Hamilton homecoming 'just means the world'

Performing in the stage musical Hamilton at her home theatre "just means the world," an actor who grew up in Hampshire has said.

Eva Phillips from Swanmore, Hampshire regularly watched performances at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre.

She is now returning to Southampton as a leading part of the ensemble in Hamilton - the smash-hit musical telling the story of one of the founding fathers of the US.

The show is currently on its first UK tour and is running at the Mayflower until 26 April

Ms Phillips told the BBC she first encountered musical theatre at the age of "maybe five or six" - watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Southampton theatre.

"I genuinely remember watching it and thinking it was the most incredible thing ever," she said.

"I was completely sold - I was like 'yes I love it'."

During her teenage years, Ms Phillips honed her talents at STP Musicals, in Bursledon and Emjay School of Dance, in Southampton, before moving to London to train professionally.

She qualified with first class honours in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre from The Urdang Academy.

On what it was like to return to perform in her home city, she said it was "honestly such an honour".

"It's an honour to be in the show and it's an honour to perform here [at the Mayflower Theatre], where I've seen so many shows before and where friends and family can come and see."

"The fact that they're combined together just means the world to me."

Hamilton, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has been a huge hit with audiences and critics since its Broadway debut in 2015.

It tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, a US founding father and right-hand man of the first president, George Washington.

Praised for its clever and complex lyrics, cast members sing and dance their way through an estimated 144 words per minute during each show.

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