kim: Hello, I'm Kimberly Powell and this is Showbiz Mums, a podcast about mums working in theatre and how they juggle the chaos of parenting plus an eight-show week. We'll cover birth stories, pregnancy and postpartum in the theatre industry and discuss how to maintain a career whilst having kids, or at least trying to. We'll also open up the conversation of job sharing and why that can be beneficial. So join me as we speak to some amazing theatre parents and get some advice on this pretty niche subject matter, but something I'm really passionate about. Kim: Today speaking Zoe ⁓ Zoe first came onto our aged 16 in Pop Idol, to those of us who remember it well. ⁓ She has since carved out incredible career in musical theatre in many original casts including Priscilla Queen of the Desert, ⁓ Thrill Alive, Hare, The Great Bake Off and Moulin Rouge. ⁓ She's appeared in Rent, Rock Ages and the Nationals production of The Witches. And there we have it, the lovely Zoe Burkett, bish-bash-bosh. mean, I can't lie, it did really make me laugh when she said about ⁓ the job share and wanting more shows. But just shows you every parent is looking for different things and ⁓ what works for might not work for another. ⁓ And actually it sounds like five-three split, ⁓ like the divide of that shows has worked for a few people in the Jackie Hughes episode. She kind of mentioned that too, ⁓ She's also known for her portrayal of Rachel Maron in The Bodyguard and most recently as Tina in the Tina Turner musical for which she was nominated for Best Takeover Performance. I wanted to chat to her today as she's done it alongside raising her daughter and I wanted to ask her about the job share at Tina because that role is a job share whether you're a mum or not, I believe, for good reason. And I'd love to know how she found it. So hiya Zoe, how you doing today? seems to really work and I get that. So ⁓ yeah, fantastic, really great chat ⁓ and thank you for having a listen and see you next week. Zoe Birkett: Hello! Can I just say, not many people get a lot of my credits in, so thank you for that. People are like, just come, Tina. I'm like, I've definitely got a back catalogue of about 17 of the shows. But it's all right, we'll stick with Tina, so thank you. Kim: ⁓ you're welcome! Yeah, well that's alright, but also I still missed out about ten, because you've got so many. Do know what I mean? No, good, quite right. But no, so how did, did you know you were doing a job show when they offered you the role of Tina? Zoe Birkett: Ah, so much, thank you. Yes, I did. So, and I'll be honest with you, I wasn't very happy with it at the beginning, before rehearsal started, because I've never done one before, so I didn't kind of know what to expect. And then I praised myself on, you know, fitness, making sure I'm healthy. And so I know that I can solidly do eight shows a week in any show. I'm like, I'm very rarely awful as it's like I'm dragged off with a drip or something. So to me when this contract came through initially, I was like, hang on a second, four shows a week? I was like, no, surely. They were like, yeah, it's always been that way since the very beginning. It's split, four shows each. I was like, okay, fine. So I'm going to my agent, surely I can push for an extra one. I know that I could maybe do eight. And the producers are still coming back going, honestly, you haven't started rehearsals yet. I know you've seen the show, but there's a reason why. Kim: You Zoe Birkett: we only do maximum form four. So I was like, okay, fine. However, I was able to wangle an extra one. So it was the first time ever that they'd done five and three. So it was a whole new thing for them. They were like, we can try you doing five a week, but normally the maximum is four. Then your body kind of gets fatigued and stuff. And I was like, I want to give it a go. So I think I'm one of the only people, I think, I think maybe in the early days, the very first team that we had, Kim: See you Zoe Birkett: She did six and then was like, no, it's gotta be four and four. So it immediately got changed once it was open. So I still think I'm one of the people who's only done five shows a week of this. But the role share itself was incredible. And I'm so pleased that I said yes, I'm so pleased that I did it. And I'm more thankful for the person that I shared the role with because Karis was already existing within the cast. So she'd been there for a while and she had really worked her butt off from going from ensemble member. to covering Tina, to then playing Tina the year before I joined, along with somebody else. And I didn't know how the dynamic was gonna be, you know, I love women and I'm a huge, know, if anyone who follows me on my page, I'm sharing strangers all the time, I'm sharing all of my friends, I'm my family, I'm pro women all