Gigi Zahir is starring in Frankie Goes to Bollywood which plays at the Southbank Centre in London until 18th August. With a story that sees a British Asian woman reach for the top of the Bollywood world and discover the darker side of the seemingly bright and colourful world, the show asks questions about gender equality and cultural identity. After travelling around the UK with the show on a national Tour, we caught up with Gigi to find out more about the show.
What is the show about? Who do you play and how is your character involved in the story?
Frankie Goes To Bollywood follows Frankie, a young girl from Milton Keynes, as she is discovered and whisked away to Bollywood, the land of glitter and dreams. She achieves her childhood goals of fame and superstardom, but swiftly realises the harsh realities that exist behind the sparkly façade. I play Shona Chatterji, a morally questionable choreographer, casting agent, and multi-hyphenate TV superstar. A powerful player in B Town. I function as a fairy godmother of sorts to Frankie, teaching her the ins and outs of the biz. I say it’s my first non-drag role in seven years, but amidst all my sassy one liners and plural capes, it’s really not that far off!
Has the show changed your opinions at all?
The show hasn’t changed my opinions so much as it has reaffirmed and emboldened my passions towards the issues that riddle the entertainment business. Because even though Frankie Goes To Bollywood is specifically critiquing Bollywood, there are echoes and reflections of the same problems in performance-based industries all around the world, including the UK. So it raises up a very uncomfortable mirror to all the things we endure as actors. There’s even been some instances of life imitating art at times, and it’s made me realise just how much work there still is to be done.
How does it feel transferring to London after visiting stages across the UK?
It feels great! London is my home-town, so it’s wonderful to finally have my friends and family in the audience cheering me on. And as fun as it was to explore all these different corners of the UK, touring is gruelling. The whole model for touring in the UK is very challenging to actors. We are given extra money for subsistence but have to organise our own travel and accommodation, and we get no assistance moving our personal belongings up and down the country. It’s a lot of hard work and not nearly as glamourous as you might think. But getting to perform a queer character, in a brown cast, in front of largely desi audiences has also been a huge joy, so you take the difficulties on the chin and focus on the rewards.
How has the show changed between the tour and the London show?
The show only got locked as we hit Press Night in London this past Friday! So that means we’ve had 5 months of tweaks and cuts and additions and script changes, sometimes even involving rehearsals in the morning before a two show day. But I think that’s just part of the process when you’re involved in the making of a new musical. It’s also the longest run I’ve ever had with a show, and it’s been really fun witnessing my performance continue to evolve, deepen and grow. I’m a real perfectionist and always trying to hone my work, and this has definitely given me time and space to do that!
What are your favourite parts of the show both that you are involved in or other parts?
After my experiences working as a drag artist, I’ve really appreciated having a work family and a team to show up for every day. Much of my work as Crayola [Gig’s Drag persona] is gig-based and solo oriented, and even though I’m surrounded by people all the time, it can get pretty lonely at times behind the painted-on smile. So the love, support and regularity from the cast and crew has been lovely and so grounding. I also have to mention that hearing a packed audience laugh, gasp and run the gamut of human emotion is one of the greatest highs. The instant feedback of live performance, and knowing you’ve brought humour and joy to a room of people in these increasingly tense and tricky times – there’s nothing like it.
What has the rehearsal process been like?
The rehearsal process has been a roller coaster! Triumphs, challenges, injuries, sweat, tears, shouting matches. We’ve seen it all!
What’s next for you?
I have a solo show on August 22nd at The Divine in Dalston (full info and tickets can be found at www.crayolathequeen.com/whatson), and then have a bunch of private and corporate gigs in the diary – weddings, birthdays, hen dos and drag bingos in offices, that kind of thing. And then I’m blessed to already have another acting job lined up – I’ll be heading back to Watford for panto this Christmas, playing the Genie in Aladdin!
Frankie Goes to Bollywood plays at the Southbank Centre, London, until 18th August.
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