There’s something remarkable about sitting down with someone who’s living their dream while simultaneously making history. Vivian Panka, currently starring as Regina George in the UK and Ireland tour of Mean Girls, embodies a quiet determination that’s taken her from Holland to the West End stage, and now into one of musical theatre’s most iconic roles.
When we last spoke for her concert Breaking Character with Ryan Kopel, I asked what was next. The pause that followed, the look in her eyes – I knew there was something she desperately wanted to share but couldn’t. Now, months later, we finally get to talk about it: she’s playing Regina George, and she’s making history doing it.
“I did tell loads of my friends as soon as I found out, which must have been like August time, and then my news came out in October,” Vivian laughs. “So I had to hold on to that for a long, long time, which was really hard. But then when the announcement came out, everyone was so positive and it just felt like this huge thing.”
High School Musical started it all
Vivian’s journey to this moment began, with High School Musical. “I just loved that movie – I mean, all three movies obviously – and I just became obsessed with acting through song and dancing and telling a story,” she tells me. Growing up in Holland, musical theatre wasn’t quite the cultural force it is in the UK, but when Wicked arrived in the Netherlands, everything changed.
“There was a girl in our school who was really into Tarzan the musical and she went there all the time. I was like, why are you doing that? I remember not understanding it at all,” she recalls. “But when Wicked came to Holland, I got really, really into shows.”
That love of musical theatre eventually brought her to the UK during the pandemic – talk about timing – where she landed the role of Judy in the 9 to 5 tour. It was her first big show, in a new country, with no family nearby. The courage that took shouldn’t be underestimated.
“I could not still cannot believe that the creative team took that chance,” she reflects. “I was so new and young, and I’d never done a big production with an ensemble, and then getting one of the lead roles in a show like that, you have to really trust someone.”
Louise Rednapp, who starred alongside her, became a lifeline during that overwhelming time. “I didn’t have any family here, so I moved during the pandemic, nothing was normal yet. I had to just tour a country that I don’t know. But it was just really lovely to have people in the cast who took care of me, and Louise was definitely one of those people.”
The power of representation
Vivian is the first Black or mixed-race woman to play Regina George full-time – a fact that carries significant weight, particularly on a UK tour reaching audiences across the country. But it’s not something she thinks about every day.
“I don’t go around thinking about it every day, obviously. I just live my life,” she explains. “But then sometimes I get a message – I got a really lovely message yesterday actually from a mum who came to watch the show with her daughter, and she said how inspired her child was to see someone who looks like her in a part that I’m playing.”
The significance of this moment isn’t lost on her. “9 to 5was kind of similar – I was definitely the first person of colour to play Judy full-time, which was crazy – but the profile was not as big because Mean Girls is just so famous. I’m overwhelmed with the positivity, and it gives me a lot of hope for the future.”
“My whole point is just, you know, hire people who are good for the job regardless of anything. That’s the message. And I’m lucky that the team took that chance.”
The casting team’s response to her audition was immediate. “They basically instantly knew as soon as I was doing the scenes and singing, they were like, yeah, she’s Regina. Which is refreshing and nice. And if it inspires even one kid, I feel honoured. But I’ve had so many messages, and it just means a lot to people. To be a part of that is very important to me.”
Quiet determination and big dreams
What I notice about Vivian is her quiet determination. She was initially submitted for Gretchen, but asked her agent if she could be seen for Regina too. It’s the kind of self-advocacy that doesn’t come naturally to everyone, especially early in a career.
“My agent submitted me for Gretchen, so I was like, did they ask me for Gretchen or did you submit me? And he was like, I submitted you. So I was like, oh, could you try? And he obviously immediately did, and it was absolutely no problem,” she explains. “Back then I didn’t even think about going in for Regina because I was just in a different place in my life, I guess. But this time I was like, I think I’m ready to sing more and just to go back to playing leads again.”
She’s already ticked off two of her three dream shows – Dear Evan Hansen and now Mean Girls. The third? Hamilton. Something tells me it’s only a matter of time.
Learning from the best
Throughout her career, Vivian has worked with some incredible performers who’ve shaped how she approaches her work. Alice Fearn from Dear Evan Hansen stands out as a particular influence.
