LPT: Hello Sarah, It’s very exciting that your show is premiering in London after its acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe. How was Edinburgh for you?

Sarah McGuinness: As ever Edinburgh was a whirlwind of hard work, meeting inspirational people, creativity and late nights! The show took on a life of its own and I am so thrilled with the reception from both reviewers and audience.

LPT: The show focuses on your own story of how a young Derry girl with stars in her eyes and music in her veins undertook an epic voyage to find her authentic voice. Could you do a bit of name dropping now and let us know who you met on the way.

Oh my gosh! So many people, from the top actors and comedians of the 90’s, to models and bands sitting in the gloomy corners of the clubs I used to run in Soho, London. There’s also an amazing raft of true creative souls who often work behind the scenes, most people wouldn’t know their names, but they make the industry what it is. In terms of name drops, I have shared many a club sandwich with a James Bond, I will let you guess who it might have been!

LPT: Speaking of that soulful journey, could you mention one or two of the stand-out moments that have really shaped your journey as a singer.

This show is pretty huge to be honest! To have the courage to tell my truth through all these different songs, some of them my own, has been life changing. Another stand out moment I sometimes think about was when I was performing at the Sydney Opera house and I walked past a huge poster of Joan Sutherland (my Dad loved her voice and often listened to ‘Joan Sutherland Live at the Sydney Opera House’), Australia felt about as far away as the moon back then, I couldn’t quite believe how far I had come and that my feet were about to step onto the same stage as her, it was a real pinch me moment.

LPT: It’s not just the singing, there’s clearly so much more in the show, so we’d love it if you’d share a couple of those more personal anecdotes.

The story of how Bowie came into my life will always be very important to me, the far reaching impact of his influence and creativity never ceases to amaze me, not only in my own creative endeavours but for so many others as well.

Look out for Ultra Scout too- I have always been a ‘see a problem, fix a problem’ sort of person but there comes a point when things run too deep to be ‘fixed’, the realisation of this later in the play is very personal and I think something many of us can relate to.

LPT: As a documentary maker yourself, we’d be interested to understand how this influenced the making of the show.

It certainly influenced the process of creating the show. I collected so many scribblings, songs, old newspaper clippings, photographs and playlists. In a true documentary style process, it wasn’t until I collaborated with some close professional friends that I could carve out a logical, understandable story that was worth telling. Documentary filmmaking is still about telling a story, so that remained at the core of the work.

LPT: Did you learn more about yourself during the process?

I think at the beginning of the year I started a journey of acceptance rather than change, from that came the realisation that it was now or never to tell the story of my life. I learned that forgiveness isn’t necessary in order to move on, that live performance is a crucial and primal part of human nature and that nothing in life comes risk free, take the leap, come to the cabaret!

LPT: Please tell us about your favourite numbers in the show and why they are included.

I love all of the songs that I have re-contextualised to mean something else- the words remain the same but when placed in a different context they encourage the audience to see the lyrics through a different lens. I was amazed how many songs seemed to suddenly be written for the story I wanted to tell. Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars’, ‘Willkommen’ from Cabaret and Kate Bush’s ‘Babooshka’ are all favourites but there isn’t a track in the show that I don’t enjoy performing.

LPT: What about highlight for the audience?

‘Sooner or Later’ has all the cabaret references any audience member could want! It’s a really underrated song that is just so catchy and perfectly written, I love that part of the show.

LPT: You must have had terrific feedback from your compatriots, especially anyone from Derry, what have been your favourite comments?

To know that people have taken the time to come and see the show and that it has moved them in some way has been incredible. Several people have mentioned their own struggles to find their voice (in every sense of the word). Everybody has their story to tell and having a creative outlet to express that is so healing, whatever that may be!

LPT: This brings us around to the subtitle of the show ‘Grit, Glitter and Gaslight` There’s definitely a story behind that one, and we’d like to hear it.

The title of the show has been on a journey all of its own! In Edinburgh it was simply called ‘Sarah McGuinness sings Cabaret’ but that could be interpreted in so many ways, it was intentional in some ways, testament to how I didn’t know which direction the show would take me. We changed it because it really is my life story and I felt ‘Grit, Glitter and Gaslight` just about covers everything!

LPT: So delighted that you’ll be at one of our most intimate theatres inside a pub, right at the heart of the community. Does this strike a chord with you?

Absolutely, I have always run venues, including bars and, without exception, they always included performance spaces, they are such pivotal places to bridge the gaps between rehearsal rooms and bigger more established theatres. You can see some of the most avant garde, inspirational and groundbreaking work there, them being placed right in the middle of a community is key to that.

LPT: Finally, what are you bringing with you to the venue?

Well! The show was made to pack up small so there isn’t crazy amounts of set or endless scene changes but I can promise you a killer playlist, an incredible cloak from Vampire’s Wife, a selection of 3 pivotal books, a really intimate set and a white fake fur sable! What’s not to like?!

The Sarah McGuinness Story:

GRIT, GLITTER & GOBSHITES!

A Cabaret Musical

ETCETERA THEATRE in Camden

15 September – 4 October

Box Office