The Fame Reporter interviewed incredible up and coming performer in their professional musical theatre debut, Sophie Montague starring as the naïve but brave Sister Mary Robert in the uplifting and soulful musical comedy ‘Sister Act’. The show is now playing at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, until 15 March.
We talked to Sophie about how it feels performing in Sister Act for their musical theatre debut, how they resonate with the role of Sister Mary Robert, their early connection to music and more.
Sophie, congratulations on your role as Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act! Can you tell us what drew you to this role and how it feels to be part of the cast?
Thank you! Truthfully I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into submitting for the role, it was the only character on the brief that was in my age bracket so I thought I’d give it a shot.
Little did I know how much I would love the character and playing her every night.
As a newcomer I’ve learnt so much from my coworkers, they are truly an excellent bunch of people and I feel very lucky to be experiencing my first tour alongside them.
You’ve had an exciting journey so far, from graduating from the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre (QAEMT) to performing in various productions. How has your training and experiences at QAEMT helped shape your performance in Sister Act?
I’ve leaned on the knowledge I gained at university more times than I can remember. I was so terrified to start rehearsals until I sat down in front of some sheet music and remembered that I trained for this and actually knew what I was doing.
Getting through an 8 show week can sometimes be harder than I ever imagined, so having the technical knowledge to vocally adjust and conserve effectively has been so helpful.
It must be exciting to return to QPAC. What does it mean to you to be performing in Brisbane?
I grew up in Sydney and just spent my 3 years studying in Brisbane. I did work at QPAC and spent my 3rd year studying in that building so it feels like a bit of an ‘I did it’ moment. Performing here was really daunting because it was in front of my teachers and colleagues whose opinions I really value.
When I left QPAC at the beginning of 2024 I quietly thought to myself, ‘one day I’ll be back to perform here’. I’m feeling incredibly lucky and proud that it has happened as quickly as it has.
Sister Mary Robert is a character with a lot of depth—she starts off quite shy but undergoes a significant transformation. How are you approaching this character’s journey? What challenges or surprises have you encountered along the way?
I’ve so enjoyed diving into this character and I am still finding new things the more I play her. I find once the show starts, the character really changes onstage and so just listening and responding to what’s going on around me is enough to inform those emotions and tap into the character’s journey.
Reminding myself in the wings of what’s just happened for the character before I step out into the next scene helps me keep the character’s story alive and inform each scenario she enters.
Your performance in Once In A Lifetime and Cry Baby has received a lot of attention. How do you balance these previous experiences with playing such a beloved role in a major production like Sister Act?
Every performance and show that I have seen or was involved in at university and before Sister Act has prepared me and fueled the fire to pursue theatre professionally. The big obvious difference is being payed for your passion, but experience wise, at its core, it’s all just another opportunity to perform, learn and become a better actor.
In your early days, you have fond memories of sitting with your father at the piano, listening to him play Send in the Clowns. How has that early connection to music and theatre shaped your career and your passion for the stage?
Both of my parents are musical and have been so instrumental in my choice of career. They both love music and theatre and have supported me through all of the amateur speech and drama classes and the school musicals.
I am endlessly grateful for the faith and the grounding support that they given me, especially pursuing a difficult career path with no guarantee of success. They are my biggest supporters and they’re both legends!
This production is a professional debut for you in musical theatre. How do you feel about making that transition, and what excites you most about performing in front of a live audience at QPAC?
Getting paid for what I love doing was always the goal, this is what I’ve trained for, I’m just counting my lucky stars that it has happened this quickly.
It feels really big and momentous to return to the place where I worked and trained as a professional performer.
You’ve performed alongside big names like the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Spirit of Christmas. How does it feel to share the stage with such talented performers, and what have you learned from working with them?
There is nothing like a live orchestra so that show was so exciting! Every performance opportunity and milestone I have passed since graduating has taught me so much.
The things I learnt about and dreamed about are now happening to me and each experience is new and nerve racking but so so rewarding.
I’m only a year out of university and I still have so much to learn, I’m excited to see what happens next.
You’ve also worked with some impressive directors, including James Millar and Alister Smith. How have those experiences influenced your approach to your role in Sister Act?
I learned an immeasurable amount from every theatre professional and teacher that I was lucky enough to work with and learn from during my studies. They each worked in a different way and gave me a taste of professional life.
What advice would you give to aspiring musical theatre performers, especially those from Queensland, looking to follow in your footsteps?
I’m not sure I’ve don’t quite enough yet to hand out advice but I think I’d say; try your hardest to bring yourself to the audition because what you are bringing might just be exactly what they are looking for.
Finally, what are you most excited for audiences to experience in Sister Act? What makes this production unique and why should people come to see it at QPAC?
Audiences can expect a big fun night out, a whirlwind of original 70s music driven by strong female characters with a surprising amount of heart at its core.
The show is funny and quirky and an all around good time, this show will surprise in more ways than one, there has even been the odd tear shed so be prepared!
Thank-you Sophie for joining us at The Fame Reporter and we wish you all the best for the Brisbane season of Sister Act The Musical!
TICKETS:
Lyric Theatre, QPAC until 15 March
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The Fame Reporter 