Abi tucks into breakfast with Jonny

A singer-songwriter and actress best known for her acting roles in Heartbreak High and The Secret Life of Us, Abi Tucker is starring in a new London play, Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson. “I was rapt to be asked to play the role of Lina. It was such a joy and a luxury, and the cast are fantastic,” Abi Tucker told Alley Einstein.

Abi Tucker can only be described as cool and it seems everything she touches gets rave reviews. The 33-year-old first came to the Australian public’s attention in the early 90’s when she won talent show, New Faces. She did so as a singer but producers saw she had acting talent as well. This lead to Heartbreak High, where she played singer and rapper Jodie Cooper.

Like Jason and Kylie before her she used this show, which was aired internationally, to launch her singing career. Her role of a singer on Heartbreak High saw the songs she sang on the show appear on spin off CDs. Then there were appearances in shows like Water Rats and Wildside, plus an appearance in the hit move Wogboy. “Heartbreak High was fantastic and I loved it, as I did all the other shows I worked on,” Abi said.

But being a realist Abi knew it was not going to be easy to break into the music world, but after a great deal of hard work, playing live gigs all over Australia, contributing to soundtracks and writing her own music her first album was released in 2003. Dreamworld came out on Shock Records, while her second album, Rough Diamond is due soon.

Now the girl from Down Under is doing something she never imaged - treading the boards in London. “I have done film, TV and musicals but this is a professional play. I had met David [Babani], the producer, in Adelaide and he had seen me in The Secret Life of Us,” Abi explained. “We got chatting and this came about.”

Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson is written by Chris England and stars Norman Pace of Hale and Pace, Beth Cordingly from The Bill and Kevin Wathen from Hamlet. Abi admits they are big names and all experienced stage actors, which can be a little intimidating. There is even more Aussie representation, with Michael Beckley (Rhys Sutherland from Home and Away).

The play is set at the Greyhawks Rugby Club where a small but dedicated group of fans have gathered to watch the Rugby World Cup Final on the big screen. Dave, the club chairman, is desperate to save the club from local land developers, while Australian Matt, the first team coach, is trying to get elected to replace him using all the dirty tricks he can think of.

The captain of the First XV is ignoring calls from his heavily pregnant wife, the captain of the Ladies XV may be the casting vote that holds the key to the election and the young fly half begins to believe there is a strange psychic link between himself and Jonny Wilkinson.

“I play an Australian who comes to the club to watch the rugby in support of another Australian friend and we have a grand old time,” Abi said, as she went on to admit that taking on the play was tough.

“Doing TV and film, your facial expression has to be subtle. In theatre you have to learn to make it larger than life and express your personality,” she explained. “I have also had to relearn where to place my voice on the stage, but my singing background has helped.”

“I love working in an ensemble cast but I don’t like letting people down. Some nights I come off stage and think ‘wow’ and other nights I don’t,” she admitted. “But every night I need to go on with butterflies in my stomach - that makes a great performance.”

According to Abi the feedback has been positive. “That’s a blessing, and I feel I am starting to get more confident in the role.”

And Abi will have to be confident as the play will soon appear at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival. She is likely to find more work too, as Abi’s agent is getting offers for more acting and singing roles as a result of her performance in Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson.

On life in London, Abi says that she has a lot of good friends here but still misses home. To relax, when she’s not learning her lines, she writes songs, goes to see live bands and visits London’s markets and is adamant that everyone must go to the Tate Modern and go to the theatre.

And yes as a result of this play Abi is getting into the 2006 World Cup, never a big rugby or football fan the play has opened her eyes to a whole new world.

Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson is playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory (53 Southwark Street, London Bridge, SE1 1RU) until 2 July. Tickets are £18.50 / £14 conc, with a meal deal (2 courses pre-theatre and ticket for show) £25. Contact 020 7907 7060 or www.menierchocolatefactory.com.