Eve Polycarpou is a British stage actress, singer and songwriter. She is best known for her roles in Mother Courage and Her Children and In the Heights.
Early life and education Eve Polycarpou was born in Brighton to Greek Cypriot parents. She is the sister of actor Peter Polycarpou. She studied at Southgate Technical College.
Polycarpou's singing style is inspired by Shirley Bassey and Vikki Carr. In 1976, Polycarpou reached the final of the British TV talent show New Faces (You're a Star, Superstar) with her stage name Eve Adam. She choose a 'less foreign' sounding stage name at the time, but said she started using her real name after seeing her brother Peter proudly using his onstage.
Career
Theatre In 1986, Polycarpou (using stage name Eve Adam) played Jenny in the National Theatre production of The Threepenny Opera, alongside Tim Curry as Macheath.
Polycarpou joined the cast of Hecuba at the Donmar Warehouse in 2004, in a new version of the tragedy by Frank McGuinness. The cast included Clare Higgins in the title role of Hecuba, Tim Piggott-Smith as Agamemnon, Alfred Burke as Talthybius, Susan Engel as the speaking chorus, Kate Fleetwood as Polyxena, Finbar Lynch as Polymestor and Eddie Redmayne as Polydorus. Polycarpou starred in the title role in Mother Courage and Her Children at The Lowry in Salford in 2013.
In 2014, Polycarpou was part of the Southwark Playhouse version of In the Heights as Abuela Claudia. The cast included David Bedella as Kevin Rosario, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Daniela, Sam Mackay as Usnavi de la Vega, Christina Modestou as Nina Rosario and Josie Benson as Camila Rosario. The show was directed by Luke Sheppard. In the same year, Polycarpou also joined the cast of the musical revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Charing Cross Theatre. She sang Jacques Brel's famous song "Ne me quitte pas" in French as part of the show. The cast starred Gina Beck and Daniel Boys.
Polycarpou then reprised the role of Abuela Claudia in In the Heights, when the show transferred to the Kings Cross Theatre in 2015–2016. David Bedella returned to his role as Kevin Rosario, so did Sam Mackay as Usnavi and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Daniela. New cast members included Cleve September as Sonny de la Vega, Lily Frazer as Nina and Joe Aaron Reid as Benny.
In 2018, Polycarpou joined the cast of the musical Strictly Ballroom as Abuela for its West End run at the Piccadilly Theatre. She played the role of Drosoula in the 2019 first major adaptation of the novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin. The show opened at the Curve in Leicester, before embarking on a UK tour. The play later transferred to London's West End at the Harold Pinter Theatre for a limited summer season. In 2022, Polycarpou joined the cast of the revival of From Here to Eternity as Mrs. Kipfer, at the Charing Cross Theatre.
Donna & Kebab In 1987, Polycarpou joined British Cypriot Martha D Lewis in a performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which led them to start a very successful collaboration as duo "Donna & Kebab". Their performances combine comedy, improvisation and original music. From 1994, they mainly focused on music and changed their name to "Donna & Kbb" and with time they became and are now known as Martha and Eve.
The duo have recorded five albums together, of which their most popular remains Donna and Kbb are Martha and Eve (1996). In 2023, the duo was back at the Edinburgh Fringe celebrating 35 years of partnership with a new show Donna & Kebab are Martha and Eve – A Celebration!, a celebration of past and present successes.
Theatre credits +YearTitleRoleTheatre1986The Threepenny OperaJennyNational Theatre2004HecubaThe SingerDonmar Warehouse2013Mother Courage and Her ChildrenMother CourageThe Lowry, Salford2014In the HeightsAbuela ClaudiaSouthwark PlayhouseJacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in ParisPerformerCharing Cross Theatre2015–2016In the HeightsAbuela ClaudiaKings Cross Theatre2018Strictly BallroomAbuelaPiccadilly Theatre2019Captain Corelli's MandolinDrosoulaUK tour and Harold Pinter Theatre2022From Here to EternityMrs. KipferCharing Cross Theatre
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1982SquadronClaraTV series (1 episode, as Eve Adam)1983The Fourth ArmSimone 'Rossignol' PortalesTV series (6 episodes, as Eve Adam)1985The Holcroft CovenantManfredi's Secretary(as Eve Adam)1989Forever GreenAngelTV series (1 episode, as Eve Adam)1991Inspector MorseJocasta GeorgiadisTV series (1 episode, as Eve Adam)1993Birds of a FeatherMarinaTV series (1 episode, as Eve Adam)1994Red EagleZhenyaTV movie (as Eve Adam)1995BackupCllr. BaxterTV series (1 episode, as Eve Adam)1998Kiss Me KateElenaTV series (1 episode)2003CarlaSevastiTV movie2004Jonathan CreekAndroneaTV series (1 episode)The BriefHelen NicolauTV series (1 episode)2005Doctor Who: the Monthly AdventuresQel (voice)Podcast Series2007The WhistleblowersAnna CharterisTV series (1 episode)The BillMalika Hassar, Eleni Giorgiou, Mrs MehmetTV series (4 episodes)2018Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainEnsemble2019McDonald's: The GiftBuskerVideo2020I Hate SuzieClaudiaTV series (1 episode)2021Holby CityJanice GreenTV series (1 episode)2022Mama Wants to Go HomeAishaShort2023Silent WitnessAngelaTV series (1 episode)
Awards YearAwardWorkCategoryResult2016OffieIn the HeightsBest Actress
References
External links
In the Heights, London Strictly Ballroom the Musical, London Martha and Eve official website