LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

View All Shows Booking Now
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • Plays
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • & Juliet
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Come From Away
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Misérables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Matilda the Musical
    • My Fair Lady
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Only Fools and Horses
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Drifters Girl
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Apollo Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Gillian Lynne Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Savoy Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • UK Shows
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Interviews » Interview with Kellie Shirley

Interview with Kellie Shirley

November 9, 2014 Last updated: December 1, 2019 1:27 am By Neil Cheesman

Stella Stone as Kellie Shirley in Great Britain.
Stella Stone (Kellie Shirley) in Great Britain.
Photo credit Johan Persson.jpg

Richard Bean’s new play Great Britain is an anarchic, foul-mouthed satire about the press, the police and the political establishment. After a successful run at the National Theatre, it has now transferred to the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Kellie Shirley, who plays the role of “flat-chested glamour girl called ‘Stella Stone“, recently took time out to chat about her career and Great Britain.

As well as working on stage you have many screen roles. What is the best thing about working in front of a camera?
You get to do it again if you slip up!

Can you tell us about two of your favourite screen roles and what you like best about playing them?
I played Violet in ‘20,000 Streets Under The Sky’ by Patrick Hamilton for BBC. It was directed by the lovely Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn) and set in the 1920/30s in and around London. Not only was it a great role to get my teeth into, everyone in the cast and crew were brilliant to work with. I also loved the indie film Everyone’s Going to Die – it is a lovely little film and very naturalistic, with a bit of British kookiness mixed in – I’m hoping to work with them again on something next year.

You played the role of Pauline in One Man, Two Guvnors on tour and at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. What can you tell us about your time in the show?
I played the role for nearly 700 shows – not only did I love playing Pauline it allowed me to see some of the world, we went to Australasia with the production and it was my first West End role. I made some lifelong mates on that job too!

You are again at the Haymarket, in Great Britain, another play written by Richard Bean and directed by Nicolas Hytner. What is at the heart of Great Britain the play?
Great Britain is about power, police, the government and newspaper industry and how they are all in bed together in this country. The play is so current with what has been in the news recently, which has made it such a unique experience to be a part of.

Can you tell us about the characters you play in Great Britain?
I play a flat-chested glamour girl called ‘Stella Stone’ who gets her phone hacked and also a journalist – Gemma Charles – who works for the Foreign News desk within the Free Press.

What would you say to someone to encourage them to get along to see the show?
You can get day seats for as little as £15 (bargain!); also it is a satire about what’s happening right now. It has got a cracking cast and Richard Bean has written some brilliant one-line corkers!

I gather you are an avid Crystal Palace FC fan – what would be a successful season for them this year?
Staying in the Premiership for another season.

Do you manage to get along to watch them very often?
We do 2 shows on a Saturday so I’m glued to the telly in-between scenes to keep up. I sometimes catch a Sunday match though.

Many thanks Kellie and good luck for Crystal Palace FC this season!

Follow Kellie Shirley on Twitter @KelShirl

Great Britain continues at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 10th January 2015, further information at www.GreatBritainOnstage.com

Book tickets for shows touring the UK

Tagged With: TheatreRoyalHaymarket

Search for Tickets

Full Cast Announced for ANNIE UK and Ireland Tour

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce full casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of their smash hit production of the … [Read More...]

West End closing date for Only Fools and Horses The Musical

The smash-hit Only Fools and Horses The Musical is to close at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket on Saturday 29 April after four incredible years – … [Read More...]

Full Cast Announced for Bonnie & Clyde The Musical

DLAP Group are thrilled to announce the full casting for the BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL at The Garrick Theatre reuniting stars Frances Mayli … [Read More...]

Earth – A Children’s Story for Adults at Bridewell Theatre

After creating the “absorbing and provocative” Version 2.0 and the “eminently lovable” Letters, Kashyap Raja returns to London with his new play Earth … [Read More...]

Casting Announced for Blood Brothers at Richmond Theatre

Bill Kenwright's legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers returns to Richmond Theatre in February … [Read More...]

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2023 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.