Blood Brothers, the musical.

Stephen Palfreman Interview.

 Hi, many thanks for taking part in our interview.

1.) How long have you been playing Mickey for and do you have a favourite Mrs. Johnstone? 

1) I have been playing Mickey on and off now since 1995!!!! I will get a proper job soon!!

I have probably worked with most of the Mrs J's so it would be unfair to pick my favourite as they all bring something different to the role. However all the Nolans are gorgeous! and Lyn Paul too!

Many thanks, Steve and best wishes for the future. 

Who would you like to be interviewed? We can try to get anyone!

Many thanks,

Adam.

Sarah Hay interview.

 Sarah Hay, former Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Johnstone, talks to me about her time in Blood Brothers and how she played both characters. Enjoy!

Hi, many thanks for taking part in our interview.

Gosh here goes.

1.) How long did you play Mrs. Lyons./ Mrs. Johnstone for?
First joined company in 1996 as Mrs Lyons - opposite Siobhan MCarthy. 18 months that first time. Left for a bit went back in for a year in 1998 as Mrs Lyons then played Mrs Johnstone in my own right for the summer of 1999. Another break - off to the National Theatre for Tartuffe. Lots of calls in between all of these to go to MiltonKeynes, Ashton under Lyne, Llandudno, Bradford, and a couple I can't remember usually at very short notice to play either Mrs Lyons or Mrs Johnstone. Last full time appearances as Mrs Johnstone at Phoenix were in 2004 but have returned for holiday/illness cover in 2006 and then again for four weeks over Christmas 2007/2008.
As Mrs Lyons worked opposite Siobhan, Helen Reddy, Stephanie Lawrence, Lyn Paul (when she first joined the company), Linda Nolan, Denise Nolan, Bernie Nolan, Clodagh Rodgers. With David Soul as narrator, Keith of course. 
I have been going through old reviews and programmes just to try and remember dates - so it has been a trip down Memory Lane for me!

2.) How did you make the characters your own?/ How did you bring a bit of yourself to the characters?
WhenI first joined the company I had four days rehearsal with a cast that had already been together so it was a baptism of fire. You learn the moves then spend the next few months working out why you are making them! Very clear direction from Bob, Rod and God (Bill)as to the motives of each character. As the mother of my own two boys - one 5 months old and one 4 when I first joined - I just used those experiences for both mothers. My over riding desire was to be truthful with them - try to be as 'real' as possible

3.) Obviously, Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Johnstone are completely different characters. How do you play them differently?
Not so different, they are reacting to the same emotions as a mother but have different ways of expressing that. Mrs Lyons just doesn't have the same strength and falls apart.

4.) On your opening night, can u recall how you felt? When you first understudied for Mrs. J., you must have felt a huge responsibilty.
Bit of blur with Mrs Lyons after four days! But I simply tried to do my best and not cause problems for anyone else! Cast is always very supportive of new people.
Loved being Mrs J from the start but knew that I still had so much to learn about her.

5.) Other performers said they have found BB exhausting, physically and emotionally, do you agree?
Didn't have time to think about it with two children to look after as well! Yes it was very tiring but that's the job and you have to make sure you keep fit enough to do it.

6.) Have you ever played the tour version? If so, how does it differ from the West End.
Done odd nights, one weeks and two week stints as a guest a few times. Set is different so there are different entrances to learn which can be scarey and stage is usually a lot larger so you have to time things differently. Basic show is much the same which is why it is possible for different actors to dep in.

7.) Have you seen anyone else in the role? Did they have an impact on you?
I have been lucky enough to have worked opposite some great Mrs Js (and not so great) and I have pinched stuff from all of them! Loved Lyn for the humanity she brought to the role. Always a joy to work with.

8.) What have you been up to recently and would you ever return to Blood Brothers?
Working in cabaret doing music theatre here and in Belgium and Holland. Was Head of Drama in school for few years while my children were growing up but left now and have just begun looking for performing work again. Yes I love Blood Brothers as a show and would always answer the call if I could.

9.)With Blood Brothers having a small and close cast, do you feel that that makes it different to other shows and possibly makes the quality better?
Your first cast is always the best as you have so many joint memories but I have met and made wonderful friends from all the casts I have worked with. There have been times when I have not felt the quality was as high as previously but I am always comparing with the best.

10.) Have you ever gone wrong in a performance? How did you recover?
Knocked ten minutes off the show one night - everyone was delighted as they managed to catch their early trains! Sometimes lost lyrics - la la'd through most of Easy Terms one night. Odd missed or wrong entrance but you have to carry on as if nothing had happened and most times the audience never know.

11.) How and why is Blood Brothers special to you?
As a show it is beautifully written - full of humanity and social comment. Great fun but also moving so a great challenge as an actor. After over ten years and four or five contracts, it has been a major part of my life. Proudest moments of my life have been playing Mrs Johnstone and taking the curtain calls.

Many thanks, Sarah and best wishes for the future.

Robbie Scotcher Interview.

Robbie Scotcher is the new narrator for the 2009 UK tour.

Here, Mike Lasham asked him a few questions for our site:

1a.)throughout your whole career who has been your Favourite person to work with?

