From graduating at Guildford School of Acting to making her West End debut in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Edie Wright has had an exciting start to her career. We caught up with Edie, who now plays Joyce Maldonado, to discuss her journey into professional theatre and the challenges of bringing the supernatural world of Stranger Things to life on stage.
Stranger Things has been hugely popular both on screen and stage. Why do you think people have resonated with these stories and characters so much?
The show is full of lovable and relatable characters. I think there is a nostalgia for the time that the shows are set in, which is captured brilliantly, and set against this fantastic alternate world of upside down and a young girl as a superhero. Many of us have grown up watching the show. It definitely made me feel nostalgic and I wasn’t around in the 80s!
What has it been like to make your professional stage debut in such a huge production?
It was quite an education in itself! In some ways, it felt a bit like doing a masters on the back of 3 years of training. In a word, giddy. It has always been a dream to work in the West End, and it was quite overwhelming when I stepped on stage for the first time. I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity and space to grow as a professional actor. I’m grateful that I’ve had the chance to learn from, and collaborate with, so many experienced, talented people in a huge production. Not just the brilliant actors, but the directors and production team, the fantastic WHaM team and the staff at the Phoenix that make the audience experience so amazing.
How do you balance the storytelling with ensuring all the important technical cues for this hugely complex production are met?
Firstly, it’s important to not only know the blocking inside and out but to know why it is the way it is. From there, you can carve out the parameters in which you can play. I still feel free, even in strict choreographed movements. For example, what we call torch-ography, because I don't need to think about it and I can focus on the story. I’ve found it extremely useful to get to know each department so I know how I can be helpful and how to communicate. My aim is always to contribute to putting on the best show we can. I care about every jump scare, every timed shadow and every nose bleed, and I hope that comes across for the audience.
You started in the show as Karen Childress and now play Joyce Maldonado. How did you find switching roles within the same production?
Being a cover gave me time to learn what kind of principal I wanted to be. What it means to be a leading lady. Being part of the ensemble gave me such an appreciation of the ensemble, for covers, for swings, what each person has to do to make this show possible and the amount of work and drive it takes. I was able to step up with confidence. Playing Karen gave me the chance to hone my skills, get creative and learn how to commit to a comedic segment, even on the difficult days. One of the main things I learnt from Karen that I took to playing Joyce was the appreciation for comedic timing and rhythm, how to balance the space and to make sure I’m setting up other people’s jokes. While I stayed on to play Joyce in the same production, the majority of the cast changed, so it was a whole new set of people and a different experience. It was wonderful to feel that giddiness reignited by being around those stepping into the production for the first time.
Playing the younger versions of beloved characters from the TV series, how have you balanced creating a fully fleshed-out character while giving the audience what they know from the screen?
I grew up watching the TV show and have always been a fan of Winona Ryder and her character Joyce. I think that made it easier to jump straight in, as I already had a clear idea of the character. I didn’t want to do an impression of Winona, but I wanted to ensure there were enough recognisable qualities that the audience could really believe I was a younger version of this character. She has such unique vocal qualities, so I started with that. I worked on emulating how she emphasises certain vowel sounds particularly ‘O” then combined some of my natural rasp. For the physical side, my main thing was capturing her frantic flustered mannerisms, she’s driven by passion but this can often be quite scattered and impulsive, instead of always being grounded and direct. In the TV show, we see her strength ignite, through her drive to protect those she loves at any cost. However, she also harbours a lot of anxiety. I felt her younger self would be even more fearless and bold but I wanted her sensitivity and anxiety to still be bubbling underneath. My aim with this is to create not only resemblance to who we see in the show but a clear journey from one Joyce to another.
What are some of the key things you have learnt working on Stranger Things: The First Shadow that you'll take into the rest of your career?
This whole experience has brought out a new found belief within me. I needed this challenge to prove to myself I have the stamina and resilience to do this job. I never knew how far I could really push myself until I had this level of responsibility to show up and perform to my best ability eight times a week whatever the weather. On top of this, learning the skill to never rely on muscle memory and always stay listening and present, because you never know when you might need to think on your feet and problem solve in the moment. In certain situations, on stage, the only person who can save you is yourself. I’ve learned how to keep my performance grounded in the original direction, whilst continuing to listen, try new things and allow my original interpretation to grow and develop over a long period of time. This all allows me to quickly adapt to whichever configuration of covers is on each show. I have learned and gained so much respect for every department involved in this show and developed a strong understanding of professional etiquette in the creative workspace that I will take with me wherever I go.
Why should people come to see, or see again, Stranger Things: The First Shadow before it closes in the West End this Christmas?
This is definitely not a show to miss! Sonia Friedman Productions has really birthed a new form of theatre that I have seen draw in so many people, many of whom are experiencing theatre for the first time. The show itself is a spectacle. It’s a rollercoaster with stunning visual effects, effortless transitions and an immersive soundscape throughout. It really does feel like you're experiencing an episode of Stranger Things. I think it would be hard to see the show too many times. There’s a lot to take in and every cover, adlib and pyro explosion is different, along with the audience reaction. There are also lots of subtle references to spot that nod to the TV show.
