Stage whispers

I admit, there are quiet moments as an actor. You need another skill to be able to tide yourself over. You could be a teacher or waitress. I've worked in restaurants and for conferences and exhibitions during some of those quiet moments.

I also advise anyone who wants to be an actor to work in the West End or Broadway. Get knocked around. You should be told you're too big or too small. Or that you have the wrong hair colour. Rejection makes you stronger. I was among 66 students when I started out 15 years ago. Today only four students work in theatre.

I deal with rejection by convincing myself that I haven't got the role. I do my best at the audition and get on with life. Then, if I get it, I'll throw a party.

And one thing led to another…

During my first three years of training at the Rose Bruford Drama School in London, I was very focused at being an actress. We studied classical styles like Shakespeare, Stanislavski, Greek tragedy and Brecht. I loved it and had no desire to be a singer or producer.

But along the way, I started singing, working in musicals. I did stage, television, film, pantomime and commercials. I danced and sang… ballad, blues, jazz, period dancing, rock, tap and aerobics. I worked on audio books, musical comedy, television presenting and voice-overs.

Then I chose to have a go at my own production, thinking about the number of times I've been in productions where I thought, ‘Gosh, I could do this better. I wish it were up to me.' It has been an accidental little journey.

We are on our 20th production.

I didn't train to be a producer. The skills I picked up have helped me. Our production company, Popular Productions, with my business partner John Payton, produces drama, musical theatre and concert. We launched the company in London six years ago. Then a few years later, someone from the Madinat Theatre booked us for Dubai. So we started productions here as well. We are the only company in the Middle East that produces its own shows - from scratch.

We had a very successful first venture: the West End musical comedy titled I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, which ran for six weeks at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London.

Recently we presented the award-winning musical Blood Brothers, followed by the critically acclaimed thriller The Woman in Black and the comedy The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) as well as the comedy Stones in His Pockets. We also produced Disney High School Musical and the Broadway classic musical Annie.

Our next production is Fame The Musical where only four actors out of 104 are from the UK; the rest are from the Middle East.

There is acting talent in Dubai.

About four years ago we did a few auditions to tap local talent - and found it. In fact, I remember a particular cast member named Donovan Preston who played Troy Bolton in Disney High School Musical. When he walked in for auditions, he wasn't too sure of himself. He didn't think he was good. But we watched him blossom. He is now in drama school in London. It's one of the aspects I love about production - watching an actor grow.

I see a lot of myself in those who audition. I knew I could perform, but I didn't have enough confidence. And then someone believes in you, puts their trust in you, and you get the chance to prove yourself.

I still get a little nervous even today. In fact, I think it is terrible if you don't. There should always be a little flutter in your tummy… when you are too confident, you stop caring. I know it isn't easy surviving in theatre, more so in places where it is an established industry and in which there is more disappointment as well.

Theatre in the Middle East is nascent.

The audiences in the Middle East aren't as critical or demanding as those in London or New York. In Dubai, we don't have a theatre industry. I am hoping to change this.

There is no reason why we shouldn't. I don't know if it will go as far [as the West End or Broadway], but I hope the city will have its own stretch of theatres. We have Dubai Sports City and Dubai Media City. We should have something dedicated for theatre. My dream is to step out of Dubai International Airport and see billboards of multiple musicals and concerts.

Again, because the industry here is still developing, we pick familiar, commercial titles. Not because people won't appreciate it, but because it won't have mass appeal.

Theatre can help make sense of real life.

When you are busy playing other characters, you psychologically understand the workings of their minds. To be a good actress, you have to learn how other people tick and why. And this process makes you look at your own life in a different way.

An example that springs to mind is when I played Alison, the wife of a disaffected man named Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger, a John Osborne play. My role was that of a person who preferred to keep her emotions under check and hold back her opinion. It made me examine myself. As a person, I am one for holding my tongue, often thinking twice, ‘How can I say it better?' As a producer, I speak my mind.

People think actors are crazy and exuberant. We aren't. I am quiet, even a bit shy. I am filled with fear when I have to speak without a script, but on stage, I can do anything I am required to do.

Fame The Musical opens on July 13, 2010 at the First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. It is directed by John Payton who plays Mr Myers.