the time, but not a lot of women are like that within our industry. And so if this goes wrong, this could be, you know, terrible. ⁓ Kim: Yeah. Zoe Birkett: But as soon as we met in rehearsals, was incredible. We hit it off straight away. And one of the most sad things I actually found about the role, Shae, is that me and her never really hung out because we only came in for our shows. So I was at home when she was on. I wasn't on standby. We had a standby, Tina. There was maybe a couple, a handful of times within that year where the standby was off. And so I would have to come in just in case. I would just sit and hang out or watch the show, which was lovely. Kim: Mm-hmm. Zoe Birkett: But I'm talking a handful of occasions, maybe five times in the whole 12 months. So the majority of the time, I was never there apart from my shows and it was the same. So when we did see each other, we'd natter and natter and natter and natter and then it was like, bye. And we kind of never hung out. We kind of never really got to know each other deeper really, which I thought was quite sad because, you know, we both got on. But the dynamic I would say and balance, the word balance that I was able to get being a working parent was like next level. And I would absolutely snatch the hand off another opportunity of that again, because I mean, I've just left doing a five show week and you know, I'm back auditioning, I've been filming, doing some TV bits, but I'm of course back in the grind again, we'll go back to auditions. And I'm very aware that no other show does that. So I'm also having to prepare myself for how I was in Will & Rouge, how I was in The Witches, being a mum witch was exhausting. Those eight shows, although we can do it. Kim: Yeah, yeah. Zoe Birkett: It is exhausting, and just getting that one Sunday off, it's never off. Like, it's the only way I can describe it to people, you're never ever off. Because even on a Sunday, you think I'm laid in bed having a lovely relaxing time, but I just look at nature as a week. Like, ⁓ I get in at midnight, and I've done this since Ari was a baby. Whenever I get in at midnight, I actually wake her up. I need her to see me. I want her to know, mommy's home. It is late. It's purely selfish. Kim: No, I get it, I totally get it. Zoe Birkett: But I I wake her up and I give her a kiss. I think because she's always been going to go back to sleep, I've been looking at since she hasn't been like, well, I'm awake now until two. So I give her a midnight kiss, we go to bed and then, know, bang, she's up at seven, 7.30 in the morning. But I've got a really great support system and my mum is a nanny of ours. My husband is so hands on. So like an example on a Sunday, he would wake up early with Aria so I could at least lay in till half eight. But there's something strange that happens to me. whenever I get in, I can't sleep anyway straight away because of adrenaline. So I'm like two o'clock, I'm still like wired. And then I almost can't go to sleep because I'm so excited about then waking up to see her in the morning. So was like, like sleep has never been my friend, especially since being a parent. But listen, we, your body becomes resistant. Your body becomes very, very resistant to the shores, to lack of sleep, to being able to do it as well. think. Kim: Totally. Zoe Birkett: The thing that I'm happy and I'm a massive trailblazer for is working women. Because I think I was terrified, I'll be very honest, when I became pregnant, I was terrified of not working again. And I was like, they're not going to see me for the big roles. They're going to think I'm not going be able to do it. And that's just naturally me, you know, that paranoia. But actually, I can do it way better than I've ever done it ever. And honestly, I'm like, stupid and thoughtless was I? Maybe even about myself as well. Because I was like, maybe I won't be able to sing. Kim: Yeah. Zoe Birkett: Whitney Houston like, you know, that I think I was able to before I was Aria. Because I actually got asked to go back into the show for an exclusive five week run into the bodyguard three years ago. And the last time I did it was eight years previous, which I didn't have Aria then. Aria is about to be nine. So I was like, I even sing it anymore? Like, you know, is it even there? And it's mad, think. I think that's just a woman thing as well. We get sometimes lost in our own minds. And all of a sudden I was like, I've got this down there too. And I was like, oh my. Kim: Mm-hmm. You Zoe Birkett: Here still! I'm here! I've got it! Kim: Oh my God, I love that you're so hardcore, that you're like, yeah, everyone else is like, gotta do anything for a job share. You're like, can you give me an extra show? I need the fifth show. It's brilliant. Zoe Birkett: Can you give me an? Yeah, honestly, it's bad. It's