Take Five! Spend Your Tea Break with Sheridan Smith

Following a sold-out Menier Chocolate Factory run, Sheridan Smith leads Michael Mayer's production of FUNNY GIRL into the West End. The Broadway classic is now playing at the Savoy Theatre, booking until October 8. As well as Smith's Fanny Brice, it features Darius Campbell as Nicky Arnstein, Marilyn Cutts as Mrs Brice, Maurice Lane as Mr Keeney, Valda Aviks as Mrs Meeker, Gay Soper as Mrs Strakosh, Natasha J Barnes as Emma/Mrs Nadler, Bruce Montague as Florenz Ziegfeld, and Joel Montague as Eddie Ryan.

Telling the story of a Brooklyn music hall singer and comedienne who rose to stardom, but faced struggles in her personal life, the enduring musical - with score by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart - was a career-making vehicle for Barbra Streisand. This new production benefits from book revisions by Harvey Fierstein, though classic songs like "People", "I'm the Greatest Star" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" remain.

Escaping the not inconsiderable shadow of Streisand is perhaps Smith's greatest career challenge to date, but this versatile stage and screen actress has produced a variety of impressive performances. She won Olivier Awards for Legally Blonde and Flare Path and a BAFTA for ITV's Mrs Biggs, and has also appeared in popular TV staples like Jonathan Creek, Gavin and Stacey, and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

In honour of Funny Girl's opening, BroadwayWorld invites you to relive some of Sheridan's Smith's great performances. Take five below!

Cilla

Legally Blonde

Mrs Biggs

Gavin and Stacey

The C Word

Picture credit: Marc Brenner

To post a comment, you must register and login.