Guest Blog: Phoebe Thomas On HETTY FEATHER

Hetty Feather first came to life on stage at the Vaudeville Theatre in London in August 2014. It's based on the children's book by Jacqueline Wilson, which was actually Jacqueline's first ever period piece.

Sally Cookson, the director, and Katie Sykes, the designer, have been sure not to set the stage adaptation in a naturalistic Victorian setting, however, instead building an amazing set that is less realistic and more like a circus ring.

Both the script and the music, meanwhile, were mostly improvised by everybody involved in the show, so the story of Hetty Feather for the stage was very much created by us as an ensemble. Bringing Hetty to life has been fantastic, but the thing I've loved the most has been working as part of a theatrical team. We were really lucky to get together and find that we all clicked.

Touring the show has been a real joy. As an actor it's such a treat to be able to perform in so many different theatres and have so many different audience reactions depending upon where you are in the country.

The overriding thing we discovered is what a loyal following Jacqueline Wilson has, but it was also fantastic to see and hear so many people (siblings, parents of Jacqueline's fans) discover the story of Hetty Feather for the first time and see how it resonated with so many families.

I have learned so much on this job - not only the circus skills. We've performed this show nearly 400 times, but working together as a team is so rewarding. That's why we're all back to do it again at Nuffield Southampton Theatres this Christmas!

Hetty Feather really is a story for everyone. You might think Jacqueline Wilson is just for young readers and particularly female, which is not the case at all. Hetty herself is a brilliant role model. She's a feisty, independent, spirited child who feels that she should have a place in the world and that her voice should be heard, which I think is an important message to send to youngsters.

The show also has a lot of physical theatre and loads of circus in it, such as aerial work, silk climbing, rope climbing and hoop trapeze. It's so much fun for Christmas, especially as it's a beautiful story about the importance of family and how special those relationships are. It's a slice of theatrical magic.

It has fantastic live music, exciting tricks, laughter, tears and a magical ending. It encourages you to imagine and picture just like Hetty does, and leaves you feeling like you've been scooped up and given a great big hug!

Hetty Feather at Nuffield Southampton Theatres until 7 January, 2018