Everyone’s favourite kooky family are back on stage and touring across the UK in The Addams Family Musical. I spoke to Kingsley Morton who is fresh out of drama school and taking on the iconic role of Wednesday Addams in this new tour.
This production is the first professional musical since graduating Arts Ed before the pandemic. Kingsley was offered the role at drama school but the opening was postponed because of Covid.
“I did the show back in 2014 in an amateur production and played Wednesday. As soon as I performed the role, I knew I wanted to do it again,” she said.
“When it came around, I knew plus sized people don’t tend to get the romantic lead, so I didn’t think I’d get it. But I kept doing each round of the auditions and kept getting through so I couldn’t quite believe it.”
Kingsley is bringing her own interpretation to the role in a new, fresh take on the character. “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see the production the last time it toured, but I’ve seen a few videos on YouTube and my Wednesday is really different,” she explained.
“Even down to the costume, it is a lot punkier but I don’t want to give too much away. Wednesday is trying to find herself. She is growing into a woman but part of her is still the child that she always was, the character is a bit of a balancing act throughout the show.
“I really relate to the character of Wednesday, I think we are very similar. The show itself I can relate to a lot too because it is about strong family ties. My family are quite small and compact with just my mum, sister and I. We are all really close.”
Wednesday is a tough role to take on because the songs are massive. Andrew Lippa doesn’t do things by halves and she has some real belters in this show. Despite being a comedy musical, it has a really quality musical theatre score. “It is incredible,” said Kingsley. “It’s dramatic in ways you’d want what you’d want from a musical. But it also has contemporary, rocky numbers and latin songs too, it has something for everyone really.”
Pulled is the big belting number Wednesday sings in the show. “That particular section of the show starts with the song and then carries into a few scenes later which are massive vocal parts for me,” Kingsley said.
“That whole section of the show will always be the most nerve-wracking, no matter how good my voice feels. But I think if I am not nervous about it, it will have the opposite effect, so the nerves are good.”
Rehearsing the show has been an incredible experience for Kingsley. “Drama school rehearsals were always very professional atmospheres anyway, so we were treated as we are being treated right now. The biggest difference obviously is that we’re working with people who have been in the industry for years and have such experience,” she said.
“Being in the room with them and learning from them is just so brilliant – you can’t really compare it to anything else that you’ve done before. Honestly I think I ran into that room on the first day, I was so excited to meet the family.”
It’s not just the spectacular music and stellar cast that makes this show stand out, Diego Pitarch’s set design really brings the story to life. “Diego’s designs are phenomenal,” Kingsley said. “We were looking at them on the first day like “oh my god.” It is very dramatic, it is an old Addams Family mansion. He has taken aspects from the film and put them into the set. It is so creative and so beautiful.”
This musical is perfect for fans of the original Addams Family or those who have never heard of it before. “It’s everything you’d expect the Addams Family musical to be. If you don’t know of the family, it is basically halloween in a musical,” Kingsley said.
“It is brilliant escapism, amazing songs, great storyline and an excellent cast.”
After waiting so long through the pandemic to get this show on stage, Kingsley can’t wait to perform this show in front of an audience and make her debut as Wednesday Addams. “Everyone is so buzzing and so raring to go,” she said. “We have all missed performing so much, so we really can’t wait to bring this show to theatres across the country.”
The Addams Family is currently touring the UK, tickets and information can be found on their website.
