Rising star Rhea Norwood, recognized for her function in Netflix’s “Heartstopper,” is charming audiences at London’s West Finish as Sally Bowles within the revival of “Cabaret,” a component she describes as her “dream function.”
“Cabaret,” set in Thirties Berlin in opposition to the backdrop of the rising Nazi social gathering, follows American cabaret singer Bowles as she performs on the decadent Equipment Kat Klub. Norwood’s portrayal of Bowles, a fancy character navigating love, ambition and denial in a quickly altering world, has garnered important acclaim.
Norwood’s connection to Bowles started at age 16 when she first watched the movie model of “Cabaret.” “I bear in mind seeing Sally as a form of barely unhinged lady. I feel it was one of many first issues the place I felt actually represented for all the edges of myself in a single character,” Norwood instructed Selection.
To embody Bowles, Norwood undertook a rigorous preparation course of. “It was an extremely technical course of,” she stated, detailing in depth vocal teaching and bodily coaching to fulfill the calls for of the function. Notably, Norwood took a solo journey to Berlin to immerse herself within the metropolis’s historical past and environment.
“I went to jazz bars, I sat alone, and it was an unbelievable expertise,” she stated. “I’d by no means solo traveled earlier than, and I believed that’s one thing that felt very integral to Sally’s journey.”
The actor’s dedication prolonged to creating an in depth backstory for Sally, together with writing diary entries in character and crafting a scrapbook crammed with photographs that evoked the spirit of the present. “I received very nerdy about it. I received fairly excited,” Norwood stated.
Norwood sees hanging parallels between the themes of “Cabaret” and present world political traits. “It’s sadly extremely well timed nonetheless. And now greater than ever, actually,” she noticed, referencing the rise of far-right politics in varied nations. She believes this modern resonance contributes to the highly effective viewers reactions the present continues to elicit. The actor follows within the footsteps of Jessie Buckley, Amy Lennox and Cara Delevingne, amongst others, who beforehand took on the function of Sally Bowles on this West Finish revival.
When requested about how she approached the function in gentle of earlier performances, Norwood stated, “It wasn’t like a acutely aware factor of going, ‘I don’t need to be like earlier Sallys.’ It was extra that as a result of she was a personality that has existed inside me for thus a few years, I needed to serve the story that my 16-year-old self noticed when she watched the movie. I by no means felt any stress to form of dwell as much as every other variations, or to be completely different from every other variations of Sally that had been executed. I simply needed to serve the one which felt truthful to me.”
Shifting gears, Norwood mirrored on her breakout function in Netflix’s “Heartstopper,” written and created by Alice Oseman, based mostly on her webcomic and graphic novel. The approaching-of-age collection follows Charlie Spring, a homosexual schoolboy who falls in love with classmate Nick Nelson. Norwood performs Imogen Heaney, who initially has a crush on Nick earlier than turning into a supportive ally to the principle couple.
The actor expressed pleasure within the present’s affect and its method to storytelling. “It felt very wanted, this form of healthful queer story,” she stated. “I really feel extremely proud to be concerned in one thing that audiences have responded to so properly.”
With “Heartstopper” Season 3 set to premiere in October, Norwood provided a preview of what followers can count on. “All of the characters are a lot older now. They’re exploring A-levels and what it’s to possibly go off to college quickly,” she revealed. The brand new season guarantees to deal with extra mature themes whereas sustaining the present’s signature heat. “There’s undoubtedly some more durable themes which might be tackled in Season 3. However it occurs by means of this actually fantastic ‘Heartstopper’ lens the place you get hugged with it, in addition to among the difficult issues that should be talked about,” Norwood stated.
Trying forward, Norwood expressed a want to proceed working in theater alongside her display screen profession. “There’s one thing I discover extremely awakening in my soul by doing theater, the place there’s this relationship with an viewers that you simply simply don’t get if you do display screen work,” Norwood stated.
As for future initiatives, Norwood is taking a measured method, in search of roles that match the artistic fulfilment she’s present in “Cabaret.” “I’m in no rush to play something that doesn’t nearly dwell as much as that degree of artistic fulfilment for me,” she stated.
Norwood performs Bowles in “Cabaret” by means of Sept. 21.
