Russell Grant is hosting Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical on 23rd June & 10th July at the St. James Studio. 2013 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Welsh-born composer, who gives his name to both a West End theatre and the internationally respected Ivor Novello Awards. The evening also features other British theatre composers such as Noël Coward, Lionel Bart and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Russell's love of Novello began when he toured in the last major production of Novello’s King’s Rhapsody.
Following a successful stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Russell was invited by Andrew Lloyd Webber to star in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. The show marked his return to the Palladium after 34 years when he performed there alongside Tommy Steele in Hans Andersen.
Russell's other West End credits include Slogger Williams in Tom Brown’s Schooldays (Cambridge), the Snake in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales) and Carlos in Midnight Tango (Phoenix Theatre). Last year Russell won plaudits galore with his glitzy Teen Angel in the 20th Anniversary production of Grease in which he performed a unique Latin dance mega-mix choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Earlier this week I spoke to Russell about why he is so passionate about Novello's work, his involvement with Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical and his amazing theatre career...
When did you fall in love with the work of Ivor Novello?
I’ve always been involved with Ivor Novello from a very young age. Back in the 70’s I toured the UK in King’s Rhapsody which was one of his great operettas. I toured for six months and totally fell in love with his music – it is just out of this world. Ever since I have campaigned to get more and more recognition with modern day audiences as he was, and still is, such an important man.
Of course we still have the Novello Awards...
We do! However, I actually heard one recipient say on camera that they didn't know who Novello was! I was so annoyed and embarrassed! In fact I was so astonished that I started to do more to support Novello’s work including various campaigns, especially in Wales.
How did you become involved with Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical at the St. James Studio?
Well I’ve known Ross Leadbeater for a number of years. When I was doing Midnight Tango with Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace at the Phoenix Theatre I met up with him and we started talking and discovered that he is just as keen to bring Novello back to the masses as I am. So then Ross came up with the idea for Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical and asked me how I would feel about co-producing it. Obviously I’m very busy at the moment but I said that even if we could just squeeze in one glamorous night that would be wonderful! One could say I have been working towards this all my life. I don’t know Ross’s age but I don’t think he was even born when I toured in King’s Rhapsody! It is so exciting that there is someone from a younger generation who is just as keen about Novello’s work as I am.
As the first night has sold out you've added a second performance, you must be thrilled?
I am so chuffed about that because people might have thought that Novello’s music is not from this era but everything comes in circles. Ross has put together a lovely young cast which is very exciting. The cast have told me they think the music is so glorious and to hear them say that is music to my ears.
And of course earlier this year Novello’s final musical Gay’s The Word had a hugely successful run at the Jermyn Street Theatre, did you get a chance to see it?
Sadly I didn’t because I was in Midnight Tango. Ross worked on the show which was how we struck up a friendship and everything went from there.
What can people expect from
Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical?
On the evening I’m narrating the show as well as doing a couple of numbers. It is such a delight! As you can imagine we have had very little rehearsal time as we only have two performances and I've only just come back from the BBC Strictly Come Dancing Cruise and I’m doing a lot of television work during the summer – I’m here there and everywhere! But everybody got together earlier this week and it was quality time with lovely people. We have such a wonderful team.
You have had the most amazing theatre career over the past few years! What have been some of your favourite roles?
I’ve been very lucky. After Strictly, to get a call from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Arlene Philips and Bill Kenwright asking me to go into the Wizard Of Oz at the London Palladium was just incredible! Then I joined the UK Tour of Grease. What was great about playing Teen Angel is that Arlene tuned my song into a Latin number with Frenchy and to get standing ovations every night was just wonderful! Then I had a successful run in panto. I've also done other bits and pieces, I recently made a dance DVD with Flavia and I’m thrilled to say it has sold 20,000 copies! We are chuffed because DVDs don’t really sell these days. Then Flavia asked me if I would do Midnight Tango at the Phoenix Theatre to which I said “try and stop me”. After the West End run the show went off on tour which unfortunately I couldn't do because I had loads of television work. In fact, if I had gone on tour I wouldn't have been able to do Novello at the St. James! I would have done anything possible to be able to do the Novello show, Ross and I hope it will be the start of something big!
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
You can see Ivor Novello and the Great British Musical on 23rd June & 10th July at the St. James Studio. Click here to book tickets.
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