In our profile series, Tell Us In Ten, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how they got their start in the industry to their favourite shows, we want to know everything.
This time we chatted to Zoe Birkett who will be playing Rosetta Tharpe/Ma Nora/Erma Franklin in Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical In Concert at the Southbank Centre on 11 October. The show tells the extraordinary story of Lloyd Price, the ground-breaking artist behind timeless hits like Personality, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, and Stagger Lee. A true innovator, Price became the first teenager to sell over a million records, founded his own label, and paved the way for generations of Black artists in an industry not built to support them.
His music and legacy transcended race, inspired cultural change, and reshaped the sound of popular music — with legends such as Amy Winehouse, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul McCartney recording his work. Following a critically acclaimed run in Chicago and a standout London showcase in 2024, Personality makes its much-anticipated London stage debut for two concert performances only.
1. My route into theatre was…
Playing a young child in Joseph and the Technicolor dream coat.
2. My West End idol is…
John Partridge – a great all rounder!
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
A bit of a nanna – love a cuppa and biccy more than a night out.
4. My favourite show (that isn’t one I star in/work on) is…
Prima Facie.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Playing Tina Turner.
6. The hardest part about my job is…
Because I always have the big songs in the show, it can be quite an unsociable job as I’m often having to be on voice rest!
7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
There’s literally nothing else… Although, I do a lot of presenting at the moment and I’m loving it – so let’s go with that.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I have a hip replacement.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
There’s only one of you – don’t try to be anyone else.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
Being northern and bubbly will end up being your superpower. For years I felt like coming from a working class background meant people looked down on me. But It’s actually part of my charm.
Don’t miss your chance to see Zoe live and hear the music that defined a genre – book here.