a thing that I've had for a long time. And it's not a thing of like, I need the extra applause. just, really, I'm a better mom when I'm at work as well. I'm fully aware of that. I'm a massive dreamer. It's important to me as a mother that Aria sees me continue doing my work and getting my dream. It's also very important, I think as well, that she sees me tired. Because I think we have a thing as moms where we kind of go. Kim: Big time. Yeah. Zoe Birkett: don't want a bit of guilt. I'm exhausted and I could feel a bit snappy today. And I'm like, Aria, you know what? Mommy's like, I've just had five shows this week and I'm also doing press for the show. And now on Sunday, on our day off, I've got to sing at the Palladium for Magic FM. So Mommy's got a really big week this week and I'm really tired. so can we have, you know, if Mommy can't have a sleepover with you this week, it's only because I'm really tired. Like, can we save our sleepover for next week? But I think it's important for her to visually see it as well, because I want her to understand. Kim: it out. Zoe Birkett: hard work. We've come from nothing. I'm from council estate. I'm born and bred council estate in the North East. I've had to literally kick and knock down doors to be seen, to be heard, to be taken seriously, especially coming off the back of a reality TV show in my early days. And I want her to see it, that the hustle is real. I've been handed absolutely nothing. So I think also allowing your children to see you, Tay, and the reasons why you've got this... You know, we've just in the middle of a reno, building a... Kim: Yeah, yeah. Zoe Birkett: bloody house and I'm exhausted and I'm skinned and I'm like but you've got a double bedroom and you didn't have a double bed in the last house you know little things like that it's worth it Kim: Yeah! It's worth it, yeah. Totally. ⁓ my God, okay, so can you take us back to when you were first pregnant, like with Aria? Were you in a job at the time? Zoe Birkett: So I had just literally finished the bodyguard and I was 31. Yeah, I already when I was 32. So I was 31, I'm 40 now. And it just felt the right time, the timing was right. I knew that I didn't really wanna hop back in. I'd just done an 18 month contract with the bodyguard. So knew I didn't wanna hop back straight into a contract. think that's another thing with me that's different to maybe the performers. When I've done a 12 month contract, Kim: Okay. Zoe Birkett: I've never done longer than 12 months, I'm out. 12 months, I'm done. They could offer me whatever you want to stay and I'm like, mate, I got a rest and I got to go home and check in with my family. I'm really close to my family. I want to check in and be an apparent, check in with my husband. So I normally have about six or seven months off before I even think about committing to another 12 months again. So I just finished the bodyguard. So the time was right. I knew I wasn't looking to kind of work for a little while as far as theatre contract. The audience odds were coming in, get some concerts in, lovely. Kim: Amazing. Zoe Birkett: And I was like, the time was right for me, my husband, was like, brilliant. Had a lovely pregnancy. And then throughout my pregnancy, I did so many gigs and I worked right the way up until I was eight months pregnant. And then I got offered a panto halfway through my pregnancy. So when I was around seven, eight months, I was playing a wicked queen in panto. I know, and I was like, do you know what I was thinking? Is this a bad idea? this a good, but it was. Kim: Brilliant. Zoe Birkett: It was great because the body's just magnificent. If you look after yourself and take care of yourself, it's the only body that you're in. You can really push yourself to places you want to go if you're careful. And so I had a lovely, healthy, again, I think because I had a good pregnancy, I was lucky that I was able to work. Listen, I've got friends who've had terrible pregnancies and were vomiting and all sorts and were absolutely not able to work at all. But I had no sickness, no more than sickness, nothing like that, so I was good. Kim: Amazing. Yeah, great. Perfect. Zoe Birkett: Yeah, was, I had a lovely pregnancy. And then a few months later, Ari was born and I took about five months off after pregnancy just to really hone in, bond with her, breastfeed and everything, unpack because we moved into a different house, unpack the house and stuff, settle in. And I started to get itchy feet and I was like, as my husband, I think like I'm ready, you know, and he's like, okay, it's like great. And I literally I did a couple of gigs first to ease myself back in because I was still breastfeeding so was like pumping as we do and all of us do backstage like, ugh. And the first musical back that I had was, what was it? Was Rock of