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Nicky Douglas
Apparently Ugly
TNC | THEATRE INTERVIEW | 2026
Underbelly Boulevard
APR, 11, 2026
APPARENTLY UGLY
Author/Director/Performer: Nicky Douglas
Image © Apparently Ugly
APR, 8, 2026
Cinderella has up and gone — the lucky brat is now living it up in the palace while her snarky stepsisters, Olga and Agnes, are left wondering why they don’t get a happily-ever-after too! Join them on this magical, musical misadventure as they discover what it truly means to be “ugly”. Packed with comedic chaos, fabulous fashions, and sensational songs, Apparently Ugly is a gleefully deranged fairytale for kids, adults, and anyone who has ever felt not-quite-perfect.
Hi Nicky, I know you’re in tech at Underbelly Boulevard ahead of your show this weekend, so thank you for taking this time to talk with us. What does it mean to you not only previewing Apparently Ugly in London ahead of your Edinburgh Fringe run in August, but to be making your UK debut as a composer and lyricist? Gosh that’s a mouthful of a question right out the box!
Wow yes it is incredible to be getting the show on it’s feet in full form. The team at Underbelly have been greatly supportive of us building the show for the first time and this preview is really helping us get ready for the full run in the summer up in Edinburgh. To be making a debut? I honestly haven’t thought of it! I just wanted to give this show the best chance I could in London and I’ve been so lucky to find a community here who’s willing to offer so much help.
Are you ready for Edinburgh? Has your producer Rachel Duncan had any advice about how to handle the beast?
Can you ever be ready for Edinburgh? We have high hopes that we’re bringing a fun, uplifting show to the craziness that is the Fringe and believe that the pace of the show will slot right in with that energy. Rachel has been involved with the fringe in some way for more than eight years, from living there, to box office, to producing and performing so they have heaps of super useful insider knowledge that I hadn’t ever considered. They’ve been a tremendous help.
Ahead of a show opening do nerves still set in or does it not phase you much anymore?
As a performer I don’t get too many nerves these days - if anything I try to frame it as excitement. Well - excitement is when I feel prepared, nerves is when I don’t. This however is a whole other beast… this is more of a slow subtle build of anxiety for three months before the show, worrying that we will run out of time or nobody will buy tickets… the performance nerves will be a walk in the park compared to that.
What does musical theatre mean to you?
To me, no other art form has the ability to get that touch of magic where the music, the lyrics and the story all come together perfectly at once to create those really special, touching moments. It’s so exciting to get to create those moments and watch them play out.
What have been the biggest changes to Apparently Ugly since you workshopped it in 2021?
The biggest changes in the show are really around the character development of the sisters. We delved deeper into their story arcs and their relationship with each other to make sure that the overall message of the show was being conveyed through their journeys. It was important that they both have different but complimentary arcs - an important challenge we discovered when writing for a pair of protagonists.
Liam Stretch for Backstage Christchurch had some really insightful things to say about the workshop. Did you imagine, even at that stage, the show would connect with audiences so well?
Not at all, we set out with a slightly faint idea of what the show could be and were blown away by the positive response it received even at that scale.
As a performer/director do you have any motivational speeches you like to impart before going out on stage?
There’s only one quote that comes to mind and that’s Ru Paul’s infamous words of wisdom before the queens lip sync - good luck and don’t… well you know the rest.
Can you tell me a little bit about what inspired Apparently Ugly?
The show honestly first came from a university project back in New Zealand where we thought - isn’t it kind of messed up that we call those sisters “ugly”? But once we’d concluded that project, I knew I wanted to continue building the piece and with the blessing of the rest of the team, I followed through on development. I think there’s a real space in the industry to fill with family friendly shows that have more relatable characters that can teach us valuable, relevant lessons.
Did you have any apprehensions about creating a show that, finally, gave Cinderella’s sisters the spotlight?
Absolutely not. We live in a world that highlights and encourages striving for perfect but it just isn’t reachable and nor should it be glorified to be. The sisters are slapped with the label of “ugly” just simply for not striving for that level of perfection that the world wants them to reach for.
What’s your writing process like, do you have a certain routine?
No routine really - just occasional bouts of manic concentration every once in a while that seems to get the job done.
If you could describe Olga and Agnes in a sentence what would you say?
They are totally weird, chaotic, and misunderstood and we love them for it.
Do you have a favourite song you’ve written for Apparently Ugly?
The most recent addition to the show which has now become the title song - Apparently Ugly. There was a scene in the show that wasn’t really working for a long time, and the show always felt like it was missing something deeper and more serious. This is the one that fills that void, and now it’s my favourite.
What has the experience been like working with your Assistant Director Becky Hoyle?
Wonderfully collaborative. Becky originally read for Olga when we did a staged reading in 2022 so it only felt right to bring her back on the other side of the show to share her ideas. We have worked with a really nice balance of finding depth to the characters and exploring the silliness of the world we’ve created.
When taking on so many creative roles on a project like Apparently Ugly - Writer/Composer/Director/Performer - how do you balance all these roles and not drive yourself nuts?
Oh I am slightly nuts, but that’s why it is so important to build a creative, hard working and supportive team around you. The cast, for one, are so dedicated and have worked tirelessly to learn material quickly, and that is such a blessing. Second is having a reliable assistant director on board who can challenge ideas and bring their own to the table. Finally is a brilliant production team who are working away on the practical sides of putting a show together.
"The most useful thing I learned during theatre school in New Zealand was how to create my own work - and now I don’t have to wait for another person’s approval."
Where did your passion for musical theatre come from, and was there one piece of theatre you say growing up that had a lasting impression?
My mum has worked in theatre all her life so I’d probably put it down to that. She’s a fantastic wardrobe manager and in fact made all of the exquisite costumes for this show.
What has been the best piece of advice you’ve got as you started your own journey in musical theatre?
As actors in theatre we spend a lot of time waiting to hear a “yes” from somebody else. The most useful thing I learned during theatre school in New Zealand was how to create my own work - and now I don’t have to wait for another person’s approval.
Paying it forward what advice would you offer fellow artist?
Spend the time building your group of friends and community - then you can rely on them to offer their talents when you’ve got no cash!
And finally, what would you hope your audiences will take away from Apparently Ugly?
I just hope people have a good time and that they laugh at the jokes. It’s an extra bonus if there’s a deeper connection there, but we will have to wait and see.