Interview: Jessica Rhodes on playing Young Victoria in VICTORIA: A QUEEN UNBOUND at Watermill Theatre
You might think you know the story of Queen Victoria, but the world premiere of Daisy Goodwin's new play Victoria: A Queen Unbound at the Watermill Theatre is here to make you think again. We spoke to Jessica Rhodes, who plays Young Victoria, to find out more.
How does Victoria: A Queen Unbound provide a fresh perspective on Queen Victoria's life?
I think it opens a new perspective into the love story of Victoria and Albert, her relationship with her children and her relationship to her recorded memories.
What attracted you to the role of Young Victoria?
I just love the way Daisy has written her, this wonderful woman of contradictions who’s as soft as she is formidable. I connected with Daisy’s play instantly, it still felt so modern and relatable even though it is a story through the lens of a Queen, and I wanted to be part of this telling.
How have you prepared for embodying this role?
Along with a lot of my normal preparation process, I actually joined this wonderful adult ballet class near where I live, to help with movement. Also after a year of playing a teenager, I really wanted to reinstate some good posture, plus I met the most lovely group of people who will be coming to see the show.
You recently starred in Stranger Things: The First Shadow. How did it feel to be part of that universe, and what did you take away from the experience?
Oh it was an unreal experience, and honestly a gift to be even a small part of in that universe. I watched the series when it first aired and loved the character of Joyce, so it was great to be able to bring some her youthful fire to life on stage. Also getting to work with team of such incredible creatives, on what is definitely the biggest theatre production I’ve been a part of to date, and it was amazing to bear witness to what can be achieved on stage. I also learnt a lot working with Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, whose work is always so dynamic and playful.
What do you think audiences will be talking about on the way home from Victoria: A Queen Unbound?
I hope they will take away a more nuisance sense of a what a relationship of this magnitude could’ve contain. Also, the aspect at looking back at one's life and seeing where we’ve edited, coloured in the lines or tidied round the edges.