Big Interview: Benjamin Yates, star of Tommy & Cats

Benjamin Yates is currently playing a Pinball Wizard in The Who's Tommy at the Blackpool Opera House. 

Based on the iconic 1969 double-album rock opera, Tommy is an exhilarating musical about hope, healing, and the human spirit. The cast also includes X Factor winner Joe McElderry, Blue's Antony Costa, Ashley J Russell, Will Barratt and Melanie Bright.

Benjamin most recently recreated the role of Mungojerrie in the first West End revival of Cats at the London Palladium, working alongside the original creative team including Trevor Nunn, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gillian Lynne. He previously played the role in the musical’s UK and European tours. 

Benjamin’s theatre credits also include: title role in Aladdin (Loughborough), ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK and Australian Arena Tour), Sonny in Grease (Ljubljana Festival) and title role in Jack and the Beanstalk (Loughborough). He is also currently supporting West End Bares, having posed for this year’s ‘Take Off’ promotional images.

I recently spoke to Benjamin about why he’s thrilled to be belting out a rock score in Tommy, what it was like to meet his idol whilst starring in Cats and what his nana thought of his West End Bares photoshoot, plus much more…

Had you seen Tommy before?

I had never even seen the film! I didn’t know much about the music although obviously I knew the classics like ‘Pinball Wizard’. I didn’t really know anything so when this came up I thought, ‘This will be interesting!’ I listened to the soundtrack and it’s the complete opposite to Cats, which I’ve just finished, and it’s quite nice to do something the complete opposite. Also, I didn’t sing a lot in Cats, so it’s great to go into a rock musical! Obviously now I know what’s going on, but at the beginning I had no idea what it was about!

PICS: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Cameron Mackintosh visit Cats in Blackpool

Last night (12th August) Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh visited Cats at the Blackpool Opera House and met with the cast, led by Jane McDonald as Grizabella, on stage after the performance. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Cats runs at the Blackpool Opera House until 5th September 2015. The production then returns to the London Palladium for a strictly limited eight week season from 23rd October 2015 with Beverley Knight playing the role of Grizabella.

GOSSIP: Jane McDonald to star as Grizabella in Cats for Blackpool run?

According to the Mirror, Jane McDonald is set to star as Grizabella in Cats when it transfers to Blackpool this summer.

Following its sell out West End run at the London Palladium, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical opens at the Blackpool Opera House for a six week season from 9th July.

The newspapers reports that the former Loose Women was hand picked by Lloyd Webber to play Grizabella after "being wowed" by a video audition she recorded for him earlier this year.

Nicole Scherzinger starred as Grizabella when Cats returned to the West End last year and Kerry Ellis recently took over. Elaine Paige originated the role in 1981.