She looked worn, thin, and sad yet resolute as she addressed a video camera. That video captured her address to the world. The world: some of whom had manufactured malicious rumors, some who had wished her well, and some who were benignly disinterested.
Since her publicly recognized association with the future king on the U.K. she has been pursued, hounded, written about, photographed, and generally had her entire life and family invaded. Love is blind. She happened to fall in love with the gentleman who also loved her. She has reaped benefits that nobility and wealth can only bestow. The price that she has paid is exceedingly high.
Beyond the beautiful gowns, jewels, horse drawn carriages, gala events, associations with the world’s leaders, and power, there is a young woman who loves her children and who needs some time to herself.
She has had to conform to the royal protocol and went all in to learn, assimilate, and be the best possible representative of the “family”Firm.” Not a hair is out of place, not a wrinkle shows on her dresses, and not a scuff appears on her shoes. She held countless bouquets with a smile, even when she did not feel like smiling. She wore four-inch heels when nine moths pregnant. She walked miles in stilettos to represent the best to the world. She was pictured smiling at galas, meetings, and patronages while she was experiencing the terrible effects of hyperemesis gravidarum .
She has been betrayed by “members” of the royal family with bad manners and misrepresentations. She endured a most uncomfortable funeral for the Queen, whom she loved. Her jaw was clenched for hours under the delicate black veil of her fashionable hat. She could not express emotion and refused to communicate with her husband’s brother and his wife, whose mission was to destroy her family.
Last year she was criticized for being too fashionable and taking attention from the King and his heir. She accommodated by changing her image. She “dressed down” by letting her hair grow longer and looked more working-motherisih. The style and fashion repression she endures is unthinkable.
Whatever was asked, she has made Herculean efforts to accommodate. At what price? Her health. Anxiety can often impact one’s gastrointestinal system – think nausea and vomiting when stressed – imagine living that was daily. Her hyperemesis gravidarum could very possibly been produced by her unceasing public review. Her sister, Pippa, did not experience this condition.
Behind the perfect smile and under the gorgeous garments is a heart beating with the stress of the required perfection. Despite incredible efforts for a perfect image, the body’s chemistry copes by secreting hormones. Could the recently detected malignancy be a result of nearly two decades of unrelenting microscopic inspection of every hair follicle and hand gesture with no privacy?
Why is the royal family of the UK fodder for invasive journalism? Who stripped them of their privacy? Other royal families have relative privacy. Yes, the royals must be seen. Must they be “seen” incessantly? How do these humans recharge their energy? They are pursued with long lenses like safari animals. Their intimate moments are invaded. Yet, her pursuers have private moments and times. The public need not know how often they sneeze, “relax,” play with their children; argue. They are human. Perfection is impossible.
The voracious journalists must become creative in their reporting and find other fodder. They hounded the Princes’ mother to her death. This time, given her husband’s extraordinary efforts to protect her, it might be slower. The Princess is not obligated to disclose every biological situation that affects her. For those who questioned it, she appears to be very much present. Leave her alone to deal with her situation privately so that she can regain her health. Her road is very difficult. She must be afforded the respect and curtesy of privacy. She must have time to set aside the tiaras and gowns and focus on her recovery – spiritually, emotionally, and physically, as she so poignantly asked.
The relentless pursuit of images and stories is destroying this lovely woman from the inside. “Back off” must be the message to the press.
Sadly, her lonely image on the wooden bench resembled a dog that had been hit by a car and left. She deserves better than this. This woman is not a Disney princess who is always accessible. She is a flesh and blood woman who bleeds if she is pricked, who gasps if being suffocated, who will die if poisoned, and who will hide in the light of relentless pursuit.
The resounding silence from her pursuers is deafening. May it remain this way.
We wish the Princess a full and permanent recovery
Brodie Donougher PC: Poetry Film Productions The DancerPhoto by Lumosia Photography London One of the many faces of Brodie Donougher
“Watch me, watch me, watch me make this flip,” five-year-old Brodie Donougher implored his parents as he flipped off the living room sofa. That was the beginning of Brodie’s performing career. He was a happy, enthusiastic, and energetic child, who loved to share his talents with anyone who wanted to see them. His motivation was to bring enjoyment to others. At 21, he performs professionally for audiences’ enjoyment as an actor, singer, and dancer.
