Sharon D Clarke ready 'to give emotional weight' to Blues in the Night 30 years after understudying role

Sharon D Clarke has said she is ready to do justice to soul musical Blues In The Night three decades after her first shot at it.

She was an understudy in a West End production of the show in 1988 when she was in her early twenties.

Clarke told the Evening Standard: “I went to see the show at the Donmar Warehouse and [American actress] Carol Woods encouraged me to audition to be her understudy when it moved to the Piccadilly Theatre … So I auditioned and got the job. Carol was a great mentor — so grounded — and she truly taught me how to be in the business.

"Now 30 years later I feel I am at an age where I can do the show justice, giving it the emotional weight it needs.”

Clarke, who is married to the show’s director Susie McKenna, added: “It has been a great experience putting on this show that both Susie and I love truly.”

She stars alongside Clive Rowe, Gemma Sutton and Debbie Kurup in Sheldon Epps's musical.

Blues in the Night runs at Kiln Theatre until September 7.

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