Ruthie Henshall on Bringing Passion to Hope Mill Theatre

Olivier Award winner and Musical Theatre icon, Ruthie Henshall leads a reimagining of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s multi-award-winning Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre. Directed by Michael Strassen the revival reenergises the tale of love, sex and obsession in a new dynamic staging.

Arguably Sondheim’s most lyrical and romantic work, Passion is a legendary musical based on Ettore Scola’s Italian film, Passion d’Amore. Situated in 19th Century Italy, the production tells the tale of a young soldier, Giorgio, who is obsessively pursued by the relation of his superior officer, Fosca – a woman prone to severe melancholy and mania.

Exploring the consequences of intense passion and obsessive adoration, Passion is a ravishing and thought-provoking look at the lengths people go to for desire.

Quays Life chats to Ruthie Henshall, who plays Fosca in Passion at Hope Mill Theatre to find out more.

Why did you want to play Fosca in this new production of Passion?

Ruthie: “The productions I have seen of Passion have never touched me personally in a way that I would have liked them to therefore for me I wanted to find a new way of connecting with it”.

Can you tell us a little bit about the role?

Ruthie: “I am just discovering her as I go in rehearsals. I’ll let you know on opening night!”

What can audiences expect from Passion?

Ruthie: “Phenomenal music by Stephen Sondheim. The man is a professor of the human condition. There is no one better to know how to describe feelings than that man. So you will leave the theatre having been changed in some way”.

How are rehearsals going so far?

Ruthie: “Very very good. It’s not an easy piece to put together because it’s very complicated. It is like an opera. However it’s going really really well!”

This is one of the first revivals of one of Stephen Sondheim’s shows since he passed away last year – does this make it extra poignant for everyone involved?

Ruthie: “Yes it does. It’s makes us feel like we really have to honour Stephen Sondheim. The biggest shame is that he will not get to see this. We will do everything we can to honour his memory”.

Are you looking forward to performing in Manchester? And are you familiar with the Hope Mill Theatre?

Ruthie: “I spent two weeks in Manchester doing the tour of Fosse and I loved it. It’s a really fun, happening place so I am looking forward to Manchester. I have never been to Hope Mill or seen anything there but their reputation is such that they have become a Donmar Warehouse outside London”.

You’ve played some of the most iconic roles in Musical Theatre – from Velma & Roxie to Fantine and Mrs Wilkinson. Are there any roles out there that you’d still really love to play?

Ruthie: “I think there are some iconic roles I’ve yet to have played that I would definitely like to play – like Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly and Mama Rose in Gypsy. I think they are right of passage for any older woman so yes I would I like to play those two”.

Passion runs at Hope Mill Theatre from 5 May to 6 June 2022.