“Alice is a strong woman, and that’s really inspired me. She would 100% speak up if anything happens. And even within this cast, if there’s anything that needs to be spoken about within the company that isn’t directly affecting me, I will still use my voice because that’s the position that you have in the company.”
She’s also learned from Ryan Kopel and Richard Hurst, who played Larry Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen. “Ryan and Alice have a sense of calm. They wouldn’t bring their worries vocally or whatever it is to the group. From the outside, they seemed calm all the time,” she observes. “And Richard would always bring donuts and treats for everyone. That is something I try to do as well because it just makes everyone happy.”
During rehearsals for Mean Girls, Vivian brought treats every week. It’s these small gestures that reveal her character – someone who understands that leading a company isn’t just about vocal prowess or stage presence, but about creating an environment where everyone feels valued.
Documenting the journey
Vivian has been vlogging her Mean Girls journey on YouTube, giving fans an intimate behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring Regina George to life. “A lot of people asked me as soon as it came out, they were like, please can you vlog?” she says. “It’s just a really nice thing to have, and I’m creatively in charge, so that’s just a really nice thing.”
She admits it’s been challenging to keep up with while doing eight shows a week, but the response has been worth it. “People say all the time, oh, I watched the vlog again and it just felt so nostalgic, which is nice.”
Follow her journey on Instagram as well, where she shares glimpses of life on tour.
Finding Regina
Playing such an iconic character comes with its own pressures. Everyone has their own idea of who Regina George is, shaped by the 2004 film and the Broadway production. But Vivian has found freedom in the role.
“We have some freedom – you don’t always get that with every show. It’s not like every step is decided for you. We’ve had a long rehearsal process, so we could really play,” she explains. “I just try and go in from a place of finding truth, because it’s really easy to just play the joke or play the surface level character with this character specifically. So I’m trying to find out why she’s doing what she’s doing.”
As for her favourite song? It’s evolved since she started performing it. “I do really like Someone Gets Hurt – it’s very exposing that song, in every way. But I also now enjoy doing World Burn because especially the start of it, it starts in the dark and then the sliders open and I’m just there, and it’s dangerous and I love it.”
Her pre-show playlist reflects the character too: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and a Disney Channel hits playlist featuring Camp Rock, Jonas Brothers, and Hannah Montana. “It just gets me in the right headspace for Regina because even though we do a more modern version of Mean Girls, to me it’s still early 2000s. It’s that nostalgia.”
Advice to Her Younger Self
If she could go back to that first day of 9 to 5 rehearsals, when everything felt overwhelming and uncertain, what would she tell herself?
“Take care of yourself. Calm down and enjoy this, because I feel like I didn’t enjoy it because I was always stressed,” she reflects. “While I do believe that art is so important and it really makes people very happy, we aren’t saving lives. So I really just want to say everything’s going to be so fine. You can’t even imagine the amazing things that are going to happen for you. Try and enjoy every second.”
It’s advice that resonates beyond the theatre world – a reminder that even in moments of intense pressure, there’s space for joy and gratitude.
The road ahead
9 to 5 taught her resilience. “Nothing fazes me anymore. That was a very short rehearsal process and very big part, whereas now, even though my songs are really hard and everyone has expectations for the part that I’m playing in Mean Girls, I’m like, nothing’s probably gonna be as hard as what I did at the time. And I was so scared, but I still did it. And I think that was a very good thing for me. It’s really proven that even though you’re scared, you can still do hard things.”
That quiet strength, that determination to keep pushing forward even when terrified – that’s what makes Vivian special. She’s honestly such a warm and wonderful person. She’s kind, hard-working, and genuinely cares about using her platform for good. I think we could all learn to be more Vivian.
As she embarks on this year-long tour of Mean Girls, taking Regina George to audiences across the UK and Ireland, she’s not just performing a role. She’s opening doors, inspiring young people who see themselves in her, and proving that talent and determination can break down barriers.
“If it inspires even one kid, I feel honored,” she says. But it’s already so much more than one.
Listen to the full interview with Vivian Panka on Queerly’s Stage and Screen Podcast, where we dive deeper into her journey, her inspirations, and what it means to make history on stage.
Mean Girls is currently touring the UK and Ireland. Check the website for dates and venues near you – this is a show you won’t want to miss.