Signed to the independent label Thelonious Punk Records, Collette Cooper is a multi-talented singer, writer and performer. Her solo show TOMORROW MY BE MY LAST returns, with an unprecedented three-month residency at the historic Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington. An earlier run (in 2022) garnered four Off West End Award nominations and a London Pub Theatre Standing Ovation Award. Having had the opportunity to see Collette’s emotional and passionate portrayal, it is a great pleasure to interview her on her role as Janis Joplin. 

Firstly, it must be admitted that Collette has the advantage of looking like Janis Joplin and being able to channel Joplin’s voice in some of her most iconic numbers. However, Collette is quick to point out that she had to change physically. She needed to gain a few kilos from her natural size six to a more voluptuous shape and the bob had to go. “I grew it, lightened it … I’ll be washing it in fairy liquid” she quips, adding, “I put on weight, I can’t get into any of my clothes now, but never mind.” 

Collette herself is influenced by jazz and blues. She recalls, performing at one of her gigs at the 100 club in 2018, when a theatre producer told her she sounded like “Janis Joplin channelling Edith Piaf” and that she should “definitely play someone like Joplin in a musical”. Collette wasn’t interested in musical theatre, but it got her thinking about an acting role.  “I didn’t want to do Edith Piaf because that’s French, and I can’t be bothered learning all that French,” she laughs.  “I didn’t know anything about Janis Joplin, I knew more about Edith Piaf as my dad loved her and played her a lot.” 

Collette started researching Janis Joplin and quickly discovered that they had much in common both musically and politically. “We had so many of the same influences: Bessie Smith, Nina Simone Aretha Franklin and Billy Holiday,” says Collette. “My dad introduced me to Bessie Smith when I was little because he loved the blues … her voice was just so raw and powerful and emotional.” It was her dad who fostered her talent, buying her some keyboards when she was 9 and playing “great music” on his record player.

As Collette’s research of Joplin deepened, she began to understand her better. Joplin came from a small backward looking town in Port Arthur where she didn’t fit in and her talents weren’t appreciated. “I came from a little village in Cheshire, and I felt like I didn’t fit in” says Collette.  “I researched the character for so long and I know her so well that once I’m in costume I have to live and breathe her.”  

Getting into the role, Collette just listened to Joplin. “I didn’t want to impersonate her, it’s an interpretation of her” she says.  Joplin  stressed the importance of individual rights and freedom, very current now with ‘black lives matter’ and this really resonates with Collette.  “I just go with my gut feeling every time and relive her story as best and as truthful as I possibly can so whatever emotions come out it’s because I’m trying to tell a true story about the wonderful Janis Joplin”. There are other things that Collette really loves about the role, particularly as an actor.  “It’s something to get my teeth into” says Collette.  “Janis was tormented, she had struggles as a heroin addict but more than anything she’s just a really lovely beautiful kind soul.” 

Photography: Robin Pope

Musically, Collette is in awe of Joplin. “She’s a musical genius, ahead of her time, a pioneer, nobody like her came on the scene,” says Collette.  Female singers at the time were like Dusty Springfield. “Amazing, but coiffed hair, lots of makeup, prim and proper, contrived and contained” says Collette, “Janis wasn’t afraid to show all her emotions on stage, to be tomboyish, and she’s a rock n’ roll and blues singer who crossed over to rock and blues and I love the fact that she was so revolutionary.”

Collette has two Musical Directors for the show, Mike Hanson (producer at Thelonious Punk Records) and guitarist Jack Parry, who also performs in the show with TSP Band. Once Collette had written the script, the three of them decided which songs to use. “We chose all her hugest hits (whilst eating chips)” says Collette, “great songs, very relatable … Janis was very relatable, very un-assuming.”

An additional song, the title track to the show ‘Tomorrow May Be My Last’ is written by Collette (channelling Joplin) and will be officially released on 2 March.  Collette’s voice is similar to Joplin’s, powerful and husky, but there are some differences. “I had to learn her phrasing and also she’s a natural soprano and I sing naturally in a lower register.”  At first Collette did struggle a bit but she did a lot of voice exercises so she could reach those high notes. Warming up properly is also important.  “I’ve Got to warm up, at least half an hour, and I don’t talk post show and I try to get lots of vocal rest” says Collette, “lots of water, no alcohol, no smoking … none of the good stuff”.  It also helps that Collette has an understudy, Sam Carlyle, who will perform the show at Saturday matinees. “We’re here for three months and I’d never ever want an understudy to put in all that work and not go on”, says Collette, “basically, we’ve stripped back the matinee, made it a more relaxed show with one guitarist.”

As for the venue, Old Red Lion Theatre, Collette wanted to return here with good reason.  “It’s so legendary and the people who run it, Helen Divine and Damien Divine are so supportive of this show” explains Collette, “plus, the Old Red Lion have a history of transferring to the west end!”  Hard work and dedication have made the show a success.  “We’ve been working at it for a few years, there’s no secret, just hard work, dedication and a great audience” says Collette.  

“Have a blast man.”

TOMORROW MAY BE MY LAST:

The Janis Joplin Story at The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington until 6 May 2023



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In an era of oppression, rebellion, evolution and enlightenment, this is the story of a small-town girl’s remarkable journey, from an adolescent outcast to a musical icon.