Musical theatre sensation Lucie Jones is embracing a remarkable period in her career and personal life, headlining the iconic London Palladium while expecting her first child. In an exclusive interview, the star reflects on this unique convergence of milestones, her groundbreaking Glastonbury performance, and her triumphant return to Les Misérables.
Performing While Pregnant: A New Dimension to Theatre
Jones reveals that her pregnancy has brought profound new meaning to her current role as Fantine in Les Misérables at London's Sondheim Theatre. "To be doing it now with my daughter is bonkers," she admits, describing how the production team has adapted to support her. The costume department ensures her comfort, while fight directors and choreographers constantly check her wellbeing during Fantine's intense scenes.
The emotional connection has become particularly powerful during performances. "The other night I was on stage at the end of the show for the Epilogue," Jones shares. "It's one of my favourite moments in musical theatre. We sing the line 'To love another person is to see the face of God.' It's a three-part harmony that always takes my breath away. And in that moment, my daughter started kicking. She was really going for it."
Crafting a Personal Palladium Performance
For her upcoming London Palladium concert on 16 February, Jones is creating her most personal show yet. Unlike previous performances where she often followed request sheets, this concert represents a deliberate exploration of her artistic identity. "Putting a show like this together is completely different because it's about me and my life," she explains.
The setlist draws inspiration from her successful Glastonbury appearance but expands upon it significantly. "This time I am exploring what these songs mean and who I am now," Jones says. She plans to break from her usual pattern of avoiding multiple songs from the same production, particularly embracing material from Waitress that resonates with her pregnancy journey.
Glastonbury Breakthrough: Musicals Enter the Mainstream
Jones made history as one of the few musical theatre stars to perform at Glastonbury, packing approximately 5,000 people into a tent designed for 3,000. This experience has solidified her conviction about musical theatre's changing cultural status. "I don't have that fear any more," she states confidently. "Musicals are cool! And people who say that they're not cool ... well, they're not our people anyway."
Despite initial nerves about whether audiences would embrace musical theatre at a major festival, the overwhelming response proved transformative. "We weren't even breaking the mould, we were creating a new mould," Jones reflects on the experience that demonstrated musicals' expanding appeal beyond traditional theatre audiences.
The Palladium's Historic Significance
The London Palladium holds special meaning for Jones, who describes it as "the pinnacle" of performance venues. "The history that's in the walls of that building!" she marvels. "You walk in and you can almost hear its secrets being whispered." Her childhood admiration for Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli's Live at the London Palladium album makes her upcoming headline performance particularly meaningful.
Even as an experienced performer who has appeared there with other artists, the venue continues to inspire awe. "Every single time I've walked in through the stage door, my stomach's flipped," she confesses, acknowledging the weight of performing at such a legendary location.
Wicked Connections and Global Community
As a former Elphaba in Wicked, Jones offers insight into the recent film adaptations, praising both while acknowledging the challenge of meeting heightened expectations for sequels. More personally, she reveals the existence of an international network connecting actors who have played the iconic role. "There's definitely communication between us!" she confirms. "And it doesn't just stay with London, you know, it's worldwide."
This global community represents the supportive networks that sustain performers through demanding careers, particularly valuable as Jones navigates pregnancy alongside major performances. Her journey exemplifies how personal and professional experiences can enrich artistic expression, creating powerful new connections between performer, material, and audience.
