News Item: Eleanor and Eliza.

Interview: Eleanor Marsden, star of Chesil's Pygmalion

From The Hampshire Chronicle.

“Tom Jones was an open air production with the Hampshire-based Maskers Theatre Company, with whom I previously appeared as Meg March in Little Woman at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton,” said Eleanor in a break from rehearsals.

This is Eleanor’s debut with Chesil , but she has plenty of experience to call on. In 2009 she had the privilege of being directed by Trevor Nunn in Cyrano de Bergerac at Chichester Festival Theatre, playing the ‘precieuse’ Gremione, a Commedia del'Arte Actress and a Nun. The show starred Joseph Fiennes as Cyrano, whom Eleanor partnered for the dance sequences.

“The experience of being in Cyrano was undoubtedly one of the best times of my life. I was so lucky to be cast in it and ended up surrounded by many wonderful, experienced professionals; the atmosphere was magical. Working with Trevor Nunn was a dream, as was watching Joe Fiennes and the company create something so special night after night. I left the show truly inspired and committed to pursuing my acting further.”

Eleanor, who lives in Southampton, studied English and History of Art and Design at the University of Southampton, during which time she was the vocalist for local jazz trio Three of a Kind.

Her passion for acting emerged later after working in lecturing and fundraising. She now pursues it alongside research at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, where she is currently writing her PhD thesis on women and performance in seventeenth-century art.

Eleanor has also worked on commercial voiceovers and in educational theatre with Hampshire-based Brick by Brick Theatre Company. She is drawn to period pieces and enjoys exploring historical female characters “Everything has to be different: the mannerisms, the posture, even the way of speaking. It’s a challenge, and makes you understand a little more, how much women’s lives have changed.”

“I am delighted to be playing Eliza in Pygmalion and am really looking forward to appearing at the Theatre Royal,” said Eleanor. “The play is proving a joy to work on. Eliza is such a strong, vibrant character with many facets and is hugely endearing. The journey she goes on over the course of the play, which is initiated by Henry Higgins, is both entertaining and very poignant.”

Pygmalion runs at the Theatre Royal from Wednesday April 7th – Saturday 10th 2010 7.30pm Matinee Saturday 10th Tickets £13, Matinee £10 available from Theatre Royal Box office 01962 840440
 

Photo:  Jim Creighton (www.jimcreighton.co.uk)