In The Spotlight - Jessica Ditchfield

How long have you been performing in shows
Hmm I don't actually know. I've always done dancing shows and things but my first musical was The Sound of Music with Christchurch when I was 9. So that was 7 years ago now but my dancing shows started when I was 3 or 4 I think..

What got you interested in music / theatre
Well I always loved to perform to my family when I was little, I was a little drama queen who loved attention I think.. But as a child my favourite film was Mary Poppins. I used to watch it everyday before I was old enough to go to school and I did admittedly know all of the words to the whole film and score.. Haha. Well that just made me want to perform and be like the people in the film I suppose..

What was your first show
My first musical was The Sound of Music with Christchurch. I was only 9 when I did this and when I watch it back it does make me cringe haha. A nasal chubby child. Pleasnt.

What has been your favourite show and/or character and why
Hmm well this is hard it must be said. But I can narrow it down to 3 different shows for various reasons.. I loved doing The Sound of Music but I think that's because it was my first one and I was so surprised that I actually got in to be honest as I wasn't expecting it.. That was like a dream come true and what got me properly into musical theatre. Then there was Annie with Syston, where I got to play Annie.. That kind of Speaks for itself I guess.. I just loved being the lead and singing all the solos.. The adrenalin rush you get from that is just the best! Then I've got to mention Tommy with Esna which I've just recently done. I loved doing that show so much even if I did have to do a dance as a slaggy prostitute haha..

What has been your most embarassing or funniest moment in a show
Hmm now surprisingly I can't think of anything right now.. Shame, really. I'm sure other people have many ideas though haha..

Describe the best and worst costumes you have had to wear
Ahh.. Now where do I start?! Maybe the jitterbug costume?! Or being a cockroach?! Haha I've had many stupid costumes which I have dreaded wearing every night.. But favourite? Now that is a very hard question.. I love to wear big dresses and things but I must admit I did like the Pinball Wizard costume and obviously my curtain dress from Sound of Music haha.. So comfortable.. It's not all about fashion :P. And I must mention my hippy costume in Tommy as I did manage to get a nice sixties dmall dress after discarding a horrific huge poppy patterned dress onto someone else because I didn't like it..

What has been your proudest moment
Proudest moment.. Hmm it has to be in the finale of Annie when I was Annie. Standing up there knowing that a load of people have came to watch you and are applauding for you gives you the best feeling ever!

If you could choose any show to perform in, what would it be and why
Erm now I don't actually know about this one.. There are many shows I'd love to perform in! I'd love to play really good main characters in some shows like Mary Poppins haha just because it was my dream from a child.. And Wicked would be an amazing show to do as the numbers are wonderful.. ( I resisted using the term wicked there ) But then I'd also love to do something like Rent.. although the stage show is a bit rubbish, I do like the songs and I seem to enjoy being a prostitute kind of character which may be a bit wrong..

Do you have any plans to pursue theatre as a career
Erm well I did have until very recently. All I could see myself doing before was something on stage as it's all I enjoy but after getting into Melton to do a musical theatre course I decided against it. I am now going to stay on at school and do my a-levels. I will still carry on musical theatre as a hobby and hopefully get better at singing and dancing etc and I would obviously still love to make a career out of it but who knows what will happen.. It would certainly be a dream come true though!