen The Greatest Showman before booking your role in the musical adaptation, and what was it like seeing the audience response to the sold-out world premiere production?

I don’t think there can be many people who haven’t seen the movie – well, apart from people that don’t like movies or maybe musicals, I guess! When I booked the role, I did rewatch the movie, and it’s funny how you see things in a different light when it’s a bit more personal.

It’s such an emotional storyline, and I love the positive message of accepting people for who they are and having the courage to just be yourself. The adaptation stays very true to the original movie. The set and stage design are incredible and make it so magical to watch.

The audiences were incredible every night, but it’s funny how different they can be. One night a line gets lots of laughs and the next it doesn’t. I really learnt how much the audience vibe can affect the cast energy and how you bounce off each other. It actually made it so special that there were really strict policies on filming and social media. It made it more intimate, and the audience had no idea on what the show was like because they hadn’t seen it online.

What was it like working alongside the rest of the cast, which included Oliver Tompsett (P.T. Barnum), Josh St. Clair (Alternate P.T. Barnum) and Samantha Barks (Charity Barnum), and being directed by Casey Nicholaw?

Amazing and fun. Casey is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, and he gave me some great tips on LEGO building and gardening. I feel so lucky that, at my age, I got to work with such an absolute legend in the industry.

I remember when I was chatting with the associate director Steve Bebout, and I told him that it was one of my dreams to go to a Target store in America because they sell everything, so he got me a Target bag, which is now one of my prized possessions.

The entire creative team and cast were like a big unrelated family. Everyone was so kind and looked after each other, and I always felt like part of the team. Olly and Sam felt like real parents. I think because they both have their own family, it was easy. They really looked after the children. Shows don’t always go exactly to plan, and they were always there to guide us and make sure we were okay.

I got to perform with Josh once, and it was great. I got to see how actors have their own interpretation of a role. I love that theatre is live and that every night is a little bit different depending on who is on stage and the energy.

I could tell you so many brilliant and special things about every single one of the cast and creatives because they were just all so talented and kind. I really hope my path crosses with them again one day.

Can you tell us about your time playing Young Cinderella in Cinderella with Chichester Festival Youth Theatre in 2024?

It was an extremely fun experience. There is always a big cast of selected children from different classes at Chichester Festival Youth Theatre. It’s really inclusive, and local theatre is such an important part of the theatre world. It can be a safe place to start out, learn the ropes and continue developing.

Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role of Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music at Chichester Festival Theatre for your professional stage debut?

Yes. I remember getting into the car one day after school and my mum saying, “Hello, Marta”. It was my first audition, so I was asking every day if I’d got the job. I was so happy, especially as it was my local theatre, where I’d had my first experience of watching shows. I knew all my friends and family would be able to come and watch. I had no idea what to expect.

How was it getting into character as Marta, and what did you enjoy about performing with your fellow von Trapp siblings?

I’m quite similar to Marta as she’s happy and playful, so it was quite an easy first job to get into character for, but pink is definitely not my favourite colour!

I loved her different hairstyles in the show, and it was my first experience of singing harmonies, which I absolutely loved and learnt so much from. Most of the other children in my team had previous performance experience, so they guided me and taught me a lot. I’ve loved following all their journeys after it ended, and I’m still great friends with Felicity Walton, who was my Gretl. I will be off to see her in Sinatra: The Musical soon.

Did you have a favourite scene or song in The Sound of Music, and what was the choreography like to work on?

Definitely The Lonely Goatherd because I got to dance on a box with a teacup, and we really got to play around with the audience. I especially loved getting piggybacked and getting to hide under the covers of a very comfy bed!

I remember feeling really emotional when the family escaped from the Salzburg Music Festival and fled to the Abbey and over the Alps. I wanted to cry most shows. It really was a beautiful show that I’ll never forget.

Adam Penford, our director, is back in Chichester with Atonement, so I have booked to see that.

You were a finalist for West End Calling in 2024 and 2025; what are some of your stand-out memories from being a contestant?

This is such a great competition set up by Alex James Ellison. It’s brilliant that kids from all over the UK can enter. It’s a great way to meet new people interested in the same thing and to learn from each other. I enjoyed every minute of it, whether I was chatting with the other kids or performing my favourite songs in front of some of my musical theatre idols.

I remember once, in my first year, I sang a song called I Know I Have a Heart from Cinderella, and one of the judges told me that she was going to ring Carrie Hope Fletcher and tell her to watch out because I may be taking her job soon. It made me feel really confident.

How was it returning to the competition for a second year, and how different did you find it to your first year?

I didn’t feel so nervous the second year because I knew the set up, and also because lots of my friends from the year before entered again, meaning I got to catch up with them and watch them perform.

The whole process gave me more performance experience and belief in myself. It’s a very supportive environment. The competition has grown and grown and was huge this year, with so many incredible performers and great opportunities.

I was gutted I couldn’t enter this year as I was busy with The Greatest Showman, but I will definitely enter next year if I’m free, and I am really looking forward to it.

What was it like performing at Tate Modern for Disney at the end of last year with Kaylen Luke and Cristiano Cuino?

Really fun. Both of the boys are so talented and funny. I worked with the choreography team from The Lion King, almost one-to-one for a few days, which was incredible for me.

The Tate is such an amazing building that I’d never actually been in before. There were all sorts of people from the Disney company there, and it was so nice to see some of the Disney Theatre team I recognised from the The Greatest Showman workshop.

We understand you have recorded for Moonbug’s Little Baby Bum, can you say about this?

This was a great first job. Singing is my favourite thing to do, and I really enjoyed the recording sessions, always looking forward to them.

I was younger, and I got to experience how a recording studio works and had to show emotion through my voice instead of my facial expression. I decided back then that I wanted to be famous one day, and every time I went, I’d practice my signature in this café in Camden where there was lots of graffiti on the tables. Hopefully one day I’ll need it!

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

Acting doesn’t run in the family. In fact, my mum says you couldn’t pay her to stand on a stage!

If you ask her, she says I had a bit too much energy to burn when everything stopped during the COVID pandemic, so she put me into online musical theatre classes. I got asked from there if I’d like representation. After that, I started in-person classes and kept going from there.

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch, and are there any you’d like to see that you haven’t been able to yet?

The Phantom of the Opera – I’ve seen it three times! Christine Daaé is on my bucket list for a theatre job.

I absolutely love Tick, Tick… Boom! and am going to see The Jonathan Larson Project this summer. I love how his music is so catchy but complex, and how all the songs are so different.

I’d really love to go and watch Beetlejuice during its current run. Lydia would be an amazing role when I am a bit older as I love the edgy and crazy side of her character and her big songs!

How do you like to spend your free time?

I’m an outdoor kind of girl, so I’ll be at the beach swimming or paddleboarding. I’m quite sporty and love playing football and cricket.

I really want a dog so they can come running with me, but my cat Bella is not happy about this plan.

I’m learning piano and I am starting to write my own songs. The lyrics come quite easily, but I need to improve my basic music skills, and it’s something I’d love to develop.

What are you hoping this year brings you and do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

Nothing on the horizon at the moment, but I’ll keep training and auditioning.

This year, I am hoping to get some experience behind the camera and on screen, and focus on different styles of singing. Until then, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.