Meet the Cast of Rent: Laura Brand

Rent has a vast array of characters, so many of our cast get to play multiple roles.

"A sea of troubled, violent, aggressive and sexually repressed ensemble characters"

Name: Laura Brand

Character Name/Role: Mrs Marquez / Ensemble

Laura in rehearsal (Photo courtesy of Front of House Photography )

Tell us about your characters: A sea of troubled, violent, aggressive and sexually repressed ensemble characters, displaying varying degrees of trouble, violence, aggression and sexual repression.

Is there anything in your own life that helps you connect with your characters? Reading the previous question, thankfully not! I am enjoying the freedom of taking part in a show that is about as far removed from my real life as possible!

What’s your favourite song in the show and why? So many to choose from, but for me it has to be 'I’ll Cover You' – it’s a snapshot into the beautiful relationship between Angel and Collins, and a snapshot of what it means to be in love.

What other shows have you done? Some of my favourite roles from previous shows include Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, The Witch in Into the Woods, Florence in Chess and Miranda in Return to the Forbidden Planet. I've also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and twice at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall - Parade in 2013 and Spamalot in 2014.

Can you recall a particularly memorable on-stage moment? Best moment – Shocking the audience every night with a kick-ass drum solo live onstage in Return to the Forbidden Planet.
Worst moment – When my skirt fell off onstage during Quasimodo, and I couldn’t leave the stage for at least 10 minutes, resulting in spending two entire musical numbers with my hands clamped to my hips to stop my skirt from falling down. Luckily I got away with anyone noticing!

Can you remember the first time you thought “I want to be in theatre”? I was about 6 years old, performing in my first nativity play at primary school. I remember getting the adrenaline rush of being onstage for the first time - I've been addicted to that rush ever since.

What are you enjoying most about being part of Simply Theatre? Being with a group of people who let me run off my creative steam at the end of a day!

Is there room in your life for anything else apart from singing, dancing & acting? A full-time job, and a 6-year degree in Social Policy and Criminology with the Open University (currently just about to undertake my 3rd year).

Rent runs from next Thursday until Saturday 19th at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking. Ticket are going fast - book here now!

No Day But Today