Interview: Susie Riddell
The Archers’ star talks about how experiencing music at a young age has influenced her life and career.
I suppose my earliest musical memory would be of my mum singing to me at night. She sang nursery rhymes, Scottish folk songs, and Girl Guide camp fire songs to me throughout my childhood and teens. And into adulthood really. If I was unwell or upset, mum’s soothing night time songs were guaranteed to cheer me up and, even better, send me to sleep! I now sing every night to my own children.
I also have strong memories of my primary school hall and the percussion trolley! We had a lovely music teacher and our lessons were fun. There were the obligatory recorder lessons of course –I actually still remember one of the tunes we learned!
I always enjoyed singing in assembly. And I have the most fantastic memory of the whole school playing comb and paper along to ‘When A Child Is Born’ for one Christmas assembly. It must have been quite a sound! We thought it was great fun and it was so inclusive –everyone can play the comb and paper.
I am so grateful that I have music in my life. Singing in choirs, learning instruments (piano and trombone) and playing in orchestras at primary and secondary school gave me a love of music that has stayed with me. I still sing in a choir. The energy and joy it gives me to sing with other people is difficult to replicate with other activities. And there have been scientific studies proving that group singing improves health and prolongs life! I also met my husband at choir so I can thank music for my family too! My musical skills have enabled me to work as an actor-musician, touring the UK in stage productions. And so many productions require actors who can sing. I also played my trombone on a radio drama for BBC Radio 4 recently. Music has given me career opportunities that would have passed me by.
I think music education in schools is vital. Children gain so much from singing, playing, and listening and responding to music. It unlocks creativity and movement. I believe that human beings have a need for music –babies love music from day one. And with a music education from a young age, children are given the opportunity to learn something that will benefit them throughout their entire lives. I've already praised the health benefits of singing in choirs - these apply to children too. And encourages them to work as a team, and to listen.
As the mother of a primary-aged child, I've been heartened by hearing the songs my daughter has been learning at school! She's in Reception at the moment, and is keen to start learning a musical instrument in Year 1 so we'll see what takes her fancy when the time comes. She loves singing at home and I hope she'd like to join the school choir in Year 1 too. If she's able to enjoy music in primary school, I'd hope that she is able to take this enjoyment on to secondary school and beyond into adulthood. I will be forever grateful to my school music teachers for being so encouraging, inclusive and most of all, patient!
Susie Riddell trained as an actor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She plays Tracy Horrobin in The Archers on BBC Radio 4 and has twice been a member of the BBC Radio Drama Company. Her extensive radio work includes major roles in Ulysses, Frankenstein, and The Great Gatsby. Theatre includes roles at The Old Vic, Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory, and Birmingham Rep. TV includes Gavin & Stacey, Doctors, Emmerdale and Saxondale. Susie is also co-Artistic Director of the theatre company, Idiot Child, and a co-producer with Dot Dash Productions. Susie enjoys playing piano and trombone, and she sings with the City of London Choir. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.
