By Noreen Rees
Photos supplied by Jenny Legg
I caught up with North Shields born performer Jenny Legg to talk about her latest role as part of the cast in Billy Elliot, which is currently showing at Sunderland Empire. From studying at Bird Academy, Jenny has gone on to perform in many roles in the West End, including 42nd Street, Elf the Musical, Singing in the Rain, Follies and Top Hat (where she was also the Dance Captain and had to learn all of the other dancers’ steps in case they had to pull out of the show unexpectedly). Television credits include This Morning, Strictly (of course!) Jane McDonald and Friends and to add some North East flavour, Blind Ambition with Robson Green.
What was it like growing up in North Shields?
I had a great experience growing up in North Shields. My parents were always on the lookout for events or interesting things to do, particularly in relation to performing and the arts.
The Fish Quay festival was a standout event that we made sure to attend each year, where we were able to watch performances and concerts of varying styles and genres. We also frequented theatres, watching everything from circus shows to full musicals.
As I grew older I went to a lot of open mic nights at local pubs and always felt like music was very present in the time I lived in North Shields.
How old were you when you went to your first dance class? Where was it?
I was around 3 when I attended my first dance class. I believe my parents took me because I had an abundance of energy and showed an interest in dancing. My first class was at Margaret Waite’s in Whitley Bay, however I quickly moved to Miss Connell Brown’s in North Shields where I stayed until I was around 6. At that point I moved to Gillian Quinn School of Dance in Whitley Bay where I stayed until 16. It was at this school that I really honed my technique and built on my passion for dance and, from there, went to Bird College of Dance and Musical Theatre in London after my GCSEs.
Were you in the school choir at school and did that encourage you to go on to develop your singing?
Yes! I loved to sing from an early age and took every opportunity that came my way in regards to singing. My parents are both musical and my Mum, particularly, is a fabulous singer so I certainly got my passion for singing from her.
At middle school, Marden Bridge, I was involved in two choirs; jazz choir and the main school choir where I was lucky enough to enjoy lots of choral and group singing, which I particularly enjoyed and this helped me in my confidence,singing with a performing company in later life.
How old were you when you realised you wanted to pursue musical theatre as a career?
In total honesty, it wasn’t until deciding on my potential A-Levels that I considered it seriously as a career. My parents and I explored lots of options and I decided to audition in London for Musical Theatre colleges.
At the point of attending a professional college I was very focussed on reaching my goal of this being my career and I feel very lucky to say that’s now the case.
Did you meet your husband Sam in a show, and if so, what parts were you playing?
We were actually set up by another friend in the industry. Funnily enough we had never met or seen each other perform in a show before then. At that time, I was waiting to start Elf The Musical and Sam was about to embark on Titanic The Musical.
How do you both manage to juggle careers in West End shows with looking after your young son, Darcy?
We are exceptionally lucky to have a wonderful village of people around us in London and family in other parts of the country who help wherever they can. Our industry is really difficult at the best of times but we both feel very lucky to be able to show Darcy that you can have a career doing something you love and that both of us can go out to work, not just one of us.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being in high profile show, Billy Elliot in the North East?
I feel like I’ve won a prize every single day being part of this show, not to mention it opening in the North East where I am from. But I would say the most special thing about this show is being able to tell the fictional story of a boy who loves to dance, but feels it isn’t accessible to him, achieving his dreams alongside the real story of the miners’ strike and the effects that had on the communities living through that at the time, and how it still affects them to this day. It’s hugely rewarding being able to make people feel something and think about what they’re watching.
Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
I hope to still being doing what I love and to be bringing joy to audiences around the world. My ultimate dream would be to be on stage with my husband and my son!
Now there’s a musical asking to be written! Tickets for Billy Elliot are available via the following link, and the show runs until November 21st.
https://www.sunderland-theatre.co.uk/shows/sunderland-empire/billy-elliot-the-musical
Noreen Rees
