Interview with Chrissy Brooke, Brigadoon

This summer, Brigadoon returns to London for the first time in over 35 years at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Lerner & Loewe’s musical classic tells a romantic story about two American tourists who stumble upon a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years. As one of the men falls in love with a local woman, he must choose between returning to his modern life or staying in the enchanted world of Brigadoon. Ahead of its run, we caught up with Chrissy Brooke to find out more about this production. 

1. What was the moment you caught the ‘theatre bug’?
I just always knew - I’m gonna be a dancer - I didn’t have a dream of being in a particular show, I just knew I needed to dance. I’d get told off at school for tap dancing under the desk in maths. For as long as I remember I just always said I’m gonna be a dancer and my god are we dancing in this show - it’s magnificent to jump as high as you can and use all that you ever trained to do with your body and to be doing that under the stars - doesn’t get any better I don’t think!

2. You are performing within the ensemble for the new production of Brigadoon. What was it about this show which made you want to be involved?

I actually didn’t know anything about the show when I auditioned but anything that Drew McOnie does is a massive YES, and working at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre - a massive YES. My god, falling in love with the show in the way we all have has just been a massive bloody cherry on the cake!

3. For those who are new to this show, can you give us a summary of what it is about?

The show is about 2 pilots from the war who find sanctuary in the highlands of Scotland. It's about love in all of its forms. The story is heartwarmingly joyous and sweet and also heart achingly tragic all in one. The show makes me cry in a different place everyday for joy and sadness. It's about community and coming together. It’s about magic, faith, acceptance and love.

4. This is the first time it's been revived in 35 years and part of Drew McOnie’s inaugural season as Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. What has the creative process been like for this show as a result? 

The creative process on this show has been so fulfilling. Every number and scene had a different treatment. Sometimes Drew would get us to improvise and take things from that to mould the number. When he’s choreographing, it's always with the intention to serve the story so everything has meaning and heart behind it. There was so many open conversations with the female identifying characters about how we ourselves feel about marriage and making the women in the piece really working women of the land and this all just adds so much depth in it for all of us - it makes a difference too to the way we feel and move and are seen and I think that really reads, and it feels good. We have come so far but it's still rare to have these conversations and rewrite the way women are played in these old musicals.

5. Have you created a character(s) for your ensemble track - tell us a little bit about them?

We had a session in the first week where we were asked to write down answers about our characters and then introduce ourselves in the space as that person. I do have a character I play in the show - Maggie - so I built around what I already knew about her. There was a lot of detail that came out in those early conversations that have added so much detail to the piece- especially the big ensemble numbers like ‘MacConnachy Square’!

6. The venue itself is incredibly special. How do you think Brigadoon will come to life on that stage and do you think it will add to an audience’s experience?

YES! This musical was built for this space; it feels like destiny. Regent’s Park is the last part of the magic we need now in Brigadoon. I cannot wait to get it out on that stage. And the musical is set around one day! The sun will be setting and it will be getting dark as that day comes to an end in the show - I told you - destiny! 

7. Why do you think Brigadoon still resonates with modern audiences?

Brigadoon will resonate because of war and finding safe comfort in community - I think that’s something we all need more of! All the different kinds of love and loss within the show - they are all themes that any human can relate to for eternity. 

8. Finally, if you could take one element of Brigadoon into the real world, what would it be?

I would take the community, I would take the music and the heather.

Brigadoon plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 02 August to 20 September 2025.