Interview: Charlotte Jaconelli on playing the Wicked Witch of the West in THE WIZARD OF OZ at Curve, Leicester
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
Charlotte Jaconelli (Heathers the Musical, West End; Britain’s Got Talent) is currently performing in Curve’s Christmas production of The Wizard of Oz. We caught up with Charlotte about her role and performing in the show she loves so much.
How are you enjoying playing the Wicked Witch of the West?
The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favourite films and has been such a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My house is a shrine to all things Oz! Getting to play the Wicked Witch is probably one of the most iconic things that has ever happened to me!! I get to live in Oz, and I get to be the villain - how exciting!
What can audiences expect from this new production?
This production is a spectacle. There is something for all ages! It will give you everything your nostalgia wants from this story, with modern twists and turns and some surprises in between. The witches fly…just not in the air!
If you could play any other character in The Wizard of Oz, who would it be and why?
Oh my, I think I would want to play Glinda, let’s go to the other end of the scale haha! And Christina [Bianco] has created the most fun witch of the north!
You appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, aged 16, with Jonathan Antoine, finishing as runners-up. Tell us about that experience.
That experience was a whirlwind and launched me into my career. I’m very grateful for my time on the show and the opportunities that came from it. I also now have a lot of ballgowns, haha! I am grateful I experienced it so young; I’ve grown so much from the girl I was then, but my passion and drive has landed me where I always wanted to be - the theatre.
You’ve since been signed to SONY Music, appeared in Call the Midwife and appeared on stage at the RSC and The Donmar Warehouse. What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Gosh, I think the highlight of my career is always wherever I am at that moment. As performers, we get to experience so many incredible moments. Sometimes it can all get overwhelming and you forget to take it all in, in the present. So for me, right now, it’s my witch! If it gives me goosebumps, I know it’s special, and this show is one of those.
The Wizard of Oz plays at Curve until 8 January 2023, with tickets available here.