Entertainment

Finding truth in Propaganda: School of Rock's Joanna O'Hare in first lead role at Lyric

Co Down-born actress Joanna O'Hare is relishing her first lead role in the Lyric's Propaganda. She tells Gail Bell of her love for old musicals and how, in this new one, Berlin and Broadway unite in a 'love letter' to old musical theatre

IN what she describes as a "love letter to old musical theatre", Joanna O'Hare is in her happy place, shaking down her long red tresses as photographer's muse, Hanna, and posing seductively in Conor Mitchell's new musical satire, Propaganda, running at the Lyric Theatre as part of this year's Belfast International Arts Festival.

But - as the name suggests - nothing is as it seems in this production and in 1949 war-torn Berlin, truth, fiction and fake news are all at play when O'Hare's character and a group of displaced artists desperately try to flee to the West.

Running until November 5, the new Lyric production – described as an "all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy" - tackles big themes with personal stories of love and betrayal playing out against the smouldering ruins of the last days of the Berlin Blockade. But, while rooted in the past, Joanna says the story will still resonate with audiences today.

"While I love this show for the music and the way it celebrates the old Broadway style, it shows people who are displaced and want to find their home," explains the Annahilt-born, London-based actress. "I guess a lot of people can relate to that; it definitely has resonance today.

"Propaganda shows people who will do anything to survive, people who love deeply and who have been through something really life-changing that joins them together. It is relatable to anyone because of the relationships within it; the characters who help each other - and those who help themselves."

Brought to the stage by Belfast Ensemble (founded by composer Mitchell, who has written and also directs), the 31-year-old is relishing the lead role of Hanna, the self-sacrificing German lover and muse of photographer Flavi (Darren Franklin).

The pair are joined by a stellar cast including Rebecca Caine (Magdalene Von Furstenberg), Matthew Cavan (Gerhardt Baumann), Celia Graham (Margot), Sean Kearns (Comrade Poliakoff) and Oliver Lidert (American Red Cross worker, Ruddy Wolff).

With a Broadway-influenced score and live 14-piece orchestra, the music is also a main player in this ambitious production, with the actress - whose past credits include a UK and South Korean tour with the School of Rock musical and a West End run with The Phantom of the Opera – owing to a soft spot for "all the old classical musicals".

"Conor has written a score that, for me, is just a love letter to old musical theatre and that's where my joy of musical theatre really comes from," she enthuses. "I love all the old stuff – anything from pre-1964 or 1965 – so I think to be able to sing a score that is modern in its approach to musical theatre but that also has that old style is really lovely because you don't get that a lot any more. A lot of what we do now is modern singing, pop singing, so this is a real joy."

Music aside, she was drawn to the role of Hanna – her first lead role since graduating from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in north London 15 years ago – because of an interest in the historical era in which Propaganda is set and also the "complexity" of the character she plays.

"Hanna is a catalyst, but at the start she just reacts to other people," observes the actress whose career highlights also include a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, singing in a Kiss Me, Kate ensemble, and a UK tour with Sunset Boulevard with Leicester's Curve theatre.

"Then, in the second half, Hanna is someone who becomes bolder; she becomes someone who implements change and starts to really move the plot forward, so I love the fact she's three-dimensional and grows throughout the duration of the play.

"I've done lots of covers in big shows, but this is the biggest role I've played to date and it has been amazing. What will I take away from it? I will take away Hanna's resilience and hopefulness, but also, in terms of an actress playing this role, I think it has given me faith in myself again and allowed me to be bold and fearless and to really trust myself as a performer. "

The fact Propaganda is new writing and no-one has ever played the role before has also sprinkled some theatrical stardust: "For everyone investing in a new piece of musical theatre or new play, you really have your work cut out for you," Joanna reflects.

"You are creating something brand new, so it's always a big process, but it is also the most rewarding. To be able to create something from scratch and put your own stamp on it... it's really amazing and it's something that I've always wanted to do, so this is a big 'tick' on the checklist for me."

Another passion is travel and next on the travel tick list is Nepal, with a hiking trip in the Himalayas planned with partner, Mathias Madsen, a musician and drummer from Denmark.

"When Propaganda finishes, I can't wait to get travelling again," she says. "I was on tour for the last year before coming home for Propaganda, so my partner and I are taking some time out and going on a month-long excursion to Nepal. It's something we've wanted to do for years and this just seemed like the perfect opportunity.

"I spent five-and-a-half months in South Korea with School of Rock and it was the best five-and-a-half months of my whole life. I fell in love with Seoul, it's a brilliant city with endless things to do and see and that has sparked the travel bug again, I think."

She began her career with a cruise contract and "sort of saw the world" and, after Seoul, travelled to Vietnam for a month and then across America.

"I love travelling, but I also love coming 'home', whether for panto or just to visit," she says. "I am at my granny's house at the moment - she was the person who first introduced me to musical theatre and I just fell in love with it and joined Fusion theatre group in Lisburn.

"Theatre has been my forever dream and there were never any doubts about going to drama college; it was always the path for me."

A long-time yoga fan, she feels the benefits of stretching out at the end of a long evening on stage - particularly after a "very physical" play such as Propaganda. Now, she is hoping to fit in some yoga practice when in Nepal – regarded as the birthplace of the ancient discipline.

"Nepal is definitely the place to do yoga," she adds. "We are going to be doing lots of hiking in the Himalayas, so after we do that, I would say there will be a good few yoga classes needed to stretch and chill out."

Propaganda runs at the Lyric until November 5 as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival. lyrictheatre.co.uk, belfastinternationalartsfestival.com