PUFFS’ Angelina Thomson

The Fame Reporter interviewed Australian up and coming theatre star, Angelina Thomson.

Angelina is excited to be stepping into the shoes of Megan Jones in PUFFS or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic at Brisbane Powerhouse from 23 August to 15 September.

Following her graduation from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in 2016 where she obtained a Bachelor of Musical Theatre, Angelina made her professional debut as a swing in the Australian premiere production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Company) and went on to perform in Opera Australia’s production of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour (HOSH) as Consuelo and Anita cover. Angelina is very excited to show her brave and rebellious side as Megan Jones in PUFFS.

We talked to Angelina about the most challenging and rewarding parts of being in PUFFS, her theatre career so far, her experience at the Queensland Conservatorium and more.

See our interview below!

Welcome to The Fame Reporter Angelina, what sparked your interest in performing initially?
I think my cultural dancing is what initially sparked it. My Mum is from the Cook Islands and taught me how to Hula as soon as I could walk, so performing was introduced to me very early on.

How did your experience at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University impact your current career progression?
I loved my time at the Con! I learnt a lot about having to be versatile and putting in the work. I have no doubt that without having been stretched and taught the extent of things I got to at the Con, I wouldn’t have the drive or skills to get me to where I am now.

What drew you to the character of Megan Jones in PUFFS and what do you love about this show?
I was drawn to Megan because you get to see her journey from a young, insecure girl who comes across as the ‘meanie’ to growing up, opening up and accepting who she really is at heart… a Puff!

This show is all about being an underdog and I LOVE that!

What has been the most rewarding and challenging parts about performing in this play?
I have always wanted to do a play and I am so grateful that this has been it! I think one of the most challenging parts (but also one of the best parts about watching the show) is how fast paced it is.

It feels like you are on a very fast roller coaster and don’t step off until the end of the show!

Do you have a role in musical theatre/straight theatre that you are dying to play?
I have many! It is a dream to play Anita in West Side Story (Just being in the show this year was a dream come true).

I want to be in Hamilton, dance every night in the ensemble and cover the sisters!

How did you react when you were cast in your professional debut in the incredible Beautiful: The Carole King Musical?
I was STOKED! I remember getting the phone call from my agent and just jumping up and down with my Mum at home when I was living on the Gold Coast.

Congratulations on playing Consuelo in West Side Story for Opera Australia, what was that experience like on Sydney Harbour?
Thank-you! It was unlike anything else! Dancing and singing in this iconic show under the stars and in the rain was one of the most memorable and incredibly beautiful experiences I have ever had. I will never forget it and I am so grateful!

I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful group of people to share that magical experience with!

In terms of being an understudy or swing on a show, for example in your case, Beautiful and West Side Story, what does that mean to you and what is the process behind rehearsing and learning several roles?
I didn’t really know much about swings and understudies before ‘Beautiful’. Now, on the other side of it, my appreciation for every super swing, cover and understudy has sky rocketed!

They are the people who save the show when things go pear shaped and the amount of information they hold in their brain is so impressive! I think every performer should experience it one day as you learn how to think on the spot, adapt when things go wrong and just get out there and get on with it!

Being an understudy can be very challenging to do but, boy can it also be rewarding!

What 3 performers dead or alive would you love to have a dinner party with?
Oprah
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Jerome Robbins

Were you a ‘Potterhead’ before auditioning for PUFFS and if so, are you a Hufflepuff in real life?
I didn’t know much about that certain school of magic and magic at all before this experience but now have done the research and have become quite a fan! I AM! I am a real life Puff!

What do you hope audiences take away from PUFFS?
Definitely a bundle of laughs and also just the heart of the show. Doing your best, staying passionate and being an underdog!

Fame Reporter Word Play

Hufflepuff
Yellow

Spirit Animal
Dolphin

Bucket list
Travel… boring I know

Patronus
Charm

Comedy or Drama
Drama

West Side Story
Ooft… Magic!

Go-to Karaoke song
I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Brisbane
Best weather in Aus

Any secret talents
Hula dancing?

Favourite Musical
Currently… Hamilton

Dressing Room necessity
Peanut butter… Mayver’s crunchy, dark roasted peanut butter to be specific

Beautiful
Beautiful learning and growing experience

Favourite spell
Lumos

Celebrity Crush
Matthew McConaughey

Carole King
What a wonderful woman

Cedric Diggory
My beautiful friend, James Bryers

Favourite play
Puffs! Obvi 😉

Place you want to travel to
Greece, Hawaii and NYC

Future dream
Continue to do what I love, with people I love in places I love

TV Show Binge
At the moment, Greenleaf

Finally, favourite thing about performing?
The life, love, passion, hard work, fun, escape and therapy of it all! But my favourite… stirring people with important and beautiful messages you get to tell through theatre.