INTERVIEW: David Hunter, the West End star who has just released his new EP 'PLAY'

David Hunter is a name any theatre fan should know, he has now established himself as one of the finest leading men the West End has to offer. Before the pandemic, he was starring as Dr Pomatter in the West End production of Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. David other credits include Charlie Price in Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre), Captain Walker in The Who's Tommy (Prince Edward Theatre), Guy in Once (Phoenix Theatre), Isaac in The Hired Man (Leicester Curve and Colchester Mercury), Pub (The Royal Exchange), Spinach (The Royal Exchange), The Mayor in The Mayor of Zalamea (Liverpool Everyman), Horton in Seussical (Arts Theatre) and One Man, Two Guvnors (National Theatre & UK Tour). David is releasing his new EP 'PLAY' on all streaming platforms today! We got to chat with him about this venture. 

You released your new EP, ‘PLAY’, exclusively on cassette a few weeks ago before launching online, this has meant that all your costs for the EP were covered. You’ve said online it would take 600,000 plays to make the same amount of money. As someone who is releasing this independently, how did you get the idea to do this? 

Literally in response to those cheapskates at Spotify! They pay £0.004 a play, so after 100,000 streams of my last single, ‘The Farm Song’, I’d only made £400…and it cost me £800 to make! I knew if I wanted to continue to record and release original music, I needed to find creative ways to do it. So, I combined that need with my nostalgia obsession and boom! PLAY was born!

The boxes you released along with the cassette were the pinnacle of 90’s nostalgia, what gave you the inspiration for the design for these? 

I noticed a few artists were releasing cassettes, alongside the usual CDs and vinyl etc. but I’ve never bought one because I don’t have a cassette player. So, I thought it might be fun to package my own cassette with a player in the hope that it might start a few collections – including mine! I’ve since been scouring eBay for old tapes of my favourite bands. I threw in a load of other merch as well and packaged it all in shredded copies of Smash Hits magazine from the 80s and 90s for that extra nostalgic kick!

DREAM CASTING: 9 to 5 the Musical

Violet Newstead | Steph Parry 

Judy Bernly | Cassidy Janson 

Where are they now? Superstar

Following on from the original BBC produced reality shows How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, Any Dream Will Do, I'd Do Anything and Over the Rainbow. Other programme also include Grease is the Word (The search for Danny and Sandy) and Fame: The musical (the search for Nick and Serena). Andrew Lloyd Webber moved the programme over the ITV and produced 'Superstar', the search for Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar for the UK Arena Tour. Jason Donovan, Melanie C and Dawn French headed the judging panel with Amanda Holden hosting. If you are a theatre geek like me, you'll remember these TV shows! And if you don't, you'll certainly know some of the contestants. So, where are they now? 

Ben Forster

After winning the ITV show Superstar, Ben went on to star as Jesus in the arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and later reprised his role in the North American tour (which was later cancelled). He went on to play Brad in the 40th Anniversary tour of the Rocky Horror Show and the televised production at the Playhouse Theatre, Magaldi in Evita (Dominion Theatre); Buddy in Elf (Dominion Theatre); the title role in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's); A Night at the Musicals (Wales Millennium Theatre) and The Best of the West End (Royal Albert Hall). @thebenforster ‏

Rory Taylor

After coming in second to Ben Forster in the competition, Rory went on to play Simon and covered the role of Jesus in the Arena tour. He was also apart of the Australian tour and North American tour of the show. He went on to play Roger in the 20th Anniversary tour of RENT and most recently appeared in the UK & European tour of Thriller Live! where he also appeared in the West End production. @RoryTaylor54321 ‏

Roger Wright

After coming third on Superstar, Roger wrote his own show which premiered at the Leicester Square Theatre in October 2012. He has since appeared in the feature film Meet Pursuit Delange, as Paul Robeson in Genius 2 (National Geographic) and as a guest entertainer in the cabaret Feel Good Show which, as well as touring, played a stint at the Other Palace. @Rogerwright1

David Hunter

David Hunter was most recently seen playing Dr. Pomatter in the Broadway transfer of Waitress at the Adelphi Theatre. His other credits include Charlie Price in Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre); Horton the Elephant in Seussical (Arts Theatre); Tommy in Concert (Prince Edward Theatre); John in The Hired Man (Leicester Curve and Colchester Mercury) and starred as Guy in Once (Phoenix Theatre). David released his EP in 2018, entitled Silver Linings which is available on iTunes. @thedavidhunter ‏ 

Nathan James

After coming 5th on the TV show, he was scouted by the Trans Siberian Orchestra, he was flown to the USA to audition and went on to go to America to join the band for their Arena tour and appeared in UK stage show Bohemian Rhapsody: The Music of Queen. He is currently in the band 'Inglorious' who have recorded three albums and have been touring since forming in 2014. In 2018, he performed in the UK Arena tour of War of the Worlds. @TheNathanJames ‏

Jeff Anderson

After the programme, Jeff was chosen to be the understudy to Jesus in the touring production of the show. In 2014, he appeared on the Voice but failed to go past the audition stages. In 2016 he was charged with 15 sexual offences dating between 2005 and 2013. 

