Interview: 'It's A Big Job!': Actor Keziah Ibe On Making Her Professional Debut As Eliza Doolittle In Chichester Festival Theatre's MY FAIR LADY

It’s certainly a “loverly” summer in Chichester this year, with My Fair Lady playing in the Festival Theatre. Keziah Ibe makes her professional debut as Eliza Dolittle alongside Hadley Fraser as Henry Higgins. Recently, we had the chance to speak with Ibe about taking on the iconic role of Eliza Dolittle. We discussed what it’s been like making her professional debut, what the rehearsal process was like and what she hopes audiences take away from this production.

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

So I started quite late! [At] about thirteen, I did my first school musical, which was Alice in Wonderland. I wanted to be Alice, but I wasn't really destined to be Alice. I was the Queen of Hearts instead! And the most wonderful drama teacher. She really took me under her wing and gave me free acting lessons. So acting was the first thing that I was really interested in doing, and then singing was always a part of my life. But that developed a little bit later on.

And had you been a fan of My Fair Lady before joining the show?

I didn't know the show at all! I knew a few songs - “I Could Have Danced All Night", “On the Street Where You Live,” the big bangers - but I didn't know what happened within the plot. But it's been really lovely to learn it! It's such a magical story, and the transformation of Eliza is just beautiful. 

What was it like coming into this show as your professional debut?

It's been a big job! There's been a lot of support from the cast and the creative team in terms of making sure that I feel ready, and working with me on the dialect and the accent within the show - going to those extremes. But it was definitely a big job. Not one to be underestimated at all! But it's been super supportive, and I've also felt a level of trust for me, which I didn't expect at this point coming straight out of drama school. 

What was the rehearsal process like for the show?

We started off just reading through the script because it's from the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw - it's so gritty, and there's so much detail within the script itself. So we spent about a week just reading through, discussing and finding all that detail, and then we slowly put on its feet. What was really great was seeing the numbers with Alfred Doolittle [Gary Milner], Eliza's dad, come to life, because they bring such a lightness to the show that is so necessary! Otherwise, it can feel like a heavy story. But it was wonderful to see everyone develop their portrayals of their characters in a way that is very unique to them as well, and makes our production really special.

You mentioned dialect coaching before. What has it been like doing that as a part of your first role? It's a lot of dialect work for Eliza!

It is a lot, and we wanted to go super extreme at the beginning when she's Cockney, so that the transformation felt bigger and more believable in a sense. I was working with Charmian Hoare, who is our voice coach on the show, and she's just been so helpful, giving me warm ups and making sure that before I even attempt any of the script, I'm fully ready to do that, getting the accent really secure. It's been really great.

How have the performances been so far?

They've been absolutely fantastic! It's definitely a stamina show for Eliza. It's really intense, especially in terms of the singing. We've gone vastly different depending on where we are in the show, and keeping it up is a big skill. It's something that I'm having to learn very fast, whereas some people have had a bit more time to learn how to do that. It's a great challenge. I'm really enjoying it, and the audiences have had the most lovely response to the show. 

How has it felt to be making your professional debut in such an iconic role?

Never in a million years did I expect to be leading a show at this point out of drama school! It's been so overwhelming, and the positivity from my fellow cast has made the experience. The support that they've shown me and grace listening to me and any silly ideas that I have, but also appreciating when I do give a good idea. Everyone's been so supportive. It's been fantastic.

You could have a totally fresh take on the show, not knowing it!

After my first audition, they were like, “Watch the film,” because I think they could tell I didn't know it! I watched it, and I was just absolutely blown away. It's the most gorgeous story. But because I didn't know it super well, it's been easier to make my own take, because the role is so iconic and etched in people's minds. So that's been very helpful, actually!

And what has it been like working with Hadley Fraser as Henry Higgins?

He is the most lovely man I probably will ever get to work alongside! He's so incredibly generous, and his creativity in the room has just been absolutely phenomenal to watch. His Higgins is very special, and with a show that, maybe for a 2026 audience, you might look at the script itself and be like, “Oh, I don't know how I feel about that . . .” He has made that character someone you can begin to understand a little bit more, and made him almost lovable, in a way. He's really a master at what he does. And towards the end of our show, he puts on the most gorgeous transformation of his character that has to happen in five minutes of the show, whereas I have the whole show. What he's doing is just very beautiful. 

And what has it been like working at the Chichester Festival Theatre?

It's been amazing! The facilities that they have there are incredible. They've got the Festival Theatre, the Minerva, and the Nest. The best way to describe it is a campus of little theatres, and then the Festival Theatre. The staff are so dedicated to what they're doing - you can tell that there's a genuine care and camaraderie within the staff there, which has been really lovely, and they've really supported us coming in. 

Do you have a favourite song from the show, either to perform or to listen to?

There's a guy in our cast, Ben Culleton, who plays Freddy, and “On the Street Where You Live,” as soon as I heard it a few years ago, I was like – that's a really good song!. I didn't know it was from My Fair Lady! But he does sound like he's from a different time - very classical. It's absolutely beautiful. And being backstage, I'm quick-changing into my ball gown at that point, but it's not stressful because I just get to hear that lovely tune playing. It's absolutely gorgeous!

What do you hope audiences take away from this production of My Fair Lady?

As a team, we've played around with the idea of Eliza being in charge of her own destiny - it not being an experiment that she's thrown into, but rather that she decides to stay and change her life for herself. I hope that it can give people a little bit of a different view on the show, and just reignite that love for such an amazing show, because the material is so incredible! And hopefully, just help people realise that no matter where you are, you can always make something of yourself in some way.

And finally, how would you describe My Fair Lady in one word?

Lively!

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