On the Couch with Sally Bourne

Arts Review On the Couch Sally BourneWho is Sally Bourne?
An actor, singer, writer and chauffeur of children.

What would you do differently to what you do now?
Ohhhh… I’d be a very rich housewife with no financial worries and enough money to fill my days with my philanthropic pursuits by funding all my talented friends projects and making sure everyone got paid well – or I’d be a gardener!

Who inspires you and why?
My kids (too obvious?) – they’re magnificently creative, honest and young enough to have no fear or real care of peoples opinions and they are so so funny.

What would you do to make a difference in the world?
(This is such a big question with so many choices that I decided to ask my 11 yr old daughter, her answer was pretty fantastic, so i’m going with that…) I would welcome any refugees into our country who needed help and make them feel safe.

Favourite holiday destination and why?
London – I lived there for 13 years and it’s like home, and you can never see or do everything, theatre, museums, going to the pub, walking along southbank, around covent garden, shopping in Soho – I love that city so much. Perhaps that’s not so much a holiday but more like going home…. So for a pure and perfect holiday… Anywhere with a great beach and a beautiful sunset!

When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
I always take friends to St Kilda, it’s such a great place to show off Melbourne. From Acland Street through to Luna Park, down to the beach walk and to the pier.

What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading and re-reading the script of Company as we open this week and I have a lot of lines to get into my body!

What are you currently listening to?
I only get a chance to listen to music in the car, this week it has been Blondie – such great music when I need to get my rock chick on with the windows up!

Happiness is?
Dumplings!

What does the future hold for you?
Opening this amazing show this week, then directing the magnificent 14 time green room nominee, John Thorn, in his cabaret show at The Butterfly Club, teaching singing, writing a new TV show with my comedy partner from London, Lucinda Cowden, getting a good nights sleep and then who knows!

For over 30 years Sally Bourne has performed in musical theatre, cabaret, comedy and on television.  Her career began aged twelve, when cast in the title role in the original Australian production of Annie.

She was also in the original Australian cast of the musical ine and joined the cast of Les Miserables before moving to London in 1991, where she worked in the West End for over 12 years. Sally performed in plays, cabaret and debuted as a stand up comedian in London and around the United Kingdom.

Sally has appeared in a variety of shows, including the world premiere cast of the musicals, The Beautiful Game and Jerry Springer the Opera.  After returning to Australia in 2003,  she performed in the world premiers of Shane Warne the Musical playing Brigitte Warne, and Once We Lived Here for which Sally received a Victorian Green Room nomination (artist in a featured role). Sally appeared in The Boy from Oz with Todd McKenney and in 2012 she created the role of Layla in the world premiere of the Cat Stevens musical, Moonshadow.

As a seasoned cabaret performer, Sally has written three cabaret shows since returning home, Kidding Around, The Sally Bourne Identity (Green Room nomination for Best Original Songs in a Cabaret, 2007) and the sell out cabaret show… Yummy with Susan-Ann Walker.

Sally will be starring in Watch This’ production of Company at fortyfivedownstairs: 17 September – 4 October 2015. For more information, visit: www.whatthis.net.au or www.sallybourne.com for details.

Image: Sally Bourne