From flips off the sofa at the age of five to today, Brodie has had three major roles: on London’s West End as Billy Elliot for three years; as Rookie with the Grand Rapids Ballet in the United States; and, beginning this month, in Vienna, Austria, in The Phantom of the Opera. What drives Brodie Donougher to immerse himself into a production and embody a character? His infectious enthusiasm to pursue his craft and indulge his drive for excellence, because he says, “You can never be too good.”
Skyline of Opera Garnier, Paris – home of the Phantom
In January 2024, Brodie arrived in Vienna, Austria, to begin rehearsals for Camron Mackintosh’s production of Das Phantom der Oper –The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He will be performing his roles entirely in German, (the Austrian Hoch Deutsch dialect). Brodie is multilingual speaking Italian, now German, and of course, English. He has already learned ‘The Phantom text’ in Hoch Deutsch. “We have an incredible team of top performers, and I feel honored to be among them,” said Brodie who plays two characters – Hannibal’s Guard, as well as an ensemble member. He explains, “As the ensemble member, my character is an attractive young dancer who performs at the Opera Garnier in Paris. He is quite flirtatious, and loves the attention of the two principals, Carlotta and Piangi. Hannibal’s Guard makes a prominent entrance and poise at the beginning and keeps strong entrances throughout the whole first act. In addition to playing two characters in the performance, I am also a ‘stage hand’ and come and go throughout the different scenes and help keep the narrative going.” The production opens to the public on March 15. Tickets are sold out through June 20. The show will play in Vienna through June 2025.
An insatiable learner, Brodie says, “It’s my belief that every moment that you’re sitting idle, there is opportunity wasted. If I am sitting at home or in a cafe relaxing, there is wasted opportunity when I could go out and learn something new. Don’t get me wrong I relax; everybody needs that, but I have this constant need to be learning or enhancing – to do more. If I can go to a ballet class, I will go, and as soon as I’ve finished it and I learn about a workshop happening, and, if time allows, I will attend that as well. I love using my time to improve and develop my skills.”
Photo Curtesy of Brodie Donougher Flipping and Flying
How has one so young accomplished so much? “I love to give one hundred percent,” explains Brodie. “Sure, I can get by with 70 percent. But then, I think about how the audience might have enjoyed the production if I had given 100 percent. Every actor on a stage reaches the audience. I love to touch each member of the audience and bring them into the production.”
An accomplished and highly recognized ballet dancer, Brodie wanted to use his voice and get back to his “roots” of musical theater. He described his original roots , “I am from Blackpool in the Northwest of England. It is not a very prosperous area, but that is home.” The area’s prosperity or lack thereof did not hold him back. He was scouted as a young child by the Royal Ballet School Primary Steps Program where his hard work and dedication gave him opportunities beyond imagination. They selected him to join the school. He embraced, breathed, and lived every aspect of his dream-come-true. “Whenever I get into a less than optimal situation, I think of my roots. Where I came from and what I have accomplished. I always feel tremendous gratitude and want to give more,” he explained.
One day, while waiting for Brodie at his ballet class, him mother overheard other mothers discussing upcoming auditionsin Manchester, England for Billy Elliot the Musical. She decided to give Brodie the audition experience. He, along with several other students from his ballet school, auditioned. Brodie, at nine years old, sustained the grueling eight-hour initial audition where at every hour contenders for the lead were dismissed. After seven hours, Brodie was still dancing. Over a lengthy audition process, Brodie was offered the part of Billy Elliot. At that time, he also received offers to study with the Royal Ballet School and with the Elmhurst Ballet School, both premier ballet schools in the UK. At his young age, he knew that his decision could affect his future. He accepted the lead in Billy Elliot the Musical.
Photo curtesy of Brodie Donougher PC: Brian Cantwell A real life Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot was a highly acclaimed production on the West End. Brodie was Billy #39 and performed 144 times over three years. He says, “That is when I discovered that I love to perform, when I looked out in the audience and saw thousands of people being entertained.” Brodie performed at the Olivier Awards, representing Billy Elliot for Best West End Musical, in 2015. He performed “Billy” on various television shows, including “This Morning,” a British daytime magazine program, and on the Late Late Show in Ireland. Charisma is among his many talents.
