Interview: Ten Minutes with Sue Devaney
Sue Devaney has had an extensive career across theatre and television, and has a broad CV.
Coronation Street fans will remember her as Debbie Webster, while to an entire generation of fans she is Rita Briggs, from Children’s BBC’s hit series, Johnny Briggs. Other television roles include Heartbeat, a three year stint on Casualty, as well as an original cast member of Victoria Wood’s smash hit, Dinnerladies.
On stage, Devaney has worked the length and breadth of the country, appearing everywhere from the Royal Court to the Royal Exchange, tackling shows as varied as The Wizard Of Oz, and The Beggars’ Opera.
Currently starring in the hit comedy tour of Dinnerladies – itself adapted from the original BBC series – Sue took time out to speak with Matthew Nichols.
Tell us about the stage play of Dinnerladies? How does it compare to the TV series, which people will be familiar with?
Basically, it’s like the second series of the programme. When Victoria Wood wrote it, and we filmed it, we did two series. The first one has seven episodes, and the second one had ten. This is the one where Tony and Bren get it together, and obviously my character Jane’s plotline hinges on whether she’ll get her “12 rounds of white, low fat spread!” It touches on Tony’s cancer, and obviously there’s Dolly and Jean, whose husband has had an affair. It’s a love story set in a canteen.
How have rehearsals been? Is it hard to keep a straight face in a show like this?
Well, when we first filmed the original, which was ten years ago, I thought we’d all be meeting up and singing round a piano, and cracking jokes, but it was lots of hard work. Victoria (Wood) is very serious, and they do say that comedy is a serious business. The writing doesn’t date, and it’s still funny now. This is the last leg of the tour, and I came into it because Shobna (Gulati) went back into Coronation Street, so I had two days rehearsal! It was great fun. Now that I’m in my 40s, it’s wonderful to play such a wacky and in-yer-face character; she’s essentially a good time girl, and it’s really liberating.
You’re a surviving cast member of the TV show; how does this experience compare, and what are your fondest memories of the series?
My fondest memories are from the episode where all the characters brought their parents to work; we had Thora Hird, Eric Sykes, and Dora Bryan. Unbelievable! My first ever TV job, when I was 14, was with Thora Hird, on a programme called In Loving Memory. In those days, I used my real name, which is Susan Barber, and Thora always used to say, “Hello, little Susan Barber.” And after the show, I bumped into her once or twice, and she always said it. So, on that episode, she came up to me, 25 years later, and said the same thing again! Also, working with Julie Walters was fantastic, I just love her.
How do you keep a part and a show like this fresh on a long tour?
Every audience is different, and every venue is different. At the moment, we’re in High Wycombe, and I think I’m a bit too common for people down here! They love me up north! The main thing is to try and bring something different to each performance, and keep it alive. I’m a bit of a joker anyway, so I love to add little bits.
To my generation, you’re well known for Children’s BBC TV series, Jonny Briggs. What are your memories of that show?
With her "Family" in Jonny Briggs
I absolutely loved it! When we were making it, we had no idea at all that it was going to be so successful. The sets wobbled, and it was all about a little Lancashire family, ordinary family life, and Razzle the dog! I was a lot of teenage boys’ heart-throb at the time, playing Rita Briggs, apparently, and I still get men coming up to me now, saying, “Ee, you were a right heartthrob, you!”
What is your all time favourite piece of theatre?
When my Dad was alive, he took me to see La Boheme at the Opera House in London, and that was the highlight of my theatregoing life. My Dad was really into opera, but I wasn’t – my Mum was into country and western, so it was a bit odd in my house! – but as I got older I completely fell in love with ballet and opera.
With a new government in power, the arts in this country might experience instability. Why do you think the arts are vital?
When I was young, I went to Oldham Theatre Workshop. I wanted to be creative; I wasn’t very academic, and had no interest, but I was very interested in the arts. I knew that it was what I wanted to do from being seven years old. And Oldham Theatre Workshop was always somewhere to go and be able to express yourself. Now, it really upsets me that we are making theatre really difficult for people to go and see. The ticket prices are so high. How can anybody working a nine to five job afford to go to the theatre very often? People have to pay for petrol and shopping, so obviously theatre won’t be top of their list of priorities. If ticket prices were brought right down, then all the seats would be filled.
What is your dream part?
I’d like to play Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, because I love a good fairy story! I’ve always wanted to play it, I love Shakespeare. My first job at the Royal Exchange was in Love’s Labour’s Lost, with Bernard Bresslaw, and I played Moth, and had a fantastic time.
Finally, in one sentence, why should audiences come and see Dinnerladies?
Because it’s a really good belly laugh, and sometimes, in this day and age, you need a right good belly laugh!
Dinnerladies runs at the Palace Theatre in Manchester from the 21st – 26th June – for more info click here
Tags: Dinner Ladies, Interview, Julie Walters, Manchester, Matthew Nicholls, Palace Theatre, Shobna Gulati, Sue Devaney, Victoria Wood