Ages, actually. I played Justice from Rock of Ages. ⁓ because RE wasn't at school, I would say it's a little bit harder when they're not at school. Kim: Yeah. ⁓ right, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Zoe Birkett: I always say to my friends who are having kids, once they get to school, honestly, you'll miss them, but you'll be able to get some time back again. If I've got friends who want to do businesses, and you'd be able to have some time for your small business, you can go to the gym, you can start thinking about yourself again. So having Aria that young, while I was in rock of ages, was tricky. I had lots of mum guilt, but what has been brilliant and has been able to make me carry on doing work is that as soon as we had Aria, My mum who's in my hairdressing, she's been in my hairdresser all my life and she was in the salon up in the North East. She just said, listen, if you'd like, I'd love to come on board and work for you. She's not retired by any means, so we pay my mum to be Aria's nanny. And she was like, I'll work for you Monday to Friday. And she was in the North East. So she was coming down on a Monday, driving down, staying with us for the week, and then driving back on a Friday. Kim: Perfect, amazing. Zoe Birkett: I wasn't there some of the time. So then my husband would come home early. Then my husband would have a Saturday while I had two shows. And it was quite a juggle scenario for a while. then, yeah, and then two years ago the place that we're living, we found a plot of land which has two very rundown houses on it. ⁓ I said to hubby, was like, the goal and the dream ⁓ Kim: Yeah, big juggle. Zoe Birkett: you know, my mom for all of us as a family is to live either near each other or live on land or something. And we got really lucky that we found this place that was disgraceful and we've spent the last 18 years, almost two months renovating these two buildings. I mean, literally, I'll quickly show you, but my mum basically lives there at end of the garden. Kim: Yeah, yeah. Oh my god, amazing! That's perfect though. What a great setup. Zoe Birkett: I know. Yeah, it's fact. I mean, we're literally in middle of rubble. We've got no garden currently, but my mum is there. I see her house. She's waving at me from the window. And we're here. And it's great, you know. And if I've got to be... I've been filming a BBC comedy. If I've been leaving for filming at like six in the morning, say, what happens is my mum's got her own key and everything. So if husband's having his little lie in, mum can come across, let herself in. She wakes up early, gets the money ready. Kim: Yeah. Yeah. right. Yeah. Zoe Birkett: We've got a really good jigsaw that works for us now, but I think that, ⁓ wouldn't be able to do half the thing. I'm very aware I wouldn't be able to do half the things that I do without that support. Kim: Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. How did you find after you gave birth, how was your recovery like body wise? Because I know you've had, did you have your hip done before or after? Zoe Birkett: I've had many hip problems over the years, hip surgeries. So I had a replacement. It's coming up for five years next month. Just literally before Moulin Rouge, I had a hip replacement. That was like, that's the whole of the story in itself. Cause that was like a crazy time. Cause it was pandemic time as well. But anyway, when I was 14, for so much like severe dancing, my hip came out of the socket. So I had pins first put into my hip. Kim: Okay. Oh, okay, yeah, of course it was. That's all. Zoe Birkett: So I had them for 18 months and then over the years I've been on and off with my hip, just lots and lots of trouble. ⁓ So when we felt pregnant, I went to my doctor and they said straight away, just so you're aware, you'll never be able to deliver naturally. So I was like, ⁓ okay, that's it because what will happen is your hip will come out again. So you'll have to go into immediate surgery and then we'll have to give you an emergency C-section. And then you won't get that time of year, baby, because you'll be off in surgery getting your hip done. So was like, right, okay. So I was monitored really well. I at my pregnancy, even though I lived down south and as cheesy as it is, but I'm a very proud northerner, I chose to give birth in the northeast. So, and I said to my hubby, I was like, listen, I love being down south, but like you're one of millions of people. as selfish as it is, when I go back home, they're like, how you hitting your mom? Kim: Yeah, okay. Yeah, it's good. ⁓ that's brilliant. Zoe Birkett: And ⁓ the Northern people are just so lovely and caring. I was like, I just want to be around lovely people. I want to be cared for, be around my family, be close with them so they can bond with my daughter for a little while. And