Q: The cast album was released a little over a year ago and you were also part of it, right? How does it feel to be part of both projects?

FM: I think the music has grown so much since the cast recording. I’m really proud of the cast recording, and obviously, there are extra songs in the show. I mean, I had read the script before I did the cast recording, but I don’t think I fully embodied the character yet. I had an idea where she was at, but I hadn’t played the part the way I have now. I feel like I’ve made different choices singing the songs in the show compared to the recording, just because of what’s happening to the character. I think this was always going to happen, but I didn’t expect it was going to happen to this extent. I’m really proud of the cast recording; I’m so thrilled I’m on it and that I got to be a part of this. How lucky is that?

Q: It's such a small cast and a short run. What happens if someone is unwell? How do you handle it?

FM: We have two wonderful swings who cover four or five parts each, and they also have their own parts. But you know, all the tracks are complicated—it’s a bit of a mind-field—so once you swap someone out, it’s like a domino effect. They have to hold all that information in their heads. Thankfully, that didn’t happen (touches wood and laughs). It’s amazing that they can sing everyone’s part and know all the material. It’s extraordinary.

Q: You're practically on stage the whole time. How do you prepare yourself to play Sarah?

FM: Yes, I am. I always make sure that I have a wee! We are all in one dressing room, so we have a lot of chat and, you know, that is kind of part of my routine weirdly. Because Sarah is kind of joyful at the start, I try to be as up as possible. The story kind of takes you to the dark places, but you have to start with a lot of energy and a lot of joy as Sarah. I also do a lot for my voice—drinking a lot of water, ginger shots, and I try to massage my neck. Just trying to keep my voice healthy.

Q: What is your favourite thing about playing Sarah in the show?

FM: I love the arc she has. Like you said, I’m practically on stage the whole time, so I get to see everybody do their thing as well. That’s pretty cool. I have a sense of how the audience is, but I think the journey she goes on is kind of wild really. Where she ends up... I really enjoy going on that. It’s really satisfying.

Q: Do you sometimes take a part of Sarah home?

FM: I’m quite good at turning off. I’ll ruminate on mistakes that I’ve made, but I’m actually quite good at this because being on stage all the time, you don’t have the space to think "oh, I did that wrong" or "I wasn’t quite happy with that." I just have to crack on with the next bit. So, as a recovering perfectionist, that’s been very helpful for me. I think all characters are part of ourselves. They have to come from you and your experiences to a degree. She was in there somewhere, and this process brought her out.

Q: With the show coming to an end, does it feel different than it did in the beginning?

FM: To be honest, yes. Because when we started the run, I wasn’t very well. I didn’t feel at my strongest. It’s been great to just get back and to do it comfortably and feel I’m in control of it. So yeah, it feels great. I think collectively we have fleshed it out a lot—I found a lot of new nuances because we have been doing it so long and we know it so well now. We are really blended into it. I’m really proud of where it’s at right now.

Q: What has been the most unexpected moment for you in this production?

FM: I think when you realise how it has brought people together and how it has made people reflect on their own lives, sacrifices, and tribulations. I think that is really powerful. When people come up to you and tell you how much it has affected them, that always surprises me. You obviously have to understand that you have power in doing a show like this, but basically, you turn up and do your job, doing the same thing every night. Sometimes you can get bogged down with "oh, I didn’t do this the way I wanted to," etc. But the broader reach of it kind of transcends that. It’s a great thing.