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The world première of Oranges and Elephants, opens at Hoxton Hall on Thursday 25th January. The all-female musical follows Mary’s arrival in London and her introduction to gang life. How will she make her life expectancy of twenty-five when the two gangs are after owning her?
We spoke to actor/musician Kate Marlais about her role in the production.
You’re starring in Oranges and Elephants at Hoxton Hall, what can you tell us about it?
It’s an all-female musical set within gang-riddled Victorian London. Based on the real girl gangs of the time, we follow the Oranges of Bethnal Green and the Elephants from over the water as they battle out their turf war, against the backdrop of music hall and the rise to fame of star Marie le Grand.
How did you become involved in the project?
I’d wanted to work with director Susie McKenna for a while, so when I heard it was casting, I went along to audition. I also love Hoxton Hall, and the history of London and its music halls, so I was keen to get involved.
How does this production differ to previous work you’ve done, such as War Horse?
Every job is different because the stories you tell, and the ways in which you tell them, are different. War Horse was a very multi-faceted show – very physical, with lots of puppetry, and I played a lot of different roles. But here I have one character; Maggie.
War Horse was in the West End and on a very large scale, but at Hoxton Hall we are on the original Victorian music hall stage, so our playing space is quite intimate, and the audience very much feels part of the story. The building itself is saturated with history – specifically that of the music hall, which is part of the story we’re telling, so that feels very special.
How have you found working with an all-female cast?
Oh just awful. Nah, kidding! It’s been excellent and important to have had so many female voices in the process. Especially as the story being told is about women, so to have an all-female perspective when approaching the piece seems right on this occasion.
What difference do you think it will make having an all-female cast?
I doubt it’ll make too much of a difference to be honest. Maybe slightly fewer competitive ball games at break time?!
Did you know much about Victorian London and Music Hall before starting work on Oranges and Elephants?
I did actually – but what I didn’t know much about was the girl gangs, so I’ve enjoyed researching that. For a working class Victorian woman being part of a gang was safer than being on the streets. It was about survival. One trick they used to pickpocket was the art of distraction – members of the gang would put on entertainment acts to distract a crowd, including in the music halls, whilst the others went round nicking from punters. They were crafty. Fair play to ‘em!
The world première of Oranges and Elephants runs at Hoxton Hall 23 January – 10 February, opening their all-female spring season: Female Parts. For more information or to book visit www.hoxtonhall.co.uk
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