Niki Evans will take lead role at the Swan (From Bucks Free Press)

Niki Evans will take lead role at the Swan

3:30pm Friday 27th August 2010 in

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AN X-factor star who had previously never seen a musical in her life is wowing audiences with her performance of Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers.

In September Niki Evans will bring her unique performance to the Wycombe Swan for a week long stint following her current spell in the West End.

Evans, 37, from Birmingham, is loving every minute and is looking forward to touring the country again.

She said: “I am not a very big musical theatre fan. I saw my first one after I got the part as Mrs Johnstone. They have to be good to impress me. Out of the ones I have seen I prefer Blood Brothers.

“It far outweighs everything else. I like that it is real. I like it is a real story. She is very similar to me- a tough upbringing and she never had much.

“She cleans toilets and I have cleaned toilets for a living. I know how that feels. It really resonates with me. I love the woman.”

She said when she did a season in pantomimes she missed playing Mrs Johnstone, adding “I missed her as a person.”

Evans auditioned for the part on a Friday and on the Monday she was on the set. The story follows the tale of twins who are separated at birth and grow up on opposite sides of the tracks- only to meet again with tragic consequences.

She said: “I can't wait to tour. It have been touring since I was 12. It is quite tough for me to stay in one place for a long time.

“I can't wait to see how different regions take it.

“I am just a hard Mrs Johnstone. When I shout I shout, when I smack I smack.”

Evans is best known for her singing. She reached the semi-finals in X-factor in 2007 and in the 1990s she toured with Sonia, Lonnie Gordon, Big Fun and Yell.

When she was in the West End she commutes from Birmingham to London every day so she can see her two children Morgan, 13 and Jonah, 15.

She said: “I do the dinner for the kids every day before I go. The worse time is between Thursday and Friday when I have five shows in three days.

“I am not old yet so I shouldn't complain. I miss my kids terrible. It gets me down when I don't see them.”

Evans, who has been married since she was 19, said while she is touring there is only about three weeks where she won't be be able to get home.

As the X Factor starts again Evans said she watched last year's. She said: “It makes me sick every time I watch it. I know what they are going through. I can't watch and enjoy it any more.”

She said when she watches herself on the TV show she “doesn't know who that person is any more. My dad had just died. How I got through it I will never know.”

Blood Brothers is at the Wycombe Swan from Monday September 13- 18 at 7.30pm with 2.30pm matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets range from £20.50- £31. Book on 01494512000 or go to www.wycombeswan.co.uk