want to be in my local hospital, which had such a bad rep, have to say, Darlington Memorial, and it still does, has such a bad rep for various things over the years. ⁓ have the most wonderful maternity department ⁓ honestly. Kim: Totally. incredible. Zoe Birkett: from the midwives to everyone who looked after me, from my surgeon. ⁓ So when I swapped over, I got told I'd have to have a planning section. So I went back up north and I met this wonderful woman called Jenna O'Brien, who I still speak to. And she came through from Newcastle to Darlington and she helped deliver. And the whole thing was so lovely, so magical. I went in, I knew the time I was going in to get it done. I knew what I was having. So we wanted to aim a reveal. Kim: Yeah. Zoe Birkett: And all the staff were lovely. I think because the support that I had from Pop Idol, from my whole journey, being, know, literally nothing. It's this little girl who just loved to sing in the North East and loads of people backing me over the years and being the local paper and then doing Pop Idol. When I came home to give birth, were like, oh, hey, Berger's coming home to give birth. And I was thinking... Kim: Yeah. Zoe Birkett: It's really not that much of big deal. I just love that I want to be here. I want to be somewhere where I'm familiar with and not in a hospital. It's abundant to be completely honest. is such a vulnerable time. And again, the hospital was lovely and I had all my surgeries in the hospital up north. I knew people there. They were friends of the family and it was lovely. So, I had this great planned surgery. With the planned surgery, I'm not too sure if you know much about it, but it's called a planned natural surgery. Kim: Yeah. Especially at such a vulnerable time. I love that. Yeah. Zoe Birkett: So it's kind of for people who have a form of like a disability or you're unable to deliver naturally and the doctor just says, you know, it's impossible for you. They make the incision, but there's no screen or anything up. And so what happens is the surgeon basically releases Aria's head and then the top of her shoulders and then you're able to deliver your own baby. So me and my husband actually pulled her out, which was just so amazing. was honestly, was wonderful. It was the most incredible thing. And then she came straight to me obviously for skin on skin and then Kim: Okay. That's amazing! Zoe Birkett: And then the bullet was going up while they did whatever they did. But the whole thing, I was able to see everything and it was just honestly, it was incredible. But then I had a lot of obviously recovery after having the section and husband was great. He was just brilliant. Just getting up, that, helping me do all the feeds and stuff in the middle of the night and checking. But again, it was a slow process and I think it's, if I'm being completely honest, it took me about... Kim: Yeah. Bye. That's amazing. Yeah. Zoe Birkett: three years to fully get back to my full self, even thinking down to how I was feeling about myself, about the clothes that I was wearing and I wasn't able to fit in some of my old stuff and then I was, I went back to do my gigs but I had to buy new gigging dresses because I was bigger and I was like, I can't get into my gig dresses anymore. My husband was like, you've just had a baby then I had pregnancy gig dresses that I couldn't get, couldn't wear them anymore. So I was like, what do I wear? Who am I? I'm a feeding machine. So it took me about three years to kind of be like, right, I know what's going on now. I know everything about what she loves, what I love, how I'm moving forward. I've got the help that I need. What's the plan? Good support system. But I think, you know, no one ever really prepares you for motherhood, especially being in this industry, because the juggle is real. I think for any working mother anyway, the juggle is real. But I think what I find the most annoying, mean, I can say it openly, like next week it's my sister's 30th birthday and all the family going to Tunisia. And this has been planned for like a year and a half and I was being like, I don't know whether I can go, I don't know, because work and da da. I hate the sacrifices that we have to make as women, as family members, as mothers, as wives, because everything is kind of put on the back burner all the time until something comes in. If it comes in, if it drops, if you get that self-sabotage, Kim: Yeah. Yeah. Zoe Birkett: I'm still waiting for an answer on an advert. I just saw it on the telly yesterday and I was like, didn't get the advert then, did I? I'm like, didn't get that, did I? So we're always waiting for something so we can never plan anything. You know, we miss, you know, had to miss sport. I had a matinee show last year, so I had to miss sports day last year and I've just signed to