In Conversation with Jenna and Julia | Festival 2022 | Chichester Festival Theatre

We were lucky enough to have a very special visitor to the rehearsal room when double Olivier Award winner Julia McKenzie (known to TV audiences as Miss Marple) stopped by. Julia played Susan in the original West End production of Woman In Mind and sat down with Jenna Russell to talk about the role, their careers and what links Ayckbourn and Sondheim.
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CFT strives to bring people - artists and those who support artistic work - together in an environment where creativity can flourish. Alongside our tradition of producing great plays with great actors, CFT seeks out innovative and exciting voices in order to explore newer forms of theatre, alongside our traditional repertoire.
We are committed to supporting individuals in developing their creative, artistic, personal and social skills alongside a life-long enjoyment and appreciation of the arts. Our ambition is to promote inclusivity, accessibility and diversity, and to ensure rich opportunities for all people, regardless of age, culture and social background, to feel inspired, challenged and excited by the arts.
Situated in a cathedral city in West Sussex between the South Downs and the sea, the Festival Theatre’s bold thrust stage design makes it one of England’s most striking playhouses; our studio theatre, the Minerva Theatre, sits nearby.

[@lenarichardson7334]

What a lovely, relaxed conversation between two great performers. I have seen Julia in so much over the years since my Drama School Days. She resonated with me whenever I saw her onstage.

[@jasonmoore4875]

Pure class, Julia has been a huge influence in my career and still is, even though I have not met her yet.

[@user-tj2ru1xm9v]

Julia Mckenzie is an absolute gem, and a kind-spirited person in Gangsta Granny!! I love her kind heart

[@alisonbrown2614]

I was lucky enough to have seen Julia in Side By Side By Sondheim in the 70's and I saw Jenna last week in Woman in Mind. How lovely to see them both here together. They are two great artists and I feel blessed to have seen them both perform. I look forward to see what Jenna does in the future.

[@22professional]

This is glorious. Love them both individually, and even more together! Lovely :D

[@paulsimpson1697]

Just love her

[@sallypattie1061]

I saw Julia in this when it was staged in London over 30 (?) years ago. I have never forgotten her performance and i can't wait to see Jenna doing it on stage. It was very lovely to see the two of them chatting here in this lovely informal setting. Thank you CFT.

[@fassbrig]

I saw Julia in Women In Mind. Brilliant as always.

[@shubhuful]

I wish someone could tell her that she has got an Admirer in India... I love her as Mrs Forrester in Cranford. She's such a sweet person who carries innocence of a child!

[@KizzyLou88]

I could have sworn that i wrote a huge comment on here last night but it's gone, oh well i'll do it now. I LOVE this soooo much, it has resonated with me so deeply i feel rather emotional. So much of how Jenna speaks about Julia is how i see Jenna (for context i've travelled solo all over the UK to see her shows and met her 7 times, i've also has lovely messages via twitter), the fairygodmother comment for instance and how Julia changed Jenna's life with advice and kindness is definately a metaphor of what Jenna means to me because she changed my life in the same way, also how Julia describes Jenna resonated with me and touched my heart. I've had a few short chats at stage door with Jenna but i would give ANYTHING to sit with her like this for more than a few minutes and have a calm honest chat about what she means to me. I loved this and i know Jenna is going to smash Woman in Mind, i can't wait to travel from Wales to see it in October, after a very rough few weeks the joy of seeing her on stage in this is just what i need 🥰❤️xxx

[@xxfayerocksxx]

Love this (oh hey there kirsty it's Faye 🤗) 🥰❤️💕

[@swifty8503]

she will always be Hester Fields to me