Five questions with Alexia Khadime of 'Wicked'

Alexia Khadime speaks to LondonTheatre.co.uk about how her view of Elphaba has changed since first playing the part in 2008 and why she would love to return to all of her former roles.

The actress has added her talent to musical heavyweights including The Lion King, Les Misérables, The Book of Mormon, and The Prince of Egypt. She’s now playing Elphaba in Wicked for the third time, having first gone green back in 2008.

Has your view of Elphaba evolved since you first started playing her?
I think it has evolved through my own personal life experiences and the other shows that I’ve done. When I was younger, the focus was very much on playing the character whereas this time it’s more about being her. I can see similarities between her journey and my own life, so I can trust to lean on that more.

You’ve appeared in some of the world’s most iconic musicals – if you had a chance to return to one of your former roles for just one night, which would you choose?
I know it sounds cheesy, but all of those roles have given me something, so I’m going be greedy and say: “Can I get a week to play them all again?” A week of playing a different character every night would be insane – I would love to do it!

You were the first Black actress to be cast as Elphaba. Do you feel the industry has become more inclusive in recent years?
If I said it hadn’t taken a little shuffle, I’d be lying, but we still have a long way to go. We’re still not reflecting enough different backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, sexualities. We need to look at the young people coming up who may be interested and show them that it’s not just about being on stage, we also need directors, producers, lighting people, sound designers – the jobs people often don’t even know about.

In 2009, you won the Women of the Future Award alongside your Wicked co-star Dianne Pilkington – how did it feel to have your talent and potential recognised in that way?
It was nice to be recognised, but it felt bigger than Di or me. So many of the shows at that time were focused on the world of men – we were just the love interest or the damsel in distress. Wicked was one of the first mega-musicals to be led by women and to touch on themes like friendship, love and determination. It was a big stepping stone.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
I’m very much a go-with-the-flow person, but truthfully in 10 years’ time I still want to be making art on stage, on screen – or maybe behind the scenes. The idea of directing has been tickling me for the last couple of years, so maybe I should dip my toe in that particular pool. Or maybe I can return to Wicked to play Madame Morrible!

Wicked is at the Apollo Victoria. Book tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Alexia Khadime in Wicked. (Photo by Matt Crockett)