Interview: Faye Brookes & Djalenga Scott, Chicago UK Tour

Get ready to delve into the world of jazz, crime, and sensational performances as we sit down with the stars of Chicago, Faye Brookes and Djalenga Scott. Taking on the iconic roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, the musical itself is heading towards its 50th anniversary (wild huh?!). As the show is now on a new UK tour until next year we sat down with the duo to talk about their experiences on the show, the challenges of bringing such complex characters to life and what it’s like to be part of a show that has shaped the landscape of musical theatre.

So to begin with, you portray probably one of the most iconic duo in musical theatre - Roxie and Velma. How do you even start to approach that opportunity, especially when it has been played by so many different women over the years..

Djalenga: I'm lucky enough to have been involved with this show for coming on 20 years. I started as one of the girls in the ensemble covering the role of Velma. And I've been back and forth into the show as Velma numerous times, and different girls and all sorts of things. So I've seen so many incredible women in this show, which, in my opinion, is one of the most amazing musicals. It has been so cool to see it played in so many different ways and I think that is part of the beauty of this show. Every time we come to it, it's with a different energy, a different performance. And with the creatives, they really embrace your version, so we don't ever feel like we have to be even though all of these women that have played the roles are, as you say, iconic, and the roles are iconic in themselves. It's really cool, because we get to bring our own little spicy elements. They just embellished on that.

Faye: It's such a brilliant kind of process. It's unlike any other process, I think, from anything I've experienced before, which makes it even more exciting. The creatives really gave us sort of free range to play. Even though Chicago's been running for how many years, it makes sense that every time a new cast comes into it, they allow you to play and find your own version, because then it it means you've made your stamp on the character, like, there's never going to be, you know, the version of my Roxy out there because there's only one Faye, and there's only one Djalenga who can play Velma Kelly. I love that it's so unique to everybody's choice in that character and we are guided every step of the way. I don’t know if I can speak for us both but I had this mind-blowing experience with our director Tanya who has dug into the deeper level of these characters and the true stories behind it. I think just breathing through every single moment night after night keeps it so fresh and I just love everything about it. It’s been amazing to come back to the show as well, it just gets sweeter, and it’s even better!

It’s also one of the only musicals out there that’s predominantly a female story. That must be quite an important aspect of the show for you as well and how have you reflected on that element of it?

Djalenga: It just feels so special to be able to tell these women’s stories and to just embrace these strong characters that are just so full, so rich.

Faye: The message and the storyline are still so relevant today. We’re not sitting here bad mouthing men but we’re driven women trying to make our mark on the world and that’s still a current conversation. I think that stands the test of time with the story of Chicago, we love that it’s female-led and we’re happy to fly that flag! The women on our show are very very very special and talented. Some of them are very young, they’re making their stage debuts and it’s just amazing to witness that. I know Djalenga feels the same and we feel very honoured to be part of that women with those women and to see their careers develop.

Diving a little bit into your journey then with these characters in particular, what drew you to the roles of Velma and Roxie? Have you also built any kind of personal connection with them now that you’ve worked with them for a while?

Djalenga: I actually saw the show whilst I was still training at Italia Conti. I remember watching it during a trip and my mind was blown watching the “Cell Block Tango” and I knew I wanted to be doing that. So it totally inspired me to get into musicals, it was always the dream. Seeing a character like Velma, and the way that she has all these knockbacks and comes back stronger. She’s a fighter. I just love that about her and I feel like she really inspires me in that way. Being able to play that role and mature with the role has been so special for me.

Faye: In the back of my mind I never thought I would play Roxie. I never thought the show would come into my life but when everybody says when you get welcomed into the show, it’s going to change your life, it absolutely has. There’s something about the layers to Roxie and the fact I have evolved as a person and I feel like she sees throughout the piece, has made me be drawn to her even more. She feels everything. She’s very reactive. But she is utterly inspired by Velma’s character. I have this real kind of out-of-body experience with the show itself where I adore Djalenga, I idolise her, and I think she’s a phenomenal talent. I’m doing the same thing on stage in my role as Roxie. I think it’s wonderful to see because women should be putting women up on a pedestal, backing each other up and celebrating women every step of the way. I think that’s what is really unique about this piece, it celebrates every single person.

You’ve both worked on Chicago before this tour. Do you think either of you are bringing anything different to it this time around?

Djalenga: We’ve come at it in a different place in our lives so it’s definitely different. So we enter the space and then within that, the creatives feel that, and our versions of Roxy and Velma are a little bit different this time, or they feel very different to us. So yeah, that's what's so beautiful about the show, is that it can grow and it can change. It doesn't have to. It's not robotic. It's very organic. You can evolve as you go.

