Q&A: Suzy Cooper In Sleeping Beauty

Suzy Cooper is a veteran of innumerable pantos with Berwick Kaler at York Theatre Royal. We caught up with her in the midst of rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty and asked about how things were going since his retirement.

What is the secret of your remarkable longevity at YTR? 

I made a decision that my Principle Girl was to be a character role rather than the traditional straight girl. There’s longevity in comedy and Berwick enjoyed writing for me. I’m grateful!

How does it feel approaching a panto that Berwick is not going to be in?

Well Berwick is all over this one( like a rash!)..in the writing and directing of it. Of course we’ve had him throughout rehearsals but in performance we will miss him hugely. However my suspicion is that he will make the odd appearance!

Tell me about the voice you put on – and how you manage to sustain it.

What voice? Ha.. only joking. Voice is all part and parcel of building character. And once you’ve found the voice of any character in any play then you are half way there. So I don’t really see it as ‘putting on a voice’ rather stepping into character. Over the cold season colds and flus spread through the theatre and protecting our vocal health is always paramount and sometimes impossible. 

Tell me about your role in Sleeping Beauty.  

Well it’s one of the most classic fairy tales isn’t it! I play a cursed princess who pricks her finger and falls asleep for 100 yrs! There's something deliciously satisfying about coming to the theatre and knowing that has to happen. Berwick doesn’t deviate too much from the central story but the chaos that ensues around it is pure Kaler madness. 

How advanced are rehearsals?

We are in tech week, when we transfer the show from the rehearsal room floor to the stage, with costumes and band and lighting and props etc. I love techs! You can really see the show come together.

What do you say to those modernisers that think Principal Boy should be played by a male actor?
 
Well we have been doing that for a good few years now. I think it works either way. Personally I like a girl playing a boy. It’s all part of the Pantomime tradition.

Do you foresee playing a different role in panto in the future?

Yes I don’t see why not! Not the Dame through! 

People outside the business have no conception how exhausting doing panto is. Can you give us some insights.

It is physically very demanding especially when we move into 2 shows a day which we have for about 3 out of the 7 week run. Your body goes into a sort of Panto lock down; fully functioning only when on stage! All other times are spent preparing for show time. But that’s fine.. it’s what you sign up for!

Legend has it you once went on when actually suffering from pneumonia. How did that come about and how did you manage?

Yes. I was poorly in rehearsals and couldn’t shake my cough. It got worse and worse and eventually I coughed so much that I actually broke a rib. I was looked after by a wonderful Dr in York who knowing that I was unable to rest, gave me enough drugs to get the job done! I spent most of stage time floating about under a haze of steroids and pain killers. I was fine!

You started out as a dancer. Tell me about the switching of roles.

Dance was my first love which lead me to take my training in Musical Theater at Laine Theatre Arts.  Very early in my career I was involved in a car accident and was told that I had sustained an injury that would leave my arm unable to fully straighten. I pragmatically called by agent who represented mostly dancers and told her that I would never dance again and if an acting job came up that I would love to be considered. Within a month I was starting rehearsals for Noises Off, a brilliant farce by Michael Frayn. I got a proper acting agent and that was the start. My arm did indeed fully recover!

What unfulfilled ambitions to do you have in theatre?  What would be your dream role?

I just like doing good work and am always thrilled to work with people who want to work with me!  I have no burning ambitions to play particular roles. I don’t have that kind of ego.. not to say that I don’t have an ego! Whatever I do I want to do to the best of my ability.. I’m a perfectionist in that respect and value any job I undertake. I am very grateful to be an actor. But that’s a fairly boring answer isn’t it! I suppose in honour of my younger self, I always wanted to play Madame Thénardier in Les Miserable! So if the employment fairies are reading this.. 

What is your abiding memory of working with Berwick - and how much are you going to miss him when you go on stage for the first time without him.

When I think of Berwick on stage I picture him together with his audience. It’s the most intimate relationship I have ever witnessed and that itself is what i believe is special about the YORK Panto. Sleeping Beauty reeks of BK so the audience will feel his presence every step of the way. He’s not gone completely.. You might find he’s right.. behind you!