Brodie immersed himself in his ballet education following Billy Elliot. For the four years after the play ended, he studied ballet with the Elmhurst Ballet School and honed his craft.
Photo by Elmhurst Ballet School 15-year-old student, Brodie, at Elmhurst Ballet School
At 18, Brodie brought his talents to the United States, where he was selected by the San Francisco Ballet School for a full scholarship to become a senior student there. According to Data Pointes, the San Francisco Ballet School is ranked among the top ten best ballet schools in the world.
Photo curtesy of Brodie Donougher – PC: Ray Nard Image Maker All That Jazz – Grand Rapids Ballet
Following his two-year study at San Francisco, Brodie joined Grand Rapids Ballet as a professional dancer. His precision, technique, and ability to fully inhabit characters helped elevate the company’s performances. Brodie’s most “cherished” Grand Rapids Ballet role was when he was cast as “Rookie” in the Andy Blankenbuehler (a three-time Tony award winner for Bandstand, In the Heights, and Hamilton), production, Remember Our Song. Brodie explained, “When given the opportunity to portray a role in a show or musical, the biggest part of preparation for your role is research. The most important thing, before you even step into the studio or rehearsal, is to learn who the character is. His thoughts, fears, hopes, loves. I spent two weeks researching. This story was about sailors in WWII who were in a submarine. I tried to imagine myself as that young sailor living below the surface of the sea; not seeing daylight; leaving my mom behind. I slept on a metal cot with the smallest and thinnest cloth for a cover. I read books about submarines and accounts of sailors’ experiences in the depths of the ocean. I WAS Rookie. The Company’s board president came to me after one of my performances and told me, ‘I couldn’t even think it was you dancing…I felt as though I could feel every emotion. You made the performance storytelling.’”
While ballet is as natural as breathing for Brodie, he has much more to offer – acting, speaking, and singing. “I was told not to hide my light under a bushel,” recounts Brodie. “When I share my voice, the audience can experience the full impact of the character that I embody.” Voice, language and music make musical theater touching and memorable. Brodie has been preparing himself for every moment to entertain the audience whether solo or in ensemble. “I love working with my artistic team to produce the best possible theater for our audience. When we all give 100 percent, my heart is full.”
Photo curtesy of Brodie Donougher Snowy ‘Fred Astaire’Photo curtesy of Brody Donougher ‘Fred Astaire’ curtain call
Upon his return to the UK after Grand Rapids, Brodie performed in the West End Christmas production of The Snowman at the Saddlers Wells Peacock Theater. Although initially as a “swing” cast member, on many occasions he performed the role of Fred Astaire with finesse and elegance. His jumps were clean and crisp, his miming and acting were clear and relatable and “he helped bring an extra dimension to the performance,” per a theatergoer who enjoyed the production.
Photo by Brian Cantwell At the Stage Door
Asked what his dream role(s) might be, Brodie replied, “I’ve made a list on my laptop and on my phone of my dream roles and the shows for these roles are, just to name a few, the character of Mush in Newsies, and I would also love to play in Les Misérables. These are truly my dream roles and musicals. Ideally, my number one most desired role would be Enjolras, a ‘thinker and a man of action,’ according to Victor Hugo. He is the handsome young man who swings the red flag. I would also love to play Marius. It would be a dream come true if I could perform in a US touring company.”
At an age where many would still be considered “up-and-coming,” Brodie Donougher has already established himself as a consummate professional and world-class talent. His unrelenting work ethic and deep respect for his craft and production members suggest this is merely the first act in what will undoubtedly be a distinguished career.
Post ballet class exhilarationPhoto curtesy of Brodie Donougher Take a bow, Fred Astaire
Note: I met Brodie at a ballet performance several years ago. I was impressed by his tremendous presence yet humble nature. His fresh, fit, good looks and charisma were palpable. I was sorry to see him return to London because I had hoped to be able to watch him perform in the U.S. Since our first meeting, we have met for coffee and dinner in London. One morning while in London, I received an early morning message that he was performing in The Snowman that day. I managed to acquire tickets in under one hour and arrived at the theater with 10 minutes to spare. His performance was exceptional. This blog is to share this impressive actor with my sphere of readers and friends. He is someone to follow and make an effort to see. He is worth it.
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