The Next Generation: Katarina Hardy

GET TO KNOW: KAT HARDY
Coming to the West End is Katarina Hardy! Known as Kat, this twenty-year-old student from South-East London is smashing her career in musical theatre. Having roles in multiple plays, from 'Robinson Crusoe' to 'Something Old, Something New' her journey is just beginning! 

At just twenty years old you’re smashing the performance industry at the moment. You’ve recently been in a pantomime called ‘Robinson Crusoe’ over Christmas, as well as preforming in a musical called ‘Animus’. What roles did you play?

Thank you! In the Panto Robinson Crusoe, I played the Fairy god mother/Buttons character of the show, she was this brilliant hippy goddess called “Mama.” It was such a fun character to play; I even wore blue dread-locks! 

Animus, on the other hand, was extremely different in the sense it was a musical set in 18^th century London. I played a Chamber Maid in the 'Dunn' house-hold. The show itself was extremely dark, with death being the main theme.

Two very different roles. Do you prefer playing serious roles, or having fun with the audience?

For me, personally, serious plays are a lot easier, because I love playing ‘Real’ characters. This is partly the reason why TV and film is so appealing to me, because when you’re on screen you don’t have to be as over dramatic as when you’re on stage.

When I’m doing something like panto however, I’m acting for children. This means I have to be on their level of energy, which is very high! Kids are a harsh critic. When a child is bored in the middle of a panto they will let you know. So while I found panto work much more challenging than naturalism, I still really enjoyed it. To have kids hugging you and saying how much they loved your character at the end of a show is an amazing feeling.

To answer your question, I would say in the future I would prefer to do more serious work; but in this industry you can’t be too picky.

You’re currently a student at ‘The Musical Theatre Academy (TheMTA)’ studying performing arts. What do the lessons on the course entail?

The MTA is a very intense two-year course.  We do Four Shows a year and when we aren’t in rehearsals we’re either TV acting, stage acting, voice acting or singing. We also do three hours of dance, every morning!

What would you say you prefer out of the activities above, and did any surprise you when you discovered you liked them?

I’ve always enjoyed singing and acting. I didn’t start dancing until I was accepted into the brit school when I was fifteen. We had to do ballet, which I thought I would be terrible at. But it’s actually something I really enjoy.

Some individuals would argue that students who go to ‘The Brit School’ or schools such as ‘The MTA’ find it easier to gain work in their chosen profession after graduating, would you agree?

Going to any type of drama school will always help people looking for a profession in this industry. I’ve already been given so many opportunities at The MTA, from working with incredible directors, to professional backing singing. Most of the teachers at these types of schools are in (or have been) in the industry themselves; so they can help you. 

That doesn’t go to say that people who don’t go to drama school won’t get their big break, in most cases it’s a “Right time, Right place” kind of deal.

Some individuals will argue that a career in performance is a hard profession to succeed in financially, especially in the beginning years. What was the turning point in your life when you decided to take the brave leap into having a performing career?

My advice is, if you’re looking to become an actress because you want to be rich and famous you need to turn around and get a new career; or perhaps do a Kim Kardashian if you know what I mean. There’s little money in this career, especially in the beginning. However, I’d rather be acting in a play earning little money, than be unhappy in a 9-5 office job. I know there will be times when I’m extremely broke, but at least I’ll be doing what I love! 

How long have you been singing, acting and dancing for?

I've been a drama queen since birth! In year five and six I always wanted the main parts in our primary school shows, and most of the time I got them! A few mums were annoyed I always got the main parts…sorry about that. It was then in secondary school when drama became my life!  I didn’t start properly singing and dancing until The BRIT School. Sometimes I watch shows like ‘Half a Sixpence’ which has some of the best dancers I’ve ever seen in it, I wish I could dance like them!  

Do you write any of your own scripts or music?

I love writing! I wrote a ‘Love Actually’ style scene about a lesbian couple at university. Two of my friends acted it out for me. To see my scene with real voices and actors was incredible. I plan on writing a lot more this year!

Kat as the Fairy GodMother in Robinson Crusoe

Some believe that talent is passed through generations in the family. Would you say you have a musically talented family?

I’m not sure. My brother is very musical, and I think there are a few actors in the family. However, I’m pretty sure we didn’t get our talent from our mum, because I’ve heard her singing in the car… and it isn’t great.  

Are you working on anything interesting in 2017, that you can tell us about?

YES! I’m currently in rehearsals for ‘Something Old Something New’ which is a review show with lots of different numbers from lots of different shows! I’m so excited for it this year, I can’t say the numbers yet but they’re going to be incredible! It’s at the ‘Bernie Grant Art Centre’ March 15^th – 18^th so if you want to see a show, get your butt down to Seven Sisters. 

I’m also doing a musical called ‘All Shook Up’ which is an Elvis Presley Duke Box musical which is also going to be so fun! That will be in June this year! I’m also graduating in September this year, so all big achievements for me!

Are you nervous about the future, and what it holds for you?

Of course I am. The worst thing about this industry is how unpredictable it is. There’s always times when I put myself down, and think “I could to a much better job playing that part than this person." But at the end of the day you’ve got to keep going. I’m career driven, I know it’s going to happen for me eventually; I just know it.

Where do you want to be in five years from now?