Jon Moses

Jon released his album entitled 'Journey' in 2017, he also released his debut EP 'Better Man' in 2012. Jon is a Director of a successful performing arts school based in Leeds called Stage Door Performing Arts, and also runs a company that helps vulnerable people throughout the UK ( B-Vocal ). Jon played the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at Gloucester Cathedral and also has appeared in pantomimes Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty And The Beast and Rapunzel. @jonmosesvocals ‏

Niall Sheehy

Since leaving the show, Nialls credits incude ensemble and cover Enjolras in Les Miserables (Queens Theatre); Johnny in Cool Rider (Lyric Theatre); ensemble and covered Chris in Miss Saigon (Prince Edward Theatre); the world premiere of Pure Imagination (St. James Theatre), Barrett in Titanic the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre and International Tour); Sam Wheat in Ghost (UK Tour) and most recently he was seen in the West End cast of the Les Miserables staged concert at the Gielgud Theatre. He's also just played the Prince in Cinderella on tour around Ireland. @niallsheehy ‏

Tim Prottey-Jones

Although Tim missed out on the chance to play Jesus, he was cast in the tour of the show in the ensemble and understudy to the role of Judas. His credits since then include Michael in I Do! I Do! (Arts House International); Cover to Mark and Roger in RENT (UK Tour); Christian in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (The Old Joint Stock Theatre); Billy in Once (Phoenix Theatre) and Mutt and Cover Don, George & Mr Price in Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre). As well as theatre, he is a singer, songwriter, musician and producer. @TimProtteyJones ‏

Dirk Johnson

Dirk currently resides in Germany. He went on to play Sky in Mamma Mia in Stuttgart at the Palladium theatre, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and played Gabe in the German production of Next to Normal. He now is the co-director of business Épique, a Raw Pâtisserie. 

Afnan Iftikhar

Now known as Afnan Prince, he is an accomplished Singer/Songwriter. He is Regularly featured on BBC Introducing, Featured as part of ‘the best live sessions' of 2015 by BBC Introducing, Award nominated songwriter ('Truth and season'- Best single @ UBEAT awards, 'She'-Songwriting Competition UK), he was the Winner of 'Best new artist of the year 2015' by Darkus Magazine and Afnan Prince's song “She” was used on the ITV show 'Diamond Geezers and Gold dealers'. @Afnan_prince ‏

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FIRST LOOK: David Hunter & Jill Winternitz join the cast of ONCE

David Hunter, who originally joined the show in July last year understudying the role of Guy, and Jill Winternitz will have their first performance together on Monday (12 May 2014). The show's current leads, Olivier Award-winner Zrinka Cvitešić and Arthur Darvill, have their last performance on Saturday (10 May).

Hunter's theatre credits include One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre, UK tour and Adelphi Theatre), Seussical (Arts), The Who's Tommy (Prince Edward), The Hired Man (Leicester Curve), Spinach (The Royal Exchange, Manchester), Moving On (The Lowry, Manchester) and Love Shift (The Royal Exchange).

Winternitz is a graduate from RADA and made her West End debut starring as Baby in Dirty Dancing at the Piccadilly Theatre and also played the role on the UK tour of the show. 

David Hunter and Jill Winternitz to star in ONCE

Photo Credit: Darren Bell

David Hunter and Jill Winternitz are set to take over the leads in the West End production of Once.

Hunter, who originally joined the show in July last year understudying the role of Guy, and Winternitz will have their first performance together on Monday (12 May 2014). The show's current leads, Olivier Award-winner Zrinka Cvitešić and Arthur Darvill, have their last performance on Saturday (10 May).

Hunter's theatre credits include One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre, UK tour and Adelphi Theatre), Seussical (Arts), The Who's Tommy (Prince Edward), The Hired Man (Leicester Curve), Spinach (The Royal Exchange, Manchester), Moving On (The Lowry, Manchester) and Love Shift (The Royal Exchange).