Canine Capers make for a paw-some night at MK Theatre!

She has been a pop star and a soap star, but for her latest role, Kym Marsh – one time chart topper with Hear’Say and Rovers Return regular in Coronation Street – is channeling an altogether more unsavoury character; starring as Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians The Musical.
This production, which visits Milton Keynes Theatre in October, comes with plenty of bark and bite, and Kym is relishing the challenge of playing the dog murdering fashionista.

It’ll test her acting skills too: “Trying to get into the head of a person who wants to skin puppies to wear is especially alien to me because I’m such a huge dog lover!” she laughed, “I’ve got two of my own, and I adore them.”

This being a musical, Kym is getting to flex her vocal chords once again, something that she’s not needed to do for quite some time.
“If you don’t sing, you forget,” she said, “In this, I’ve got my own songs, and there’s a lot to learn.”

Ask what the public will make of Kym’s Cruella portrayal and she is positive: “I think people are going to absolutely love her. The costumes are so brilliant, and when she walks on, she’s just in command of everything – she’s the most fun character ever.”

Naturally, her barnet will be big too, with that iconic black and white hair-do taking centre stage.
“…but there won’t be just one wig,” she teases, “There’s going to be several changes and it’s not just what you expect from her. We’re like Cruella De Vil times ten!”

Kym has enjoyed that aforementioned successful career in music and soapland, and has worked as a face of daytime TV with the BBC, hosting Morning Live alongside Gethin Jones: “I was very fortunate to be paired with him, because he’s a very generous co-presenter. He took me under his wing, and I’ve learned so much from him.”

101 Dalmatians The Musical might be taking her time just now, but other theatre credits include the Take That musical, Greatest Days, which saw her joined by her daughter, Emilie.

“I watched her going into rehearsals on the first day, being like a rabbit in the headlights and doubting herself, to suddenly making the role so much her own,” Kym recalled, “It was lovely to hear her playing with the part.”

And yet, had her own parents not been supportive of her hopes and dreams, we might have missed out on Kym’s talent altogether.
“I fell pregnant at a very young age and my parents were like, ‘This is even more reason for you to continue and carry on pursuing your dream, and make the life that you want, not just for you, but for the children. I was very much spurred on and encouraged, and I’m very thankful for that.”

In January, Kym’s father David passed away following a long battle with prostate cancer, and she took the necessary time off to grieve and care for her family.

“My dad was the pinnacle of our lives, and very much the figurehead of the family. It’a a huge loss and I needed time off. I think there may come times down the line where I need it again, because it’s not something that you get over. It’s always going to be very tricky, to not have him around…for him not to see me play this role makes me very sad because I think he would love it. I just hope he’s with me every night on the stage.”

Looking to her own working future, Kym would love to take on more meaty TV dramas, and some more films, and her current commitments are nothing if not varied: “One minute I’m serving chips and beans in the canteen at Waterloo Road, and the next thing I’m Cruella wearing pretend giraffe skin,” she laughed, “It’s a bizarre life I live!”

> 101 Dalmatians The Musical visits Milton Keynes Theatre October 1-5. To book your tickets visit: atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes