Agatha Christie’s thriller And Then There Were None opened in Sydney last week, after a highly successful debut in Melbourne earlier in the year. Mia Morrissey plays Vera Claythorne in this all new adaptation. The Scoop had the chance to sit down with Mia amid the tour. Mia talks all things Christie, including cast chemistry and the importance of embracing who you are. Read the full interview below.
Agatha Christie’s work has been adapted countless times. How does this Australian production make its own mark?
This is actually a world first production of And Then There Were None! Which is very, very cool for Australian audiences. That doesn’t happen often. As an actor, it’s super exciting being part of developing a new production. Especially in Australia, on something of such a large scale, with such a built in loyal fan base.
The specificity, care and vision with which the truly brilliant Robyn Nevin has directed our show, paired with a powerhouse cast, has made this brand new production of And Then There Were None entertaining, truly thrilling and really special. I cross my heart, hope to die (*wink wink*), Agatha Christie fans won’t be disappointed!
You’ve played such a range of roles across stage and screen. What has been your approach to developing Vera Claythorne?
I have nerdy little things that I always do, like pick a perfume/scent for every character and give them all a star sign (Vera is Virgo FYI). Ultimately though, the specifics of my process change from project to project because it is always informed and inspired by the team around me. I can do my research and have pre-formed ideas of who a character is walking into rehearsals, but by the end of day one, the character has already grown and changed.
I find really building a character comes from just listening and being open to what you are being fed by your creative team. Whether that be fellow cast members, your director, set designer, sound designer, lighting designer, costume designer, producer, crew, and even the audience! We’re all creating a world together and that collaboration is always the core of my process.
This show is so deeply rooted in ensemble work. How has developing cast chemistry and the rehearsal process been?
When I initially auditioned for Vera with the gorgeous Tom Stokes who plays Captain Lombard, we were really lucky. We had great natural chemistry. We just trusted each other straight away so we could relax and play. He is such a beautiful, generous actor and I feel so safe with him on stage.
Honestly, I think chemistry is really just trust. And care. As a company we share those things, too. And Then There Were None is a very technical play, so the rehearsal room had to be super focussed. But acting with every member of this glorious, seasoned cast has always felt so effortless and is such a joy. Our chemistry as a company is what keeps the show so alive night after night… Despite all the death of course!
I am an actor girlie with my own period problems so I wanted to say thank you for your advocacy around body image, eating disorders and reproductive health. It is genuinely very inspiring. How has this advocacy shaped your relationship with performance and public life?
Oh this is so kind of you to say! Thank you so much! It means the world, truly. I mean, it has changed everything for the better honestly. Knowing what you stand for is such a gift. And being unapologetically who you are is the healthiest and most beneficial thing you can do as a performer. Having any sort of platform to help others with anything at all let alone something you, yourself, have suffered with is an unbelievable privilege that I do not take lightly.
Speaking publicly about my experiences with endometriosis, body image and eating disorders (all things that had caused me so much shame in the past) is an honour and to me, kind of a no-brainer. I can’t stand the idea of anyone else letting shame stop them from being who they are, loving who they are or getting the help they need.
So long as my constant yapping, albeit, driven, researched and informed yapping, about the things that are important to me, is helping someone, then I’ll keep on doing it! And while we’ve come a long way in the areas of attitudes to body image and menstruation, and awareness of eating disorders and reproductive conditions, we still have a way to go… So I sense I may be ‘yapping’ for a while.
The next two questions we always ask at The Scoop because we love hearing the answers. Are there any roles or shows (or even directors or companies) that are on your personal bucket list?
I have found that the greatest opportunities have tended to be the ones I never could have dreamed of. I kinda think there’s nothing more limiting than our own imagination. So I try to stay open and not be afraid to explore other fields that interest me too. I’m really enjoying writing and making my own work at the moment. Watch this space!.
BUT that being said… I would love to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret… And Jenna in Waitress… And honestly both Cathy and Jamie in The Last Five Years… And Tony in West Side Story….Aaaand look. I do have a Wonder Woman tattoo. That is how committed I am to that dream. Soooo, call me, DC? I’ll bring my own invisible lasso!
And finally, what advice would you give to any young person wanting to get into show business, especially those who may be feeling the pressure around image and identity?
Oh gosh big question. Well. I would say follow your heart but lead with your mind. It’s show BUSINESS after all. It takes a lot of work (a lot of it not as fun as we’d like) to get to the SHOW bit. But actually, the independence, autonomy and empowerment you can get from realism, pragmatism, diversity in your creativity and a willingness to learn and grow is the thing that will build a lasting, rewarding career.
As for pressure about image and identity. I can only speak from personal experience, but I spent many years trying to be someone I wasn’t in the hopes of being someone casting agents would want. It was only when I started to just embrace who I was and put real time into loving all the things I used to feel made me too ‘different’, that I started to book more work.
An audience or a camera always knows when you’re lying and actually, all they want to see is honesty. So be honest. Be who you are, even if you don’t quite know who that is yet. There is nothing more beautiful than that.
And Then There Were None runs until 1 June at Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King Street.
It then tours Perth from 8 June, and Adelaide from 2 August.
Tickets: https://andthentherewerenone.com.au/tickets/sydney/
Website: https://andthentherewerenone.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/andthentherewerenoneau/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/miamoremorrissey/
Photo credits: Jeff Busby
