I caught up with Divina DeCampo fresh from being announced as the host for this years Stage Debut Awards.
Congratulations on The Stage Debut awards, I can’t wait to see you host. This isn’t the first time however that you have been involved in something with a competitive element. How did it compare judging people on All Together Now with being judged yourself on Drag Race & The Voice?
Hahaha well I’ll be honest I much prefer sitting behind the desk rather than standing in front of it! It takes a lot of pressure off because, if you’re going to do it properly, you just have to be honest with the contestant about what you saw and heard. If you’ve got to wear two hats like producing or directing and judging that can become more complicated. Give me a desk and a buzzer and I’m happy!
Why do you think something like The Stage Debut awards is important for the industry right now?
There is such amazing talent about and after what has been a nightmare two years for everyone and our whole industry those people who should be two years in are just getting those jobs. This award ceremony really gives the platform to those people and it’s let’s the rest of us know they’re coming for us
It is refreshing to see you being so supportive of ALL parts of the queer community so vocally on social media. Why is this so important right now and how can we all ensure we are better allies?
It’s a crazy time for all of us right now which is ripe pickings for right wing factions to divide and rule, what ever could I mean?! Hahaha hate crime has risen exponentially against the LGBTQ+ community, disabled communities and we can all see the level of racism in our society right now. It’s important to recognise people are just people whatever and whoever they are. It’s the structures that are the problem and the people trying to Conserve those are the issue.
I caught you in Chicago back in 2021 at Hull New Theatre. Some patrons near me commented they didn’t realise until the curtain call you weren’t a cis female. How important is it to you to help break down gender norms on stage?
Mary is such a rich complicated character driven by all kinds of motivations. Essentially everyone in Chicago is either a killer psychopath or a con artist. For now, challenging those binaries is so important. Humans are so complicated and interesting. We’re these weird hairless apes running around dancing and singing and while we want everything to be a simple one or t’other the world is not like that and neither are we!
On the subject of gender, you gave one of the most incredible performances I have EVER seen in Hedwig & The Angry Inch. How was that experience?
It was honestly a highlight of my professional career. It is incredibly rare to find a role that you can so fully relate to and embody that stretches every inch of your ability and teaches you so much at the same time. I was supported by the most wonderful team put together and directed by Jamie Fletcher. It was extraordinary. A pure joy!
Have you always loved performing? Was there a seminal moment that you realised you wanted to be a performer?
I have a really strong memory of being in assembly when I was very small and we were singing a classic assembly banger. When we finished the headmaster called me Pavarotti. I didn’t know who that was I was 3 or 4 but I knew it was about me singing. After that it just became something I did I guess.
Have you ever faced any challenges or obstacles in your acting journey? How did you overcome them?
I faced one with Plankton if I’m honest. I’ve spent twenty years playing feminine characters, building them from the ground up and to then switch to a much more masculine character was a real challenge. I have a moment where the character really comes into focus for me. They sort of start out a blurry outline and slowly as the lens turns they become clearer. That took a bit more time for me. The only way to make it happen was rehearsal and committing to choices and then being honest with myself about if they were working or not.
A question we like to ask everyone; If there were no gender constraints and you could play ANY theatrical role, what would your dream role be?
Miss Hannigan is definitely on the bucket list! Such a brilliant character with this surface loathing for the world but buried deep down is that love and empathy. She’s been knocked about by life but still comes out swinging, fists and gin bottles! Hahaha what a role!
What does the future look like for Divina de Campo. What are your next plans?
I’m going to be doing what mama Ru says I Betta! Work! Hahaha I’m super excited to be joining Imagine theatres’ production of Snow White at the Wyvern Theatre Swindon as The Wicked Queen! Mwahaha oh yes I Am!
Divina De Campo will be hosting The Stage Debut Awards on the 1st October. If you’d like to join Divina at the Awards ceremony and enjoy a fantastic night including a three course meal, live performances, DJ and Dancing, please see below link for more information about tickets