Expect an energetically contagious performance of the West End hit musical starring Lucy Benjamin as it lands in Milton Keynes Theatre.
The ex-Eastender has made a spectacular return to musical theatre as she delves into the 1960s to take on the role of scheming TV executive Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray.
“It is my first musical as a grown-up,” says Lucy.
“I started out doing musical theatre as a child, but in terms of a major role in a musical this my venture back to it.
“And I am loving doing live theatre again. It is such a feel-good show and I am just having a ball.”
“I would defy anyone to be involved in a show like this and not find the energy from somewhere because the music is so fabulous,” says Lucy.
“At the end of the show the whole audience is up on their feet dancing themselves and they’re probably absolutely shattered after a hard day at work, but at the end they’re dancing and so are we.
“Honestly, it is one of those shows that the energy is almost contagious. You muster it from somewhere and actually I feel quite rejuvenated doing the show.”
But Lucy admits it really is a case of ‘lights, camera, action’ as she has to juggle motherhood on the road.
She said: “My husband is at home with my six-year-old, and I’m on the road with my two-year-old and my mum, so we are all a bit disjointed at the moment. So there would be nothing worse than if you were doing a show that you weren’t enjoying.
“I have to multi-task being a mum up until literally the point that I leave the front door.
“You can’t be thinking about work until you actually get through the stage door and then you breathe and get in the mind-set before the curtain goes up.
“I have to give myself time to put the baby screaming and dirty nappies to the side and say now it’s time to go to work.
“It’s kind of a bit of a relief really because it is difficult to have a baby with you on the road as well, so it is nice to come through the stage door and have a bit of me time and go to work.”
Despite constantly travelling throughout the UK and Ireland, Lucy says she can’t wait to perform at Milton Keynes.
“I am really looking forward to going to there because it is the closest I am going to get to being home.
“I have a lot of friends and family coming to see the show there so that’s going to be lovely. We have done such a northern-based tour so far it is lovely to come a bit nearer to home.
“What’s lovely about being in a show that I love doing is that it has had fabulous reviews and everyone is really lovely to work with so it pays off really.
“It is a pleasure to be back in the theatre doing such a worthwhile job. It would be lovely to do some more musicals now and if I do go down that route I would very happy to do so.
“You find new things in the performance, one show is never the same as another one.
“You can always keep it fresh and alive, which is often a challenge, to make sure you do that and don’t make it stale and boring.
Running from April 1-6. For tickets call the box office 0844 8717652 or visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes.
@LBOamanda