From the wards to the boards

Abi Titmuss is in Lowestoft before touring Suffolk's theatres

By Guy Campbell
BBC Suffolk, Waveney Reporter

The recently saved Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft has been celebrating after securing a well known face for its forthcoming production of Macbeth.

Former nurse and model Abi Titmuss is carving out a career as an actor and will appear on stage in Lowestoft as well as Sudbury, Bungay and Halesworth.

Abi is well known for her appearances in various reality TV shows, but has been in theatre for four years.

She'll take to The Seagull stage from 18 November 2009.

Guy Campbell went along to meet her:

"Don't sit over there, wouldn't you prefer to sit closer to me on this couch?" said Abi.

We are alone in a bright make-up room at the Seagull Theatre.

Earlier a little mouse had made a quick entrance, stage right, in the lobby. It was unseen by local reporters and photographers, all men, waiting to be ushered in for their private meetings.

Before one colleague enters, I quip, "the nurse will see you now".

The mouse puts his snout in the air at my crass remark and disappears behind a trestle table draped in posters of an ashen-faced Abi Titmuss looking rather ghostly as Lady Macbeth.

Abi is looking forward to exercising on the Lowestoft seafront

The reinvention

She says her earlier modelling career is behind her, but would she really have been able enjoy her new role as an actress without it?

"This is not a reinvention,'' she clarifies with an intent stare.

"I wanted to be a doctor but I didn't have A level chemistry and I thought I could go in via the side route of nursing, but my first love was always acting.

"At university I joined the acting club and was smitten.

"I've trained to be an actor and really it's what I always wanted to do, but then my life was turned upside down and as you probably know from talking to me I'm not what you think I am.''

Modern Macbeth

"I knew it would take a long time for people to regard me as an actress.

Macbeth: If we should fail? Lady Macbeth: We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place, and we'll not fail. Macbeth, William Shakespeare

"I actually think it's a big risk for the director John Hales to cast me as Lady Macbeth.

"Hopefully I can bring something to The Seagull. Maybe some press interest but certainly he wouldn't have cast me if he didn't think I could do the job.''

Has Abi's past helped in her fledgling acting career?

"Some doors open and a lot of doors close and it's taken me a long time to get to this point," she explained.

"This year's been the best year for me. I've been doing theatre for four years but this will be my first Shakespearean role.

"I've grown up a lot, honed my craft and been very lucky to get this role at such a warm, friendly theatre.''

The role will not be a traditional one. The play's setting will be thoroughly modern with much of it set in a nightclub.

"It's a very exciting production, very scary and will include films projected onto a big screen, animation plus a soundtrack," said Abi.

While in Lowestoft, Abi will enjoy jogging along the beach and relishing the fresh seaside air.

So, why not live as quietly as a mouse and avoid the perils and pitfalls of an actor's life?

"Not even for a second," explained Abi.

"I had a lot of unhappy years but now I'm very happy because I'm doing a job I love. In fact I couldn't be happier.''

Macbeth will be performed at The Seagull from Wednesday, 18 November to Sunday, 22 November and on Monday, 30 November to Tuesday, 1 December.

The play will also tour East Anglian venues and is being performed at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay on Tuesday, 24 November and The Cut, Halesworth, Friday, 4 December.