Mullingar woman reflects on West End career and why she still loves performing

From dressing up in her mother’s bedroom in Mullingar to performing in London’s West End, Grace Kinirons has shared the extraordinary story behind a career that took her from the midlands of Ireland to some of the world’s most famous stages.

In a new in-depth interview, Grace looks back on a career spanning professional theatre, television and musical theatre, revealing the determination, resilience and love of performing that shaped her life.

Growing up in Mullingar as one of seven children, Grace admits she was an incredibly shy child who never imagined where her passion for music would eventually lead.

“I always wanted to be on stage,” she recalls.

After discovering her love of musical theatre while performing in productions involving students from Loreto College and St Finian’s College in Mullingar, Grace went on to study at the College of Music in Dublin.

Her career took off after she blagged her way into an audition for a production at the Gaiety Theatre, which later transferred to the West End.

Grace followed the production to London and went on to appear in major productions including Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Cats.

She also appeared in television dramas, worked alongside some of Britain’s best-known actors, and experienced first-hand the excitement and realities of life as a professional performer.

Grace shares some hilarious stories about going onstage with no rehearsal and making lines up when things go wrong.

But alongside the success, Grace speaks openly about homesickness, rejection, heartache and the reality of building a career far from home.

Now back performing in Ireland, Grace says the joy of telling stories through music and theatre has never left her.

The interview offers a fascinating insight into an era of theatre that has now disappeared, while also celebrating an inspiring journey that began in Mullingar and continues today.

The Middle Stages interview with Grace Kinirons is now available to watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Shorter Clips on TikTok.