Jesus Christ Superstar

Congress Theatre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, Tuesday, September 8, to Saturday, September 12

RACHEL Adedeji had planned to go to drama school and study musical theatre.

But then a show called The X Factor got in the way.

Adedji was part of the 2009 intake which spawned household names Joe McElderry, Stacey Solomon, Olly Murs and, for better or worse, Jedward.

After leaving the show in week four she released an EP, and collaborated on a couple of dance tracks.

But it was the touring Michael Jackson tribute Thriller Live which put her back in the spotlight, and led to her winning the role of Mary Magdalene in a new version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar.

“Thriller Live was such a totally different experience,” she says from Germany where Jesus Christ Superstar is on the European leg of its tour.

“I learned so much about being on tour. It doesn’t feel so strange being in different cities and theatres now – I’m coming back to a lot of places like Hamburg, where I’m familiar with the area and audiences.

“With Jesus Christ Superstar I’m learning so much – it’s like being at drama school for me. I’m grateful to be part of such a wonderful show.”

She admits she was a fan of the musical from a young age, growing up listening to the soundtrack and favourite songs such as Gethsemane and her big moment I Don’t Know How To Love Him.

“I never thought I would get such an amazing opportunity,” she says. “When my agent said I had an audition I thought he was joking.

“There are so many Marys who have taken on the role, it’s great to put my own spin on it and do it a bit differently. When I went to rehearsals the first day I had a list of all the Marys who had taken it on, and watched all the recordings on YouTube.

“When the musical director heard that he told me: ‘I want to see you and how you would portray it – I’ve had so many girls coming in sounding identical to the original recordings.’ I had to try to forget about all that and do it my way.”

She says the 40-year-old musical is still so strong the cast, which also features Glenn Carter as Jesus and Tim Rogers as Judas Iscariot, has to do very little to keep it fresh.

“The style is very simple,” she says. “We have put our own spin, but we respect the original.”

Speaking only days after her marriage to long-term Jason Finegan, she admits she is finding the whole pace of the Jesus Christ Superstar tour, which she joined in January, quite chilled and relaxed.

“We had a stressful year planning the wedding,” she says. “The last two weeks were the worst two weeks of my life – I was physically sick I was so stressed.

“It was the best day though – I felt like a star. This is nothing compared to what happened on Friday – although it was hard leaving my new husband. The people are like a family – I’m going away from him, but back to what I love doing.”

As for the future she hopes to continue in musical theatre, but is still spending as much time as possible in the studio recording material for future solo releases.

“My main goal is to put out singles and albums, but still be in musicals,” she says. “I love performing – if the opportunity is there why not take it? I just hope it happens.”

Starts 7.30pm, 2.30pm matinees Thurs and Sat, tickets from £18.50. Call 01323 412000.