The dream is to be in a main channel series, like ‘Skins’ or Misfits’, that kind of genre. But realistically I don’t know if that will happen for me in five years! As long as I’m working I’ll be happy!  

Well we look forward to seeing you on the west end! Where can my readers find more of you?

Soon I’ll be on the ‘Spotlight’ website for career opportunities. For now, you can follow me on my twitter to keep updated with my shows, and also for your chance to WIN a trip to the theatre!

Thanks for talking with me today Kat! I wish you all the best in your career!

Thank you so much for having me on your blog Alex!

I'm Engaged!

I am very pleased to announce that my boyfriend and I, are engaged!

For those of you who don’t know, February is a very special month, not only because it contains my birthday, but this year is also a leap year! But what is a leap year? A leap year is also known as a bissextile year and falls once every four years. Usually there are 28 days in February, however in a leap year there are 29 balancing out the lunisolar calendar.

Legend has it that during the 5^th Century St Bridget complained that females had to wait too long for their suiters to propose, so St Patrick then gave the women a chance to propose every four years, on the 29^th of February. Although, this theory was never proven. It was in 19^th Century when Queen Margaret of Scotland allegedly passed a law, which allowed women to propose to men – better still, the men were handed a fine if they didn’t accept!

In this day and age it’s becoming less unusual for women to propose. 15% of women said they would consider popping the question to their boyfriend and only 10% of ladies actually do! And I’m proud to say that I am one of them!

After getting the inkling that Ryan (my fiancé) was planning on proposing, I decided to take matters into my own hands. He had mentioned the idea of getting engaged more than usual in the last couple of months, and slowly but surely I put two and two together and figured it out.

I am one of those people who hate surprises... I can’t stand them! The thought of not being in control of a situation and having that horrible feeling in your belly not knowing to expect terrifies me. So what better way to take advantage of the leap year and beat him to it! After speaking to all my close friends and family about it, operation ‘put a ring on it’ was ago go.  

Both our parents were totally ecstatic and they’ve always said we’re like ‘bangers and mash’. Everyone was itching to tell him. Ryan isn’t usually the one to wear any kind of ring, so I intended on getting him a fancy watch to pop the question with, however, a watch didn’t shout engagement to me. After looking through plenty of websites I decided to get a ring, simple and classic. It was perfect. (It looks great and he wears it with pride).

Next was how to do it? I knew if I did it just the two of us he wouldn’t believe me.  He would say “Oh Grace, stop being silly.” He knew I wouldn’t usually have the balls to do something like this. We also watched a program a couple of weeks before I intended on proposing and the female proposed to the male. His reaction? “You know if you ever proposed to me I would say no right? It’s just a gentleman’s duty to ask for the hand in marriage”. Oh shit. No pressure then. Little did I know that while I was planning everything, so was he. He had even driven round to my family home and asked my dad for permission!

I designed a cake that read ‘Will you marry me, my Koala’ on it. Mainly because I thought I would be too nervous to get the words out myself. We had booked a restaurant in my local town. His parents, my parents and my siblings were invited. He thought we were celebrating my 20^th birthday, and everyone went along with it. When in reality everyone knew I was going to propose. As you can tell by the blog title he said yes! His face was hilarious, “I was going to propose! I even asked your dad for permission!” Bless him.

So I am currently wearing his mum’s diamond engagement ring until my bespoke ring comes. I couldn’t be happier. We have always been a wild and fun couple and getting engaged this way just adds to our crazy relationship. Ryan still plans on proposing, his way, with the ring he’s designed; and I can’t wait! It just means I get to experience the excitement of getting engaged all over again!

To everyone asking me when the wedding is… Not for a while. We want to wait until I’m out of university and are comfortably living together before we even think about any wedding plans. This engagement is a stepping-stone in our relationship. It’s a sign of commitment, and that neither one of us are going anywhere. We just want to spend the rest of our lives together. This doesn’t mean we intend on getting married tomorrow.

NOR AM I PREGNANT! A friend of mine asked if I was expecting just because I was engaged! I feel as though this is something I have to touch on. Why people think getting engaged young automatically means you’re pregnant baffles me. Why can’t two young people just get engaged because they love each other? Ryan and I have been together 2 years and felt it was right to take the next step in our relationship!

The amount of times I’ve heard “You’re engaged? But you’re only twenty!” Who cares? Back in the day our grandparents would be engaged and married by 18 and nobody battered an eyelid. When couples have babies after knowing each other 6 months it’s all “Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!” But when a young couple get engaged it’s all “Are you sure? It’s a big commitment” and “Getting engaged young is like leaving the party early.”

I would rather ‘leave the party early’ with the man I love. I’m not missing out on anything, I just have somebody to experience the rest of my life with! I’m incredibly blessed to have found the man of my dreams at such a young age and I can’t wait to explore the world, and go on adventures with him. My family and close friends are so excited and have been so supportive, and I’m so grateful to have you all in my life. To the small minded people out there, who are talking about my life as if they know me… do yourself a favour and find something else to talk about.

I’m incredibly happy and fortunate in my life right now. Thank you for all the kind messages, words can’t describe how blessed I feel.

Lots of love and thank you for reading!
AlexGrace

Photo: Ryan's engagement ring. 

Photo: Mum (left) Mum in law to be (Right) enjoying the strawberries. 

Photo: My fiancé and I enjoying a smooch. 

Photo: When he had just said yes.

Photo: The cake I proposed with.