Imelda Staunton: 'Sondheim is the Shakespeare of musicals'

Imelda Staunton has described composer Stephen Sondheim as the “Shakespeare of musical theatre”.

The performer was speaking at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards, where she received the best musical performance prize for her stint in Gypsy, co-written by Sondheim.

Staunton said: “I have been very lucky to have Stephen Sondheim as my champion. He is the reason I am doing this role. For me, he is the Shakespeare of musical theatre and every night when I sing his speeches I revel in the richness, depth, pain and wit of his words.”

She also praised vocal coach Penny Dyer and singing teacher Mark Meylan for protecting her voice during her stint in the show.

The performer said Dyer had made sure she could “shout for eight months without wrecking my voice”.

She added: “Mark Meylan has transformed my voice and gave me a technique to keep singing this role, month in and month out.”

Staunton also said that the performers she works alongside in Gypsy have a “ludicrous amount of talent, be they adult, child or dog”.