When did you first discover your performer?
Through twitter. I followed Helen for a while before I knew that she understudied Eponine and after looking through programmes from the last couple of times I'd seen Les Miserables, then realised that I had actually seen Helen in her ensemble track 3 times. After seeing tweets about how amazing she was in the role and a hearing couple of YouTube/tumblr audios, decided I really wanted to see Helen as Eponine for a while and then in June 2012 happened to be in London when she had scheduled dates.
Have you seen them perform live if so in what shows?
Only in Les Miserables. Helen has been in the show since 2008 and after only properly 'discovering' her in 2012, I still to this day can't believe how I hadn't heard about her and her Eponine before! Since then, I've seen her play Eponine 6 times and since the first time I saw the show have seen her in her ensemble track 14 times.
How would you describe them to your fellow theatre fans?
One of the most down-to-earth, lovely people you will ever meet with a killer voice to match and a portrayal of Eponine that will leave you a sobbing mess in the middle of Queen's auditorium and thereon after (especially if you sit front row front row)...
Favourite performance?
The first time I ever saw Helen as Eponine will always be stand-out for me; myself & my theatre-going friend Abbie brought a £10 standing ticket literally 15 minutes before the show started. I just remember getting to the interval of the show and my jaw was on the floor. It was the first time I'd ever had Eponine's understudy and my god I am ever grateful that 1. we decided to go to London and 2. that Helen had dates that week. There was also the first time we decided to purchase front row stalls tickets to see Helen as Eponine which is a whole other story in itself..!
Favourite song you've heard them perform?
Obviously I can only comment from seeing her in Les Mis but Helen's 'On My Own' is truly the most heart wrenching performance of the song I've seen. She captures every element of Eponine perfectly and it shows, not just in 'On My Own' but from the moment she walks to the front of the stage during the Paris scenes. 'A Little Fall of Rain' is probably one of the most stand-out 'sad' parts of the show and I don't know what it is about the way she sings this song but my tear ducts can't help but burst! Helen throws absolutely everything into being Eponine and I'm sure if you've seen her in the role you'll back me up! After seeing the show quite a few times, there's certain things you notice without even realising you've noticed until afterwards and this is how I realised that there's lots of small detail Helen adds to the role which makes her portrayal that bit more incredible. Even when Helen isn't on for Eponine and in her normal track as Clive the urchin/sick whore/various other Miserables characters, she puts everything into it and it just makes her so hard not to watch!
Have you met them? (include any pictures you'd like)
Yup! She's probably one of the funniest people I've ever spoken to at a stage door and is so genuine. It's also quite funny bumping into her catching the train home! Abbie & myself speak to Helen probably every time we see the show and I honestly do not know what on earth it's going to be like when she finishes in June.
What show would you like to see them in?
To be honest, I'd be happy to Helen in anything! I'd have loved to have seen her when she was in Mamma Mia! so maybe something like that?! Or if she'd like to come back as Fantine one day, that would be fab!
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