Faye: The piece itself will always be the essence of Chicago and we have to obviously pay tribute to Bob Fosse’s choreography and that style will never go away. That is the heart of Chicago. You stand on eight, and you look on 10, the counts and everything, you feel the music and the band are with us on stage. I think coming into it the second time around I feel like the creative team saw that we had matured as women, and even though we have this confidence about knowing the piece, they made us question everything that we were making a choice about which made you feel slightly and in a way, like we should be feeling uncomfortable. It should never feel casual. It should never feel like, well, we just do the show, and then we go home like there's something new. Every single day, we unlock certain moments that definitely are a constant discovery with both our characters through our storyline, and we have somebody there with us on tour, who is, you know, giving us notes, things to play with, and it keeps it so fresh. And so every single night, it feels like our characters just come alive in a different way. I love that. I think that challenges you as an actor, and that's what we want to do. It stretches you.

Not only the physical demands of the show, but you also have to tour across the UK. How are you looking after yourselves, especially when one of you is a mother.

Djalenga: It's definitely very physical. And it's funny because we always say that Roxy is like a marathon, because she doesn't ever really leave the stage. It's constant. And then Velma’s like a sprint, because every time she comes on, it's full out with feelings. Yeah. So I definitely have a massage gun, I have roll I have all sorts of devices keeping my legs nice and warm and after having a baby, I had to be really conscious, lots of Pilates, lots of I had to be very patient, building up all my strength again. I love the physicality of this show. I love the choreography and the style of it, and, yeah, I'll do anything to keep my body in shape till I'm 100 to be able to play this role.

Faye: I think that’s what we really do have a passion for. It’s not necessarily an aesthetic but it’s just the fact it’s keeping our hearts and our minds healthy. We want to be able to keep doing this. I hope that we get to be around for the 50th anniversary and to celebrate the show. I do really try to take good care of myself, and that’s because I want to do eight shows every single week and enjoy every single second. It’s really, really important. This industry is cutthroat as well so you want to keep yourself in a good, healthy place with your mind, body and soul so that when you go on to the next job, you know you can do it.

Faye Brookes and Djalenga Scott in Chicago. Photo by Paul Coltas

Something which is central to your characters in particular is the dynamic between you. How did you build that relationship and sustain it for such a long time as well with the demands of tour life and home etc?

Faye: It’s so weird because I feel like the room wants you to not get on. I feel like they want Roxie and Velma to have some sort of uncomfortable tension. There is no tension. There is between our characters. I think that’s a testament to Djalenga because honestly we adore one another. I was at her wedding and she was a bridesmaid at mine, we’ve been a part of each other’s lives for a while now. From the moment I met her, I just knew I was going to love her. I can say that hand on heart, and we’ve got on like a house on fire. I think it helps that we’re both Virgos.

Djalenga: I think we have the same approach as well. We have the same work ethic, fully immersing ourselves in it. And the first time we met, we did the big finale number. It was a lot. Faye kept looking at me and I was like subtly putting my arm around her to say it’s ok and we just went for it. I love that we both put our heart and soul into it every time, we do everything we can in the moment. We’re so lucky to have each other, there’s a trust isn’t there?

Faye: Every single night when we go to work we might not even talk.

Djalenga: We sometimes don’t actually talk. We sort out acknowledge each other, do the show and then leave but it’s always ok because we have that trust and its been there from the first time.

Faye: We actually had a solid two weeks on our own, just two of us working together in the room with the creatives. I think that built the foundations for what we have now as a friendship, colleagues, sisterhood. It’s very unique and I don’t take that woman for granted.

In this production is the unforgettable choreographic style of Bob Fosse. How do you tackle the specifics of that?

Djalenga: It’s so specific, but it also needs to be organic. It is really hard but you need to make it look easy. Even if you look like it’s the most simplistic movement in the world, every single muscle is connected to what you are doing. It’s fascinating though because even down to the idea of placing your hand, being on your shoulder or inside your shoulder, and it’s those things that people don’t know they are witnessing. But when its done right and in the right place, it can blow you away.

You touched on the anniversary of Chicago coming up. What do you think it is about this musical which has made it a favourite with audiences?

Djalenga: It just seems to stay relevant. It’s a timeless classic, the songs you can’t get out of your head and you can’t ever get bored of the choreography or the songs. Even by being a part of it and performing in it, it gets better every time.

Faye: I think Kander and Ebb’s music will forever be everyone’s favourites. You always come away from the show remembering the music you know and singing along to it. Chicago has something that will stay with you for everyone. The choreography also makes it special as well. There may be new faces playing the roles like Kevin Clifton and Brenda Edwards who bring a different energy to the show. You will never see the same show twice, it will never be the same production. It will always keep evolving. Different energies bring different leases of life and that’s what keeps it special.

To round up our interview, can you describe Chicago in three words..

Djalenga: sexy, funny and class!

Faye: timeless, sleek and jaw dropping!

Chicago is on a UK tour until 23 August 2025.