In our profile series, Tell Us In 10, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions.
This week we hear from, Courtney-Mae Briggs, who currently stars as Jennifer Parker in Back To The Future – The Musical.
Find out more about Courtney in our Tell Us In 10…
1. My route into theatre was…
I always loved dancing as a child. My dad is a great mover & my mum has a gorgeous voice, our house was always loud and full of music, it’s sort of in my blood. When I was at high school and it was time to decide what I wanted to do, I was very confused. My mum sat me down and said “you either do something that’s going to make you really rich or do something that you absolutely love”. The decision was easy, it was all about doing something I love and that’s when I decided I wanted to go into Theatre as a career and started to take my training seriously.
2. My West End idol is…
Tracie Bennett – Her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow at Trafalgar Studios has never left me. She has this incredible way of making you feel like you are the only person watching the show, she totally encapsulates the audience and is truly sublime.
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
Loud….and extremely easy to scare.
4. My favourite show present or past (that isn’t one I star in/work on) is…
Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. I’ve actually never seen it onstage but Bernadette Peters as The Witch delivers a masterclass in acting through song. I used to sit and scroll through YouTube videos of her performing any of Sondheim’s work and just feel so inspired, even through the computer screen she can transport you right into the heart of her character.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Oh goodness! I’d probably say being in the original London cast of Hamilton. It was a show I was so very desperate to do and working on it with the original creative team was such a dream come true. I’ve never felt so creatively fulfilled in my life as I did on that show.
6. The hardest part about my job/role is…
I would have to say keeping myself physically and vocally fit. 8 shows a week is hard work and you have to take care of yourself outside of the building.
7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
A journalist.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
Not sure there really is anything….I’m a very open book.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
It will all work out.
You can grab tickets now for Back To The Future – The Musical, currently booking until July! And don’t forget you can get great seats for less for performances in January and February in our New Year Sale.