BWW INTERVIEWS: John Partridge And Kerry Ellis At The OLIVIERS 2010

So this is a return to the world of theatre for you, John, after spending so long in Eastenders.

John Partridge: It's great to come here and meet up with old friends and people I've worked with for years and years. You know what it's like. Our lives are busy, their lives are busy. When life's busy, you don't get the chance to meet up as often as you'd like. So it's great to come to an event like this where you get the chance to reacquaint yourself with old friends.

Is it difficult to stay in touch because of when you're filming - the majority during the day - while theatre is a nocturnal occupation?

John: Evenings off and weekends free, baby. I get that Friday feeling. Friday 7pm and I'm done! I really get the opportunity, to all intents and purposes, to live a normal life. That's something, after 20 years of musicals, that I have really enjoyed. But coming to an event like this, it's not that I miss it. But I still absolutely love musicals, and the best thing about me doing the Dorothy show is that I kind of get to have my cake and eat it. I get to stick my toes back in musical theatre but I still get to be with something like Eastenders. So, really, I'm a very lucky boy right now.

Will you cut back your Eastenders hours to do Over The Rainbow?

No, I'm juggling both right now. Eastenders have been really great, they've juggled my filming schedule around to fit Dorothy. And everyone's scratching each others' backs right now.

Kerry, you're going into Oliver! soon...

Kerry Ellis: I am, next Monday, 29th.

John: Yay!

First-night nerves?

Kerry: I'm excited to join the company, they're such a great bunch and I've had a ball rehearsing. It was nice to see Jodie tonight and to be stepping in on Monday. I'm thrilled.

John: And she doesn't have to paint her face green!

Kerry: I know.

John: She can be a normal person again.

It's a much less intense make up job for Nancy.

Kerry: It is, but the company are brilliant. It's so brilliant to be  here and to see all the shows I've been a part of be nominated and to see them do really well. It's good, it's nice not to have to deal with the green.

When you go back into doing eight shows a week, how will your stamina hold up?

Kerry: I've been working on my album, so I've been in the studio. It's a different kind of journey, really. I've been singing a lot more in the studio, every day, so I should be fine.

John: She's got lungs of steel.

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