Victoria Hamilton-Barritt is known for playing a catalogue of roles over the last fifteen years. From starring in Gypsy, Saturday Night Fever, A Chorus Line and most recently In The Heights to name just a few, she’s a vocal powerhouse who is about to take on a new and exciting role in Murder Ballad. Coming from a background of musicians it’s no wonder she chose to have a career within the creative industry herself. Having had her first child just six months ago, we talk about her past show experiences, getting back into work with Murder Ballad and advice for young creatives dreaming of having a career like hers.
TTH: It’s so lovely to be talking with you today. Looking through your previous theatre credits, you’ve had such a wonderful varied career over the past fifteen years. Let’s start by talking a little about “A Chorus Line”. The audience reaction to that show was incredible. How did it feel to be apart of that? Especially in a place like The Palladium.
VHB: Playing the Palladium was just like a dream come true. I think everyone who does Musical Theatre longs to perform in both the Palladium and The Dury Lane. That in itself was just wonderful. It really does give you that amazing feeling. A Chorus Line was a very emotional one because of the whole relevance of the piece itself, standing there being judged every night. First of all, when you open the show, you say “It’s my job, this is what we do” but actually two months in quite a few of us, especially those who had been working for quite a long time, found it emotionally draining and quite hard. At the end of the day, you sometimes couldn’t make out what was acting nervous and actually being nervous. In my case, my character Alex Owens was always the last to do something and there was always this big build up. Nerve wise, that would really overbuild it for me. I had never actually felt that way in a production before. It’s a piece that any Musical Theatre performer can relate to, so much that you either love it or you hate it. There’s a real fine line between the two. They warned us in rehearsal that it would be the case and they were so right (laughs). It was such an epic show and was wonderful to be apart of it.
TTH: And the same with “In The Heights”. What was it like working with Drew McOnie and Luke Shepherd whilst channeling that inner hiphop latino?
VHB: I will say this over and over again, In The Heights was just the ultimate soul show. You do certain shows because you’ve been cast and it’s wonderful to be apart the production but then theres these pieces that come every so often and change your life. That was In The Heights for me. When I die and I have my happy memories, that’s the show I can say that I was so happy that I got to play that role. It has such an easy going message and wonderful music and everything. Drew is an absolute dream to work with and Luke is such an attentive director. He’s very understanding and really helps you find it for yourself. He encourages your creative licence in which he would leave me with something and then help with the bits that he liked/the bits that he didn’t like. With Daniela, she’s one of those roles that you can just have so much fun with.
TTH: Did you ever think “In The Heights” would run as long as it has? You started with it back at the Southwark Playhouse and then briefly played the role at the Kings Cross Theatre before having your adorable little girl. Congratulations!
VHB: I very nearly was going to come back. They kept the show open for me for when I was feeling ready to come back and I was like, “Yeah sure i’ll be back in a heartbeat” but the truth of the matter is when you see your little girl, she’s better than any gig and I just enjoyed being with her so much. The success of the show speaks for itself. It got wonderful reviews, it won Olivier’s, it’s definitely something that I’m so proud to be apart of, especially at the Southwark where it all started. It was such a great production there and that’s what brought it to Kings Cross. I always used to get so overwhelmed by the audiences reactions, constant standing ovations. I’ve never been apart of a show where that was the case and it was happening very night.
TTH: Daniela is a fierce, independent, strong female role, will you be channelling some of those traits for your new show Murder Ballad?
VHB: Who knows? I’ve just had a child and I cant believe i’m about to step back into it. I’m currently reading the script, warming up before rehearsals to kind of understand it a bit better, I feel like I can enjoy this. It’s a very different role. With Daniela I got to enjoy being a moron for a couple of hours (laughs) but with this it’s a different vibe/energy. I’m really looking forward to it.
TTH: For those people who don’t know what Murder Ballad is all about, can you tell us a bit about the storyline?
VHB: Murder Ballad is a love triangle between Sarah, Tom and Michael. It’s all very passionate and quite tragic, not saying to much about what happens but someone has to die and that’s the opening song in which I’m the narrator. It then leaves the audience for the next ninety minutes wondering who that person may be. It’s this dark twisted tail of love, lust and betrayal which ends in a bloody hand. I’m excited that I get to be the storyteller of that.
TTH: You recently performed at West End Live, what is it like to work alongside Kerry (Ellis), Ramin (Karimloo) and Norman (Bowman)?
VHB: It’s so cool, just so cool. What an amazing bunch of people, I’m so excited. I’ve worked with Norman before we did a workshop together a couple of years ago so to work with him again is just so cool, he’s such a great actor but like Ramin and Kerry, this is going to be great. I’m so excited to get in the rehearsal room with them, to be with them and bounce of their energy with what we’re trying to do on stage. I’ve been wanting to work with these guys for so long so I jumped to the opportunity when I knew it was going to be this cast. I feel totally thrilled.
