ON stage, Annalene Beechey is the epitome of glamour and gorgeousness, surrounded by opulent sets and stunning costumes.
The star of The King and I has something altogether more down-to-earth in mind for her breaks between shows in Glasgow, however.
“I really want to visit Pollok Country Park,” she says, enthusiastically. “I didn’t get there last time and I love being out in nature.”
Annalene may well be looking forward to swapping her stylish stage attire for some sturdy wellies to visit the park’s Highland cattle, but she will be hoping for better weather than the tour experienced last time they visited the city.
“I really enjoyed our time in Glasgow, but I do recall the weather wasn’t great,” she admits. “Hopefully we have brought spring with us this time.
“It’s a beautiful city, very welcoming and the audiences were incredible. Having toured quite a few cities over the years, I can honestly say that Glasgow audiences are amongst the very best in the UK."
The King and I returns to the King’s Theatre from May 16 to 20, following a critically acclaimed Broadway smash-hit run, a sold-out season at the London Palladium and a record-breaking UK and international tour.
Annalene reprises the role of Anna, with Darren Lee as the King, in the timeless based-on-a-true story of a British schoolteacher brought to Siam to teach the King’s many wives and children.
It is packed with popular songs, such as Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance.
“It’s a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical, and I am honoured to play the role,” says Annalene. “Anna has a wonderful journey throughout this show, she’s tough, feisty, funny, warm and believes so passionately in the power of knowledge. She also has the most beautiful songs."
She pauses. “Although I was also maybe a little worried about dancing the polka in that huge skirt…”
The skirt, in which she famously swirls around the dance floor, is quite something, she agrees.
“It’s difficult, dancing in a crinoline,” she explains. “You stop moving, and it keeps going. And it’s very heavy, almost 20 kilos in weight.
“It’s an enormous role, which requires physical, vocal and emotional strength. I run and I do yoga regularly. You need a strong core - for the corset and large skirts.”
Annalene believes the story of this unconventional relationship has stood the test of time because of Anna.
“She was a modern woman,” says Annalene. “If you ignore the period costumes and just look at the bare bones of this story, you see a single working mother doing the best she can for her son. She fights for what she believes in, and cares very deeply for the world in which she is preparing her pupils to live.”
Being away from her husband and two children has been the toughest part of touring, says Annalene. However, she is enjoying playing a mother on stage.
“I’ve never done that before actually,” she says. “But I love working with the children on stage, they are just wonderful and all very individual. They’re funny, sweet and full of energy.
“The whole show is heart wrenching, funny, intimate, passionate, and opulent ... there is so much to enjoy.”
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