Performers

'Debbie Saloman may be only 23, but she’s already written and performed her own musical, Get Happy, in which she plays the legendary performer Judy Garland preparing for her 1960 comeback show at the London Palladium. Rufus Wainwright, eat your heart out, says Jessica Holland

How did you first come up with the idea for the show?
I did a performing arts degree at Salford University but for the final module you could either write a 6,000-word thesis or produce a play. That’s not really a tough decision. Then it just evolved over the next year and a half.

I heard that you performed at the Gay Pride festival and one of the first gay weddings?
Yeah, I performed in the first gay wedding featured in OK! magazine. It was a celebrity make-up artist and a celebrity DIY man on the first day that you could legally tie the knot. Jordan was a bridesmaid, it was hilarious. Jordan, Emma B and all these models were dressed as Judy Garland, singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. And I’ve done the last three Gay Prides in Manchester, and this year I did London Gay Pride as well.

So is there a big gay contingent at your shows?
Yeah, quite often. And my family keep saying, “We’ve got to see this again? Oh, bloody hell!” And My Uncle Mark, who I’ve just bumped into as I was walking down Upper Street towards the theatre, he said he’d just bought a ticket for the show – that’s brilliant.

You’ve come a long way since being an extra in Hollyoaks?
Extra? What? No, I was a bride in Hollyoaks. I had a speaking part, said stuff and everything. I cried a lot and wore hideous dresses. It was great.

Do you think there is a revival of interest in Judy Garland, what with Rufus Wainwright ­recently doing a whole set of her songs?
Yeah, he did. It was very lucky for me because that came out when I was doing a week-long run at the King’s Head. So me and my mate from school, Dawn, stood outside the London Palladium with all my fliers and when everyone came out I was like, “Judy Garland Show! Judy Garland Show! Much better! Five quid a ticket!” I even gave Jeremy Irons one. But I think there is renewed interest, which is great. She’s fab.

Check out youtube to see her perform.