From Kangaroos to Crowns: Caitlyn De Kuyper Takes on the West End
What happens when an Aussie talent swaps the open landscapes of Melbourne for the electric buzz of London’s theatre scene? Meet Caitlyn De Kuyper, who’s doing just that — and then some — as she steps into the sparkly shoes of Katherine Howard in Six The Musical. In this exclusive chat, Caitlyn reflects on trading kangaroos for curtain calls, adapting to life in the UK, and the powerful responsibility of giving voice to one of history’s most misunderstood queens.
What’s it like trading the kangaroos of Melbourne for the crowds of London?
I love this question as it has truly been an incredible and challenging experience! I’m from the outskirts of Melbourne/Naarm where Kangaroos are literally in my background, but I have to say I am falling in love with this side of the world. The city and theatre scene truly has so much to offer and it has light that creative fire inside me even more which I didn’t know was possible! I miss the quiet, my family/freinds and ocean being on my doorstep, but London is quickly starting to feel like my second home and I’m loving the adventure so far.
How does it feel to play Katherine Howard, a woman who had quite the ‘royal’ dating life?
Katherine Howard was such an incredible, strong, driven and kind girl, who I feel honored to be playing every night to English audiences. Unfortunately, growing up Katherine didn’t have anyone who protected her from men taking advantage of her. She never had a voice and from what was recorded, did everything she could to better educate herself and serve her country at that time. Giving her the platform to have a voice and use it so greatly is such a gift.
What inspired you to pursue a career in performing arts?
I’ve been performing for as long as I can remember. My family has a lot of musicians running through it so it was something that was definitely in my blood. I was around 13 when I knew I wanted to perform as a career however I was training to pursue a career in ballet. I lost my love for it and became obsessed with Patti Lupone. I begged my mum to let me drop my classical troupe class for the music theatre jazz, funded my own singing lessons and never looked back. I quickly became engrossed with everything music theatre and fell in love with the story telling it holds, it allowed me to forget about the world and put whatever I was feeling into my craft.
Have you ever found yourself singing “Six” in the shower and wondering if your neighbours are judging your vocal range?
I personally haven’t fallen victim to this just yet, however my roommates definately have!
What is one thing you miss about rural life when you’re bustling around London?
The people. I miss slowly walking around and sharing a smile or conversation with someone as you wait for your coffee.
How do you prepare for her role in Six The Musical, both vocally and your morning routine?
Always start with gulping at least 2 cups of water, then ginger tea, coffee and breakfast! I like to start my morings my facetiming my mum while doing the above, then journal and get ready for the day. Depending how my body is feeling I’ll sometimes do a weight gym session or pilates class. I always make sure that before the show I’ve had a great meal and continue drinking that water! Other than that, I always feel ready to go by the time I get to the theatre for warm ups.
Have you had any funny mishaps on stage while performing in “Six” that you’d be willing to share?
Sometimes my brain goes on autopilot now that we’ve settled into the show and are really comfortable within our tracks. I’ve gone to sing ‘Jane Seymour the only one he truly loved’ before and it took me a few seconds to relise I shouldn’t be singing that oops.
Six The Musical | Official Site
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