I've been lucky enough to work with some amazing people, In Guys and Dolls i worked with Patrick Swayze who was a great guy Don Johnson who i liked but was awkward actually said it's my way or the highway in rehearsal!! Neil Morrissey was a legend such a nice guy.Sam Janus used to drive me home so should say her(drop enough names there) Non famous people there are tons Pete Howe from lord of the rings is a special actor in fact the whole cast were great. Some hugely talented people in this BB tour the cast have been so welcoming and all give great performances. Check out NEON TWISTon my space with some of the guys from the show.

2.) On your opening night, can you recall how you felt?

I was nervous on opening night only one weeks rehearsal so bit hairy i was concentrating on just hitting my marks and getting the words out.

3.) Other performers said they have found BB exhausting, physically and emotionally, do you agree?

The show is exhausting mentally demanding, no time to switch off but so rewarding. that reaction makes it all worth while instantly lifts you.

4.) How does the tour differ from the West End? (If you have played both).

not seen town production but i suppose there are differences with the audiences which is to be expected and a review every week will keep you on your toes, And being on tour and everyone away from home creates a sense of community sometimes lacking in west end productions although don't know if thats the case with BB.

5.) Have you seen anyone else in the role? Did they have an impact on you?

I've only seen Keith play the narrator before, and i thought he was fantastic great voice and owned the role. Met him a couple of times great bloke to.

6.)Have you ever made any mistakes? What were they and how did you recover?

I've sang the words to shoes back to front and mixed up the versions a few times. You can't really do much about that once it's done!!

7.) As a performer, how do you keep the character fresh? Do you ever feel the need to improvise?

i'm New to the role so it's all still fresh.There are alot of questions with the narrator which gives you alot to play with and look at. Who is he? for a start.That ones fun to play with.

8.) What's your favourite song and your favourite line from the show?

I think Easy Terms is my favourite great lyrics and think the reprise in act 2 with Loving on the Never Never is a great section. Love singing MadMan

9.) Least favourite line and song

My least favourite is the second version of shoes in act 2 before the kitchen scene. not sure it's needed but i suppose thtas up to me to make it interesting

10.) How is Blood Brothers special to you?

It's so well written that makes it special, it's a show i've loved and enjoyed in the past so i'm proud to be in it

11.)I saw you in Footloose in manchester and liverpool, How does the Narrator differ from chuck and which was more fun to play?

Chuck was a great part because he jut didn't care very bombastic and a great song but the character has little impact in terms of the story he did have a dark side but not very many brain cells. The Narrator has a story to tell the way he affects the story and the way the story affects him and your version of who he is are all great for an actor to look into and play with. he's not two dimensional. And there are so many choices you can make that what makes it more fun to play. And thats why i prefer the role.

Philip Stewart Interview. (Back up on the site).

 Well, here is our first interview, back up on the site. It's with former narrator, Philip Stewart, who is also the International Face Of Glade. Here, I talked to him about how he played the narrator and how the tour differs from the West End.

1.) How long did you play the narrator for and do you have a favorite Mrs. Johnstone?                                        

I played the Narrator for 5 years in town and also nipped out on tour a couple of times during my time in the West End. Difficult to say who my favourite Mrs J was because you never know who is reading this but I think in all my time there, Lyn Paul was the one who had the best handle on the part.

2.) How did you make the narrator your own?/ How did you bring a bit of yourself to the narrator?
I tried to make him as 'unscary' as possible because with every thing else ganging up to make him dark and mysterious i.e music,lighting and general atmosphere, its very easy to overplay the DEVIL thing.
As for a bit of myself, I think i just tried to make him as 'human ' as possible.

3.) On your opening night, can your recall how you felt?
I actually can't remember but I tend to get excited as apposesd to nervous.

4.) Other performers said they have found BB exhausting, physically and emotionally, do u agree, especially as the narrator is quite a lonely character?
It can get tiring but at the end of the day you know in the back of your mind it only lasts 3 hours. Plus the fact actors tend to enjoy putting themselves through the mill a bit.

5.) What's the best show or couple of shows you have been in?
I am sure everyone says the same but the first time you do it at The Empire in Liverpool is a bit good. Willy was in when I did it and it was nice to have a bit of a chat with him afterwards.

6.) How does the tour differ from the West End? (If you played both).
The tour all seems much bigger ie Sound , lighting and staging. Plus despite what the MDs say , the music feels very different on the two shows.

7.) Have you seen anyone else in the role? Did they have an impact on you?
I understudyed Keith when I first went in so I nicked all his cool riffs at the end of Mad Man.

8.) Would you ever return to Blood Brothers?
I actually did a couple of weeks in Plymouth in the summer and really enjoyed it. Bill asked me wether I would like to do the current leg of the tour but the timing wasn't good for me.

9.) What is your favourite line from the show and your favourite song?
My favourite line would be the whole of the robbery speech "Theres a full moon shining etc. and if I was in good voice i always enjoyed Mad Man most.

10.) How is Blood Brothers special to you?
Blood Brothers is special to me because it has all the depth of a really good play even though it is a musical.

11.) And finally, have you ever gone wrong, how did you recover and how did you keep the character fresh, as a performer?
Things go wrong all the time and I remember on one occassion getting the first line of one of the speeches totally wrong and then quickly having to invent something not only to make sense but to rhyme with the first bit.
As for keeping things fresh you just try and do it all like its the first time all over again.

Many thanks, Phil. Best wishes for the future.