The Fame Reporter interviewed the iconic Australian performer Nat (Natalie) Bassingthwaighte. She is currently starring as the title role of Shirley Valentine in the incredible one-woman show. The show is playing at the Twelfth Night Theatre in Brisbane from 29 October until 9 November.
We talked to Nat about what drew her to take on this one-woman feat, how she relates to Shirley Valentine, what she loves about performing for Queensland audiences, and more.
What drew you to the story of Shirley Valentine and made you want to take on this iconic one-woman show?
I’ve always loved stories about women rediscovering themselves. Shirley Valentine is funny and heartbreaking in equal measure — it’s about remembering who you were before life got noisy.
When I read the script, I could feel her honesty leaping off the page. I thought, this is every woman I know at some point in her life. I wanted to honour that.
How did you prepare to embody Shirley’s voice, vulnerability, and wit on stage?
It started with listening — to my own inner voice and to the women around me. Shirley’s rhythm is so musical; she’s hilarious one moment and completely raw the next.
I spent a lot of time just talking to myself in the kitchen (very Shirley!) to find her tone. Once I trusted her truth, the humour and vulnerability came naturally.
Oh, and a LOT of voice coaching to get her accent – the Liverpudlian accent is so foreign!
This is a solo performance — just you, Shirley, and the audience. How does that challenge or excite you?
It’s both terrifying and exhilarating! There’s no band, no cast, nowhere to hide.
It’s pure storytelling and 40 pages of script to remember! But that’s also the magic — you can feel the audience breathing with you.
Every night will be a new conversation.
Do you personally relate to Shirley’s journey in any way?
Absolutely. Like Shirley, I’ve reached points in my life where I’ve thought, Is this it? I think many of us have. I’ve reinvented myself a few times — as a performer, a mum, a businesswoman — and each chapter requires courage.
Shirley’s leap reminds me to keep saying yes to life.
You’ve had such a dynamic career — how does this role feel different?
This is the most stripped-back thing I’ve ever done. No big production numbers, just me and a kitchen wall. It demands total honesty, which is incredibly freeing.
It’s the most “alive” I’ve felt on stage in years.
Why do you think audiences in 2025 will connect with it so deeply?
The world is noisy, and people are craving authenticity.
Shirley Valentine reminds us that joy doesn’t come from the perfect life; it comes from being brave enough to live it. That message never ages.
The play relies on storytelling and connection. How do you build that intimacy with the audience each night?
By really talking to them — not at them. I look into their eyes, and I let the pauses breathe. Some nights, they laugh in the most unexpected places, and I’ll follow that energy.
It’s like inviting hundreds of new friends into Shirley’s kitchen every evening.
You’ve performed in large-scale musicals. What’s been the biggest learning curve moving into a one-woman show?
Pacing myself. In a musical, energy bounces between castmates; here, I have to generate it all.
It’s a mental marathon as much as a physical one. But it’s also deeply empowering — you discover what you’re made of.
What are you most looking forward to about performing for Queensland audiences?
Queenslanders have such warmth and spirit. The Twelfth Night Theatre has this beautiful intimacy — it’s the perfect setting for a show like this. I can’t wait to feel that energy night after night.
After such an emotional performance each night, how do you unwind?
A hot shower, a cup of tea, and silence! I love to sit quietly and let Shirley fade before heading home.
What do you hope audiences walk away feeling?
I hope they leave reminded that it’s never too late to start again — to take that trip, say how you feel, or fall back in love with your own life.
If they walk out lighter or braver, I’ve done my job.
Finally, your “Shirley Valentine-style” advice for anyone feeling stuck?
Stop waiting for permission.
The life you’re dreaming of won’t knock on the door — you’ve got to open it yourself.
Pour a glass of wine, talk to the wall if you have to, but start.
TICKETS
Shirley Valentine
Twelfth Night Theatre
Playing from until 9 November
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The Fame Reporter 