It’s also a show that is a four hander which I’m not used to doing. I usually work with big productions of like thirty so that’s real nice in the sense that it’s going to be very intimate in rehearsals for a month. A month’s rehearsal with just four cast members is going to be pretty intense. I can imagine our Director Sam Yates is going to put us through it and I’m excited to work with him as he’s a new up and coming Director. He’s a wonderful guy.
TTH: and a perfect role to come back from after having your little girl!
VHB: I’m like “Oh wow, how have I got this”. It’s just been so much about her for the past nearly six months and I feel maybe I’ve lost an element of myself. I really need to find myself again and step back into the rehearsal room after just cleaning up nappies etc. I need to get my act together and just remember that I’m here and I’m a living human being. I need to look after myself. It’s a good show to be going back into.
TTH: Do you prefer performing in intimate settings such as the Arts Theatre?
VHB: I feel I’ve always got more out of being in intimate spaces. I love interacting with the audience. ITH really enabled me to do that. I have a feeling, this show will be good for that to. I’ve always preferred smaller houses and as an audience member I love to be that person in the first couple of rows because I’m one for expression. I love being there amongst the blood, sweat and tears and really seeing the heart of the show.
TTH: Have you ever considered writing your own music/making an album?
VHB: I used to be in a band until 2014 but I got kicked out. We were supposed to do all of these music festivals but I couldn’t really commit to what I said that I could. There was six of us in the band, we toured Ireland, did some gigs in London on the usual band circuit. I never wrote the album but I have written some music before although it’s not really my forte. I like to sing other people’s music. I’ve dabbled in it a little but I don’t think I have the right mind set for it.
Musically I’m not such a big writer in that area. I’ve written a few little comedy pieces before but nothing really to rave about.
TTH: Is there any roles that you’d still love to play?
VHB: I’m one of these actors who likes to be challenged to do things out of the ordinary. I always tend to play feisty female kind of vixen roles which is fantastic because I’ve had a lot of fun playing them. Playing Gypsy Rose Lee for me was wonderful. I loved that Paul Kerryson gave me that wonderful opportunity to explore that role.
There really is a whole load of roles I’d still love to do. I’d love to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret, I don’t think I’ve got over that one yet. It would be such a fun character and would be a great show to do. It’s still one of my favourites.
TTH: And finally, How do you stay so motivated within the industry and do you have any advice for someone that wants to pursue career path as yours?
VHB: It’s a very tough industry at times but then it’s the best industry at times. I’ve loved and hated it in equal measure. When it’s good its absolutely fantastic but when it’s bad it’s just the worst. It’s very gruelling. You put yourself out there in the media to be criticised. I don’t read reviews unless my Mum sends them to be, she’s not going to send me a bad one, well I’d like to think that she wouldn’t. I don’t check what people write about me because I don’t really see it as important, I see this as my job, it’s not my lifeline. Going into advice, I think everyone that steps into this industry should treat it that way as well. It’s your job, it’s what you’ve trained to do but don’t make it so much so that it is your lifeline and it’s your everything. I feel like that can make it departmental to one’s health. I keep a healthy balance when it comes to that. I’ve been working for fifteen years and I probably started out very passionate when I was younger but the industry will teach you more than you’ll ever learn in college. Don’t worry all that much. It’s just one episode of your life. That’s how I treat everything that I do now.
Don’t give a s**t. Don’t care so much. Do what makes you happy. If it doesn’t make you happy, don’t do it! That’s been my biggest lesson. Listen to yourself, you know best. If you think something’s bad for you and you’re not feeling so happy with how you’re feeling, it’s really not that big of a deal. Just chill!
You can catch Victoria in Murder Ballad at the Arts Theatre London from September 30th. Strictly limited run, tickets can be brought here: https://pursue.co.uk/whats-on/murder-ballad-/
Kerry: I get asked this question a lot and it’s a tricky one. To be honest I just think people just need to love it and be passionate about it because it’s a really tricky business. It can be quite painful at times but it can also be brilliant. It can be the best job in the world but you can also be out of work a lot. So you have to have that passion and really love it to have a career in this industry.
Kerry: The hardest part for me was being so young and notknowing who you are and what you want out of your career/life. I went to college at 16 and looking back it just seems so young. It’s almost like an extension of school. For me, if I went to college later, I would have used the college better and applied myself more. When you’re so young, you still feel like it’s school
Kerry: That’s a good question. There is a lot of people actually. I’ve actually recently been talking about something to do with Ava Cassidy, her music was fabulous and I think her story would be quite interesting. I’ve never played Evita yet. Marilyn Monroe. There really is so many people. I’d like to do something with real depth that’s really meaty to get my teeth into.