Interview: Desmond Barrit, starring in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof

Desmond Barrit is currently playing Big Daddy in Theatre Clwyd's production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof by Tennesee Williams.

Directed by Robert Hastie, the production runs at the Theatre Clwyd until 5th March before touring to the New Cardiff Theatre and Swansea Grand Theatre.

Desmond has won Olivier Awards for his performances in The Comedy Of Errors (RSC) and Three Men on a Horse (National Theatre). 

His West End credits include: Harvey (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Wicked (Victoria Apollo), Accidental Death of an Anarchist and Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy (Donmar Warehouse), Dubarry and The Scarlett Pimpernel (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Eurydice (Whitehall Theatre), Three Men on a Horse (Vaudeville Theatre) and The Lair (Old Vic).

Just a handful of Desmond’s extensive credits also include: Damsel in Distress (Chichester), Therese Raquin (Bath), The Birthday Party (Royal Exchange), The History Boys, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum & The Recruiting Officer, The Wind in the Willows (all National Theatre), Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & King Lear (all RSC), A View from the Bridge (Greenwich) and This is a Chair (Royal Court). 

I recently spoke to Desmond about what drew him to starring in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, what people can expect from the play and the importance of regional theatre…

When you were first approached about this production, what made you decide ‘I want to be part of this’?

Well although I was reasonably familiar with Tennessee Williams, I wasn’t that familiar with Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. I’m seventy-one now; I don’t have a mortgage, I’ve got a couple of houses and money in the bank to live on so my criteria for saying “yes” to doing a show is either if they pay me a fortune or whether the play is terribly exciting. I can tell you that working for Clwyd doesn’t pay you a fortune, but when I read the play I thought it was exciting!

Keith Barlett to take over as The Wizard in Wicked

Keith Bartlett is to take over the role of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from Monday 30 July 2012 in the London production of Wicked. He will take over from Desmond Barrit who will play his final performance as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz on Saturday 7 July. 

Christopher Howell who is currently playing Doctor Dillamond in the show while understudying The Wizard will play The Wizard for a 3 week period from Monday 9th July until Saturday 28th July. Christopher will then go back to playing Doctor Dillamond.

Wicked will mark Keith Barlett's musical debut.  He previously starred in Stephen Schwartz's musical Godspell, as John The Baptist, in Basingstoke in 1998. His many celebrated appearances with the RSC include Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3 and Richard III, as part of 'The Histories' season at Stratford-upon-Avon and The Roundhouse, The Winter's Tale, The Tempest and Pericles. His numerous other theatre credits include, for Headlong: Romeo & Juliet; for Shakespeare's Globe: King James Bible recital and A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine; for the Donmar Warehouse: A Lie of the Mind, The Front Page and Glengarry Glen Ross; for the National Theatre: Mary Stuart, The Crucible, Piano andMurmuring Judges, and, for Cheek By Jowl: Macbeth, Philoctetes, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and The Cid. His television and film appearances include: Silent Witness, New Tricks, The Bill and Truly Madly Deeply.

I have seen many different Wizard's in Wicked over the years, to date my favourite one was Clive Carter as he had a strong voice, unlike other Wizard's in the shows history. I wish Keith the very best of luck and I am delighted to now have another excuse to go back and see one of my favourite shows!