do something else, which is quite big coming up and I've had a look through the school calendar and I have to miss sports day again. Kim: I'm excited. Great, yeah? ⁓ man. Yeah. Zoe Birkett: And I'm like, so, but what we do do, and I think, is I really hone in when I'm at home. And the switch off for me, I always think, I always got asked last year, and maybe it's because sometimes if you're playing a role like Tina in particular, the story is so traumatic and so emotional, because what Tina went through was insane. I think from what I gathered, the actresses or maybe the productions or maybe even a role like that psychologically you may be able to take some of that on board with you and I always get asked in interviews how did you, what was your switch off? I think being a mother actually saved me because as soon as I walk in that door I know my child's about to wake up at midnight for our midnight kiss anyway and then I'm back up again in the morning and I'm like in the middle of building a house so I have no time in my mind to sit down and actually allow that to go into my brain and sponge it all in emotionally. I'm an actress, I do the job, the job is done, stage door, see you later guys, I'm gone. So I think I've got no choice and I think having a busy life like that and being a parent and knowing that being on stage for those three hours, as much as I love it, it's not the be all and end all, it's not the most important thing that's going on right now in our lives. So understanding that you must switch off is the key, I think, as well, to roles like that. Kim: Yeah, got no choice. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, so and I fucking love it because you just chat. I don't have to think of anything. I'm like, great, done. But also you talk so quickly, which I loved, I talk quickly, but you get so much information. I'm like, yeah, ⁓ my God, yeah, go, go, So do you find, because you went on tour as well. ⁓ How did you the setup being on tour? Did you find that all right? I suppose it was pre, she went pre her going to school. Or was it not? Zoe Birkett: So I'm right now in Wiganah. Just can't all the time. Good. Well, when I went back to the bodyguard three years ago, I was at school. So what happened was, again, because we got ma'am, some mum, and I got a husband, but husband's got a... Everyone knows my husband, you know, in this business. He does mortgages for people in the industry. So I've never actually gone into a rehearsal room yet. I haven't gone to one job today. It's where go, your husband's got me a house. So he's got a very demanding job himself. was... Baby's the person to know for industry folk, Kim: ⁓ yeah, okay. Hello! God, he's the person to know then for our industry. Big time. Zoe Birkett: So my mom, if she always at work, sorry, if my husband's at work, my mom would do school work if I'm on tour, pick her up. Then husband would always be back for tea, do bedtime, et cetera. So there was always a parent around. And then on a weekend, he would finish on a Friday and he would come to me wherever I was. But there were some great times. like things like Easter holidays and half term. So the bodyguard, when I went back specifically, it was for five weeks, an exclusive run, and it sat over. Kim: Yeah, great. Zoe Birkett: the August summer holidays. So Ari came with me with my mum and then my husband would come up on a weekend. So it was like basically we were on like the three of us, like a little girl gang just like on tour with a bodyguard. And we, you with roles like that, because it was six weeks and they wanted me to come back. said, I can come back, but you know, it is six weeks holidays. So my mum's going be with me. So I'm going to need a two bedroom apartment. And if you layer things out, what you need for producers. Kim: Amazing. Zoe Birkett: They can be quite good, you know? Yeah. You've got to spell them out as finally. Yeah. Kim: Totally. Yeah. You just got to spell it out for them. But what an experience for her. Like what an amazing thing for her and your whole family. you know, for her to be going through as a kid being like just on tour with my mum, with the bodyguard, like it's brilliant. Zoe Birkett: Yeah, it's one of those things where it is great, but I also, because my husband and I have come from like literally nothing but love, also, mean, this afternoon we're heading, she's there, but we're heading to somewhere tonight, which is like a big thing for us tonight, for kids, right? Like brilliant. And this is quite an often thing that happens. And what I don't want to do, I'm like, she cannot be spoiled. Like I'm not having this kid who is spoiled. That's why it's important. It's important that she knows where it's come from, how it's happening, what it takes to get this. Although it is great, I love that she's able to