Georgina Leonidas plays Stella in David Walliams’ Awful Auntie, opening the Bloomsbury Theatre following the venue’s major renovation, fresh from a fifteen-month UK tour. Adapted and directed by Neal Foster the production opens on 12 December and runs until 5 January.
You’re appearing in Awful Auntie at the Bloomsbury Theatre, what can you tell us about it?
So, the story is set in the great Saxby hall, home to Stella her parents and an old butler named Gibbon. But after a tragic car accident Stella is orphaned and, in a coma, and as the only heir, she is now the owner of the hall. Aunt Alberta claims she has been taking good care of Stella whilst she was in a coma but Stella is very smart however, and her instincts tell her maybe Aunt Alberta, with her great Bavarian mountain owl henchman, who seems insistent on finding the deeds to the hall, shouldn’t be be trusted. She decides she must escape and the following takes you on her journey of survival through the rooms and chimneys of Saxby hall all with the help from a ghost!
How would you describe your character?
Stella is smart, brave and has a strong moral compass. She’s compassionate and even after all the terrible things she learns about her Aunt Alberta she is willing to give her a second chance. She has a good heart. She also has a cheeky mischievous side though! I like that about her. She’s a tough cookie!
Have there been many changes to the original book?
Not really. In fact, I feel Neal Foster’s adaptation stays very true to the book. In the book there are characters climbing through chimneys, a great Bavarian mountain owl, a car chase and we have all of that in the show!! If you are a fan of the book you really won’t be disappointed!
Why do you think David Walliams’ writing makes such good stage adaptations?
I think the characters and storylines lend themselves so well to stage. Some characters are larger than life, and so having them on stage in a theatrical setting works so well. With Awful Auntie you have this amazing set too. The story takes place in a huge old creaking mansion and the set we have is amazing. I think Birmingham Stage have an incredibly talented creative team who also have to take credit for the shows success as they have really captured the essence of the book and bought Saxby hall alive. The music is one of my favourite things about the show.
What are you looking forward to most about performing at Bloomsbury Theatre, which has just reopened?
London is my home town, so it’ll be nice to have family and friends coming to see the show over Christmas! The play is set in the few days leading up to Christmas, so it’ll be nice to be performing on those dates mentioned in the play too! Also, we have been on tour for a year and a half so it’ll be nice coming home to my own bed every night haha!
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see Awful Auntie?
Do it! Haha. The play is great fun for the whole family. We’ve had lovely feedback from parents to say they enjoyed the show just as much as their children. If you’ve read the book you will not be disappointed. For those who don’t know the story come and be surprised! There is a ghost, a great Bavarian mountain owl and Saxby Hall’s longest resident, Gibbon the butler who help Stella along the way. There may also be plot twists you might not see coming! Follow Stella on her journey of survival against her Awful Auntie (see what I did there haha).
