A Night with the Villains || Madeleine Ford

The Fame Reporter interviewed Australian theatre performer, Madeleine Ford in A Night with the Villains, presented by Mirraball Productions performing this Halloween as Mrs. Wormwood on 29, 30 and 31 OCT 2024 with ALL NEW VILLAINS and FRIGHTS at the Ron Hurley Theatre.

A Night With The Villains beckons you into a world where the most notorious villains are brought to life for an exclusive Halloween event. A blend of cabaret and comedy, this parody tribute shines the spotlight on the tyrants and troublemakers of stage and screen.

Awaken the darkness within for this Brisbane event of the season. You’ll be hypnotised and howling to the moon for more. From the mischievous masterminds behind Theatre Haus and Salad Bowl Collective, returns the sell-out Halloween sensation featuring fresh villains and a diabolical local cast.

We sat down with Madeleine and talked about what inspired her to pursue a career in the arts locally and overseas, what she loves about playing Mrs. Wormwood in A Night with the Villains and more.

Let’s dive in! Mrs. Wormwood is such a lively and eccentric character. What drew you to playing her in A Night with the Villains?
I’ve been obsessed with Mrs. Wormwood ever since I first saw Matilda in 2013. Since I was just a little too old to be cast as Matilda (rude!).

I had to find a new dream role, and Mrs. Wormwood stole the show for me. She’s so wildly different from any other character I’ve played, and I absolutely love how she lets me fully unleash my energy and be unapologetically loud on stage.

I’m beyond thrilled to finally step into her glittering ballroom shoes.

You’ve performed internationally in productions like The Wizard of Oz and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. How have these experiences shaped your approach to Mrs. Wormwood?
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the UK over the past few years, and before that playing British wizards in Japan, so that has really helped me nail down the accent for Mrs. Wormwood.

Plus, they have this show called Strictly Come Dancing, which is a lot like Dancing with the Stars, and the UK public is totally obsessed with it! They call it having ‘Strictly Fever,’ and I definitely caught it myself.

I think my love for the show—and knowing that Mrs. Wormwood would be the biggest fan—has really helped me bring her character to life.

Mrs. Wormwood is over-the-top and flamboyant. What’s been the most fun (or challenging) part about stepping into her shoes?
The most challenging part so far has definitely been keeping that high, boundless energy up all the time, but it’s also been the most fun. Mrs. Wormwood is so over-the-top and larger than life, and getting to embody that level of flamboyance is a thrill.

I’ve absolutely loved living out my Strictly Come Dancing dreams, samba-ing and cha-cha-cha-ing all over the stage after becoming a fan of the show over the recent years.

This role has pushed me to fully let loose and embrace her wild, unapologetic spirit, which brings me so much joy—even when I’m completely exhausted walking off stage!

How do you balance Mrs. Wormwood’s comedic aspects with her underlying villainy? Do you enjoy playing a character who isn’t conventionally ‘evil’?
I love that Mrs. Wormwood’s villainy is so unconventional—it’s what makes her the perfect villain for me. Balancing her comedy with her underlying cruelty comes from fully committing to her outrageous beliefs. She’s completely wacky and often clueless about what makes her so bad, which adds to her charm. She can be absolutely ruthless, especially when criticising people who don’t share her values, but she’s also strangely likable because of how over-the-top she is.

By really believing in her looks-not-books worldview and performing with conviction, I hope to bring out her funniest moments and her more biting side. It’s so much fun to play a character who isn’t your typical, ‘evil’ villain.

You’ve performed as beloved characters like Dorothy and Cinderella. How does portraying a villain differ from playing the ‘hero’?
This is my first ever villain role, so I have definitely spent a lot of time trying to learn and embrace the differences between the two. Dorothy and Cinderella are both beautiful roles, but Mrs. Wormwood—and villain roles in general—give you a bit more room to play because of their unpredictability and the freedom that comes with not following a ‘strict moral code.’

As the hero, you often automatically win the audience’s love just by being the ‘good guy,’ but as a villain, you have to work a little harder for it. That said, I think villains are often more fun to love, right?

It’s been an exciting challenge to play someone who’s not instantly likable and still find a way to connect with the audience in a different, unexpected way.

In your previous work, such as cabaret shows like HUMAN ASHLEY, you’ve explored original storytelling. Does your experience in cabaret inform how you bring Mrs. Wormwood to life?
Absolutely! I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to create and perform my own shows, especially when taking on something like A Night with the Villains.

This show is such a creative, fantastic, and wild blend of villains from different stories, and it’s been a blast to collaborate and have the freedom to put my own spin on Mrs. Wormwood with the team.

I honestly wouldn’t feel nearly as prepared or confident in this role if I hadn’t had those experiences in cabaret.

Given your extensive musical theatre background, how do you prepare vocally and physically for such a high-energy role? Does Mrs. Wormwood’s chaotic personality present unique challenges?
This role is one of the most physically and vocally challenging I’ve had the pleasure of portraying – she’s so energetic and loud all the time! So, I’ve been focusing on a lot of practice, stretching, and long vocal and dance warm-ups. It’s definitely the most front-and-center dancing I’ve had to do in a show, and it’s both thrilling and terrifying!

I’m really enjoying pushing myself and proving to younger Maddy that she can take on big, scary, and fun things!

Since your theatre credits span both Australia and international stages, how does it feel to be back performing in your hometown? Does that change the way you connect with the audience?It’s really really special for me. I left in 2020 and spent the two lockdown years in Japan, so even though I was performing, no one from home could visit, and I wasn’t able to return either.

After that, I spent three years in the UK! This is my first show back in five years, and I’ve grown so much as both a performer and a person during that time away. I can’t wait to have my family in the audience and reconnect with Brisbane audiences!

You’ve mentioned your love for showtunes and Taylor Swift—if Mrs. Wormwood had a theme song from Swift’s discography, what would it be?
Definitely ‘Me!’ from the Lover album.

How has it been working with the cast of A Night with the Villains? Are there any memorable or funny moments from rehearsals that stand out?
This cast is truly one-of-a-kind. I know everyone says that, but it’s genuinely true—everyone is incredibly talented, and the collaborative nature of the show allows each person’s unique gifts to shine.

Our first run-through last week was a real highlight; there was so much hilarity, talent, and villainy happening on that stage! It’s been an absolute blast working with this group.

A Night with the Villains brings together an eclectic group of iconic antagonists. What excites you the most about being part of such a villainous ensemble?
It’s been a blast having so many iconic characters in our show and exploring the wild dynamics of having such BIG villainous personalities all in one space.

The energy and creativity that comes from working together makes each rehearsal so much fun, and I absolutely can’t wait for audiences to watch it all play out on stage!

Looking ahead, are there any dream roles—either heroes or villains—that you hope to tackle next?
I have quite the list! But more than anything, my biggest dream would be the opportunity to originate a role that doesn’t yet exist.

What advice would you give to aspiring performers looking to build a career as diverse and exciting as yours?
Chase your big dreams, make the big move, and always stay true to your identity. There will be people who try to project their jealousy onto you, but don’t let it dim your light or weigh down your heart. And keep learning!

Lastly, if Mrs. Wormwood could give one piece of “motherly advice” to the audience, what do you think it would be?
BE LOUD and be utterly unapologetic about it.