Rebecca Turner catches up with Durham Musical Theatre Company leading lady Eileen Glenton

AS Durham Musical Theatre Company prepares to stage the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit Sunset Boulevard later this month, leading lady Eileen Glenton is getting ready for what she describes as “the most difficult and rewarding role of her career”.

A regular performer on stages across the North-East for pleasure, Eileen is also a professional performer, but says playing Norma Desmond in this classic musical has required her to delve deeper than she has had to for any other role.

“Norma is a complex character,” says Eileen, “She was once this fabulous star, everyone told her she was special and she knew it too. She’s been kept in that bubble by her servant Max, while in reality she has aged and the film industry has moved on without her. When the audience meets her they see a glamorous older woman who is clinging onto the hopes of becoming a star, while falling in love with a young writer, a toyboy, and her last chance of romance.

“When the show ends she is a broken woman, her illusions and her soul are shattered and that has to be reflected in her appearance, her manner, her voice and every move she makes, it should be a shock for the audience.”

There is a danger that if you go too over the top, it becomes false, a caricature, the contrast between the manically happy Norma and the crazed and broken Norma by the end is huge, but it must remain believable and you need the audience to feel sorry for you… it’s a fine and delicate line to tread.”

But it is one that Eileen should have no problems mastering, with a lifetime of theatrical experience behind her. Aged just four, she took her first steps onto the stage, reading a poem about bluebells in a church hall concert. There followed many public performances, Eisteddfods and productions on the Pier in Southsea, Portsmouth, where she lived as a child.

Eileen said: “I was spotted early on as having a talent for acting and at 12 or 13 my teacher Miss Butler encouraged me to do everything I could. The company I performed with had professional directors brought in and they promoted me to the front line of the chorus and beyond.

“But it was Shakespeare that I really loved and in truth my dream was to become a Shakespearean actress. I longed to go to Rada and train, but there was no money for that and so I made my way to London, where I got to know some of the professionals and worked there for a while before heading up to Newcastle where I got my Equity Card.”

Eileen worked at the New Tyne Theatre where she said she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty: “Many of the local leading ladies would not do so, but I was there scrubbing the toilets in this dirty, dusty theatre. I worked in the wardrobe department during the day helping build the wardrobe with a team of six or seven ladies and by night I wore the costumes, performing on stage, it was hard work but wonderful too.”

After a spell working with Live Theatre professionally, Eileen was offered the chance to return to London, but turned down the opportunity. “I wanted to stay in Newcastle by that point and I have had so many wonderful years here performing with wonderful companies in marvellous roles.”

The first of Eileen’s roles with DMTC was back in 1982 when she joined for Mame, she said: “It was a wonderful friendly company and I have enjoyed so many fabulous roles with them but I have to say that playing Norma Desmond would probably rank as my favourite, alongside Rose in Gypsy. I just hope our audiences love watching the show as much as I am loving performing it.”

  • Sunset Boulevard, Durham Gala Theatre, June 23 to 27 June. Evening 7.15pm, matinees at 2.15pm on Wednesday June 24 and Saturday 27. Tickets from £16.50. Box Office: 03000-266-600 or galadurham.co.uk