Dirty Dancing star and former Oxford Uni student Rosie Frascona tells Katherine MacAlister why it’s good to be back in town

Rosie Frascona never thought she’d be carrying the infamous water melon in Dirty Dancing straight out of drama school, so it was a dream come true when she landed the part of Baby in the musical tour.

But to be playing the role in Oxford over Christmas has made her day, having studied at St Peter’s College.

When not dancing her socks off and singing her heart out, she will be found touring Oxford, reminiscing about her student days and revisiting some old haunts.

Not that she’ll have much time off with 30 performances over the Christmas period, but as her career has been anything but predictable so far, Rosie is taking it all in her stride.

“Put it this way, we give Strictly a good run for their money,” she says.

So what’s the attraction? “I feel like I’ve massively landed on my feet and although its really good fun, for me it’s the character – Baby is a really genuinely nice person and does so much for other people, even at the end when it all goes wrong.

“She’s a Little Miss Fix It and always trying to make things better for people and improve their situation, to change the world, so I love my role and really believe in her. It’s a gift of a part and I’m having a wonderful time.

“Looking back I was a bit like Baby, more interested in politics than boys. I wasn’t going to study the economics of underdeveloped countries like Baby, but studying English at Oxford University, is not such a far stretch of the imagination and if I hadn’t become an actress I might have gone into politics.”

And then there’s the dancing – Rosie must be a great dancer? “I hadn’t danced since school,” she squeals. “When I was at uni I didn’t have time for dancing, only theatre, it was one or the other. So it’s been a bit of a shock to the system.

“But luckily that’s the point of the show. Johnny teaches Baby to dance, so that’s exactly what she had to go through as well, and I channel all of that into the part. I know what that feels like.”

So how much theatre did Rosie manage at Oxford? “To be honest Oxford is probably why I’m here on stage today. It’s where I honed my craft and did a lot of writing and performing. I did three plays a term during an eight week period until I finally thought – maybe I could act and get someone interested in me, so I am incredibly lucky.

“I’m aware of that. The West End might be the showcase, but Oxford is like a mini version of the real world and a good place to get known.”

Since graduating from LAMDA last summer, Dirty Dancing was the first major role to come knocking. “I thought I might start in a Shakespeare play or do a bit of Chekhov,” she laughs, “but Dirty Dancing was such a fantastic opportunity and a wonderful company. It’s very exciting and I’m enjoying every moment, knowing that there are 2,000 people in the theatre every night waiting for me to tell them a story.”

Having missed the Hollywood blockbuster altogether because her head was always buried in a book, Rosie has also been able to make the part her own, rather than basing it on any preconceptions.

“Well the director was obviously happy with my interpretation. I was very aware of what I was getting into,” she says.

Neither does the 25-year-old mind too much about being away from her family in Essex over Christmas. “Coming to Oxford will be very special. I’ve been looking forward to that for months, and I’ll be performing at the New Theatre, the one place I’ve never experienced. So it will be a bit bizarre for me, but in a good way. I can’t wait.”

SEE IT
Dirty Dancing comes to the New Theatre Oxford from December 9 until January 3. Call the box office on 0844 871 3020 or see atgtickets.com/oxford

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.