Meet The Cast of There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly: Eleanor Hegarty

Ahead of opening night of There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly (Wednesday 10 April), we caught up with Eleanor Hegarty from The People’s Theatre Company.

Eleanor, who will be playing the Old Lady, has revealed her favourite character from the show and what you can expect to see on the 50th anniversary of Pam Adams’ best-selling book.

Where did the idea for the show come from?

It’s been adapted from the great ‘There was an old lady who swallowed a fly’ nursery rhyme. We’ve just added some extra characters and story arc to create a full hour or so of fun.

Why has the nursery rhyme remained such a favourite for 50 years?

I think like any nursery rhyme that has stood the test of time, it’s incredibly catchy and the story is very memorable.

Do you have a personal connection to the nursery rhyme?

I honestly hadn’t heard it before! But I did my due diligence and looked it up and can understand why it’s so well loved.

Who is your favourite character in the play?

Dr Goosehandle!! I love how the audience reacts to them, despite the language barrier! They’re an incredibly funny, kind and crazy character who has everyone laughing from the children to the grandparents.

What can people watching the show expect to see?

You can expect a lot of laughs and a lot of silly business!

Can I join in and shout along with the fun? (Interactive show)

ABSOLUTELY!! The Old Lady certainly thrives off interaction with the audience and us on stage love when you’re all a part of telling the story!