My Top 5 Showtunes: Christina Bennington

Christina Bennington's credits include Sweeney Todd (Derby Theatre); Show Boat (New London Theatre); Oklahoma! (UK Tour).

She is currently starring as Raven in Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre, which returns to the West End following its run at the London Coliseum last year.

We caught up with Christina and asked her: "If you were stranded on a desert island which five showtunes could you not live without?"

1. "Anything Can Happen" from Mary Poppins

I fell completely in love with this show from the middle of the stalls at age 13. Laura Michelle Kelly's captivating and classy performance that night was a massive influence on my choice to pursue a career in theatre. Inspiring and catchy, this is my favourite of Stiles and Drewe's excellent new tunes that fit in seamlessly with the original film's classics. It's a beautiful message to leave an audience with, and I challenge you not to shed a tear at those soaring full company harmonies at the end!!

2. "Overture" from Jesus Christ Superstar

I can't listen to this without trying to sing every single instrument. I watched this show religiously (excuse the pun) on DVD as a teen. I think I know every single word of the score but it's the overture that I love the most. The anticipation and stillness of the beginning is so atmospheric and then that guitar riff starts… brilliant!

3. "Thirty Year Man" from From Here to Eternity

This show features some of my favourite new musical theatre writing in recent years. Stuart Brayson and Tim Rice's songs are exciting and full of life. I especially love the ‘G Company' numbers. Led by Robert Lonsdale as Private Prewitt, this number was absolutely electric live and I wanted to join in. I was such a fan that I even went back on the cast's last night to see it for the third time.

4. "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma!

Rodgers and Hammerstein's beautiful ballads are so wonderful to sing. I covered the role of Laurey in Oklahoma! and grew to love this duet. It's playful and full of fun with a simply gorgeous melody. I often find myself singing fragments of it subconsciously…

5. "Bat Out of Hell" from Bat Out of Hell

I'm incredibly lucky to be a part of this mammoth song every night in our adrenaline-fuelled show. Spanning many octaves and about ten minutes long, it's a real marathon and has to be heard (and seen!) to be believed. Jim Steinman's music is bombastic, brilliant and requires a real force of nature to embody it – Andrew Polec knocks it out of the park every single show.