see Mammy at work. But also, there's an element of you need to understand how you've got this, how we've got this. This is not normal, you know? So you may go and see Wicked before anybody else, which was what happened last year. We got invited to premiere, great, because I was invited. I obviously took Aria. I said, but Aria? Kim: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Zoe Birkett: You cannot be going into school the next day because it was on a Sunday. You cannot go in tomorrow and say you've seen the wicked film. Like there are rules for this. Like there are rules for this. You can't be any spoilers away. like, do what mean? It's like... And kids are so like... Kim: Yeah, yeah, totally. That's great. That's good parenting. That's amazing. ⁓ you, yeah, cool. Yeah, I mean, you we do what we can. ⁓ ⁓ you find it affects what you will accept next having a daughter? Does it affect your decision for what you're gonna take? Or I suppose is it just whatever shows up and you just kind of work it out once it's come through the door? Zoe Birkett: Yeah, we have to try. Yeah, I'm doing. No, I think a million percent. I always once I've had Aria, I made it like a pact to myself. I was like, I'm not going to tour again. Like it needs to be town needs to be TV needs to be, you know, the concerts and stuff. And I've kept that that's that's been, you know, for the last we had obviously the pandemic as well. ⁓ ⁓ pandemic, Moulin Rouge, the last five years, I've nonstop worked. went from Moulin Rouge, I went straight into ⁓ Great British Bake Off. Then I went back to Body Gone. Then I did The Witches and I literally had two months off and I went straight into Tina. And so ⁓ I've always said I want to do town if it's seen as it's got to be town or it's got to be something really, really special for me to go on the road again. It's got to have a town in the segment. need to be like, you know, I live down south, so I want to be a resident somewhere in West End. But if it's like the back end of West End, but then I'm going to be doing a month in wherever, then I don't mind things like that. So I never say never with touring. But I'm definitely more, know, what's gonna keep me down south? What's gonna keep me one place? What's gonna make sure that I get my midnight kisses in at night? Do you know what mean? it's gotta be that for us. Midnight kisses forever, forever. But never say never, because listen, there's two things very different as well now. It's a lot better than what it was. Years ago, was like, I'll be honest, years ago it was it was naffish pay. The whole thing was to be in the West End. But actually, I've been Kim: yeah that's gorgeous love the midnight kiss that's so cute love it Yeah, yeah, yeah. Zoe Birkett: couple of tours recently but the pay's been better than town and I'm like sorry the pay what for on tour now? yeah, so I've never seen it ever, but I like to be able to come home, you know? Especially at 40, I don't want to be in Sharon's house in Wigan, do you know what mean? Like I want to be mine. Thank you, I need to enjoy it. Yeah, exactly. Kim: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, totally. Totally, yeah, of course you do. You've put all your hard work into the renovation, for God's sake. That's how I live there, know what I mean? Canal. Yeah, oh, great, amazing, thank you so much. I really appreciate the chat. I know you've got a head off. I did just wanna say as well, I'm not gonna ask you about it, but I just wanna say thank you so much for talking about your miscarriage and sharing your story there. I'm so sorry it's something that you went through, but I know a few people that have lost between shows and things like that. So yeah, appreciate you shedding some light on that. Zoe Birkett: ⁓ thanks, Kim. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. No, I appreciate that. was, was something that I wasn't going to mention. Then I just thought, actually, as soon as I opened up about it, because there was a period of Tina, and I don't mind talking about it at all, but there was a period of Tina for a week where I was off. And again, everyone was like, I literally had three weeks to go until I was leaving the contract. So so many people had booked in and everyone was like, where is she? What's going on? Everyone thought it was my hip. They like, maybe something's happening in the fight scenes. I was like, if I don't say something and actually say the reasons why, then, you know, people are going to wonder what's happened. So, yeah. So thank you. Kim: ⁓ God, what a thing to go through. But no, yeah, thank you for talking about it. ⁓ no, thanks for meeting me today. Cheers for the chat. ⁓ Just great to ⁓ get your side of things. ⁓ I'll see soon. All the best. Zoe Birkett: No worries. Take it, darling. ⁓ See you soon. Take it, darling.