Journey to the Past: Georgina Hopson on Bringing ANASTASIA to Life
With its sweeping score and opulent costumes, Anastasia the Musical has become a modern stage classic, captivating audiences with its seamless blend of history, legend, and pure theatrical magic.
Based on the beloved 1997 animated film and inspired by the enduring mystery of the Romanov dynasty, the musical follows Anya, a spirited young woman with no memory of her past, as she travels from the frozen streets of post-revolution Russia to the dazzling boulevards of 1920s Paris in search of family, identity, and belonging. The film quickly became a favourite for its lush animation and unforgettable songs by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, including “Journey to the Past” and “Once Upon a December.” When the stage adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2017, with music by Flaherty and Ahrens and a new book by Terrence McNally, it reimagined the story for live theatre.
Now, Australian audiences will see Anya brought to life by one of the country’s most luminous musical theatre talents, Georgina Hopson.
Georgina is an acclaimed performer with an extensive career spanning stage and screen, with recent credits including Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera, Rose in Titanique, Lorelai in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Mother in Ragtime. As she steps into Anya’s iconic shoes, she invites audiences to join her on a journey filled with romance, intrigue, and the timeless search for home.
How have you been feeling since the casting announcement?
Georgina: I’m overwhelmed in the best way. It’s been unbelievable. So many just amazing messages and stuff after the announcement, I’m just grateful. I’m over the moon. Anastasia has such a place in so many people’s childhoods that it’s just such a magical thing seeing it come to stage. I remember when it came to Broadway and I was like, “I want that to come here. That’s like my dream role”, because, like most young girls, I was just obsessed with the film. It was so formative for me.
What do you think audiences will enjoy most about this version of the story?
Georgina: There are changes from the film to the stage show, but I think it still captures that magical essence that people love so much about the film too. It takes all of the magical elements of the film, but it’s actually a little more historically accurate. In this one, Anya is a little bit older as well. She’s mid-20s, so it’s a slightly more mature version of the show. But I think that’s awesome because it’s got that nostalgia and we grew up with — we grow up with Anya. I’ve been doing some research and I’ve been meaning to watch the 1956 film because I read the plot about it, and from what I can gather, the musical takes elements from that film, from real life, and from the animated movie. It’s kind of like this beautiful amalgamation of all of them, but it’s got all the music we know and love from the film, plus so many new songs that are so beautiful.
Are you going to approach Anya differently to previous roles?
Georgina: Yeah. I think every character I approach, I think about the ways in which I’m similar to them, and the ways in which I’m different. Anastasia has a strength and a feistiness, which I think Rose from Titanique, Christine from Phantom, and Mother [from Ragtime] all have — that inner strength, I really want to highlight that. Anya is really cheeky as well. She’s really smart and she’s a person who’s searching. That is sort of the main element of her. She’s searching to belong.
How are you finding the idea of playing someone who actually existed?
Georgina: It might be one of the first times I’ve played somebody who was a real person on stage, which is so exciting. I’ve always had a fascination with the Romanovs, probably sparked from the animated movie. As a grown-up, I love watching documentaries and TV shows about the Romanovs. I’ve been trying to get my hands on as many sources about their lives as possible and the political climate of Russia at the time. There are also second-hand accounts of what Anastasia was like. I’m trying to marry those, find those things — there were accounts that she was really naughty as a kid. So I’m thinking, how can I bring that into her character? How can I bring that into the lines? I’m really excited about that. And obviously, there’s the romantic subplot, which I’m not sure is entirely accurate, but it makes it fun to watch. We all love a romance, it’s a musical [laughs]. We need to enjoy that. I definitely feel like the stage version takes a more mature tone because I loved “In the Dark of the Night,” and I was very sad when I heard that it wasn’t in the stage show. But the villain songs are scary. You could still take kids to it, and there will probably be things that go over their heads. But the villain is really cool, there are terrifying elements that make the stakes high… The story feels urgent. Making your villain human makes it feel like they could be among us at any point rather than a mystical, magical being.
How do you prepare physically, mentally, and vocally for such a demanding role?
Georgina: It is a marathon every night. Like Christine or Rose, you barely leave the stage. Timing when you pee is important [laughs]. I always try to maintain fitness and build stamina gradually. Vocally, I prepare the score before rehearsals, focusing on tricky bits until they go into muscle memory. That way, I can focus on the story and what’s in front of me scene by scene. She goes on an emotional rollercoaster, so you need to ground yourself in moments of that.
Are you excited to be putting the “Princess” crown on?
Georgina: Yeah, it’s a real bucket-list moment. Being able to play her is every girl’s dream. I’m living that dream and soaking it up. I feel so lucky to play her and be trusted with this role and legacy. And singing the music that Liz Callaway originated? She was one of my idols growing up and I love her sound. I’m thrilled.
What message should audiences take away from Anastasia?
Georgina: I think it’s in “Journey to the Past”: home, love, family. That’s what she’s searching for. Whether it’s family by blood or chosen family, people will relate to that journey.
Anastasia The Musical opens at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in December, before touring to Perth and Sydney.
For tickets and and more information, visit anastasiathemusical.com.au
Header image by James Terry
