Interview: 'It's a bit of a gift!' Emily Benjamin on AVENUE Q

Twenty years after its first run in London, Avenue Q has returned to the West End. The musical, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and a book by Jeff Whitty, is a parody of the hit children’s television series Sesame Street, taking on adult themes with puppets and human actors.

Recently, we had the chance to speak with Emily Benjamin, who plays Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut in Avenue Q. We discussed what made her want to be a part of the revival, what it’s been like playing multiple puppet roles and even her favourite song from the show!

How did you first get started in the world of theatre?

I was a very loud, dancey, energetic child, and I was lucky enough that my mum and my dad fully supported that creative little creature! I did Stagecoach, which is a Saturday school here in the UK, and I did lots and lots of amdram back at home in the South Wales Valleys - I was part of four different companies. We would do as many shows as we could a year. There was no other option for me. I loved theatre, I loved doing it, and there was nothing else that ever stoked that fire, apart from horse riding. I did love horses, but I couldn't be a professional horse rider. It was just something that I always engaged in - I was just obsessed with anything that I get my hands on, really!

And what made you want to be a part of Avenue Q?

I had known about Avenue Q for many years - it was one of my favourites. When I was in school, I was listening to it probably before I should have been, because I was quite young to be listening to some of the lyrics! I distinctly remember listening to it with one headphone in the back of Maths. And as soon as the casting came out, I was on the phone to my agent, like, “I need to be seen for this! Not ‘I want,’ but ‘I need’ to be in the room,” because I just adored it. It's one of those truly rare parts where you get to do the most fun stuff - you get to play the ingenue, the innocent leading girl who gets that big “I Want” song at the end of Act One, and you get to be the sassy, villainess character! There are very few shows where you get to explore that level of range and artistry. And we got to learn to puppeteer! I've always had an interest in puppeteering. I've dabbled, but I've never got to do puppeteering like The Muppets. Miss Piggy is my favourite non-human celebrity. I can only hope to be as cool as her!

So, for those who might be unfamiliar with Avenue Q, can you tell us a bit about it, and the characters you play, Kate and Lucy?

Of course! So in its original concept, Avenue Q was very loosely based on Sesame Street. So Sesame Street taught children how to count, read, and insert your life lesson here. The concept was that Avenue Q could be the equivalent of adults that didn't necessarily know how to start their adult life. They’ve got the character Princeton, who has just graduated college and is going out into the world to try and figure out how to live in it, and comes up against the grind and sandpaper of reality, and meets these interesting and varied characters along the way. My character, Kate Monster, she and Princeton spark up a friendship. She's a kindergarten teacher, she believes in equality, she's got a lot to say in regards to the rights of fellow people. She's a really passionate, youthful character to play. And I get to play Lucy, who is slightly defined by her want for attention. She's a singer and influencer who causes havoc in general!

And what was the rehearsal process like for the show, especially with the puppetry? 

So we had two weeks of intense puppetry school where we got to work with a company called Talk to the Hand - they were really invaluable. We had them in the room teaching us essentially a crash course in puppetry. They work mainly in TV, but this is a slightly different kettle of fish, so it was a learning process for them as well! It was a lot of watching ourselves in the mirror, trying to figure out what worked and what didn't. The lovely thing about it is that I don't do two shows that are the same, really. I still get to learn and discover every night what Kate can do, what Lucy can do, and how I can communicate what they're feeling to the audience. It's a bit of a gift!

What is it like performing in a sillier show like this versus something like Cabaret?

It's so lovely. I love the feeling that we get at the end of the show. The nice thing about Avenue Q is that some people leave surprised by how moved they can be by these small furry creatures. You can find joy, and there's always value in that. It's a nice feeling to leave the theatre having given people a good laugh, and also hopefully move them a little bit. 

And do you have a favourite song in Avenue Q, either to perform or to listen to?

I was always obsessed with “Special” - it was my go-to. I've sung it a few times during my life in various guises, and now I get to do it every night! There's three of us that are on the Lucy puppet, which is lovely. So I get to do it with two other girls, Lesley [Lemon] and Jess [Niles Kadi], who are exceptional puppeteers. What's lovely is that when I get to perform it, I don't feel like I'm out there on my own. There's a whole team of us making that song happen! So I do really love performing “Special.” That's really fun.

What is it like working with multiple people on one character?

It's lovely to get to bounce ideas around! It's not just you on your own, going, “Oh, maybe this looks good.” You get to try different things out, and there is that element of support and teamwork, and a really interesting cohesive nature that comes in.

What do you hope audiences take away from Avenue Q?

I hope audiences take away that community can help other people's stories, and engaging with honesty is always worth it.

And finally, how would you describe Avenue Q in one word?

Furry!

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