INTERVIEW: Michael Pickering, currently starring as Frankie Valli in the UK tour of Jersey Boys

Michael Pickering is currently touring the UK in the smash hit musical Jersey Boys playing the role of Frankie Valli.

Michaels's other credits include Mellors in Lady Chatterley’s Lover (Shaftesbury Theatre, West End), Simeon in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (London Palladium, West End), Rusty in Starlight Express (Germany), Gremio in Kiss Me Kate (Royal Albert Hall), Rick Moon in Good Morning Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena Tour), Robin in Batman Live (World Arena Tour), Doody in Grease (Piccadilly Theatre, West End), D’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers (Rose Theatre, Kingston) Jack in All The Fun of The Fair (Garrick Theatre, West End), Ensemble cover Pepper in Mamma Mia (International Tour), Ryan in High School Musical (Hammersmith Apollo, West End) and Ensemble cover Boq in Wicked (Apollo Victoria, West End). 

You were previously part of the Jersey Boys company on a previous tour, how does it feel to be back in the show reprising the role of Frankie Valli?

The role of Frankie Valli is a constant challenge, especially whilst travelling. It’s incompletable, so I am very happy to be back playing the role.

You’ve had a while to settle into this tour now, looking back to 2015 when you were part of the show before, how has your interpretation adapted and changed?

The show as a whole hasn’t changed, but there are some very different flavours due to a different and extremely talented cast.

INTERVIEW: Jack Hinton, presenting his one-man Concert THE BAGGY TROUSERS CONCERT at Above The Stag

Jack Hinton is presenting his own one-man show 'The Baggy Trousers Concert' at Above The Stag on the 3rd December 2020, he will also be streaming it later that month online. In 2019, whilst out in Germany rehearsing for Starlight Express, welsh musical theatre performer Jack Hinton was diagnosed with testicular cancer. In this concert, he will share his experience of his battle with cancer and mental health, telling all about how he got back on his feet (well, in a pair of roller skates) on the Starlight Express stage 2 weeks after his surgery. Through an array of musical theatre, pop and Christmas songs, performed alongside the fabulous Ben Papworth on piano, you can be sure for a unique and heartfelt extravaganza taking place for one night only at the Above The Stag Theatre.  

You will be performing your first one-man show at Above The Stag on the 3rd December, ‘The Baggy Trousers Concert’ tells the story of your cancer journey through an array of musical theatre and pop songs. What inspired the idea to create this show and tell your story in this way?

2020 have been a bleak and testing year for everyone! I left 2019 certain that 2020 would be a better year- LOLS! Especially given the lack of theatre we have had this year; I put one and one together and came up with the idea of sharing something I struggled with; with hope it would resonate with others. Of course the show is to raise money and awareness on testicular cancer and the charity Baggy Trousers, but the sentiment of the show is for anyone to watch and feel like they can celebrate whatever they have gone through as well. My hope is by telling my story, it will help others whether they’ve been fighting/fought the same battle as me or have fought a different battle in celebrating their strength and feeling proud of what they’ve overcome. And the best way I can do that is, of course, is through theatre! 

You were diagnosed with testicular cancer whilst out in Germany performing in Starlight Express, What was it like receiving this news whilst not only having to focus on your job but also whilst being in a different country? 

When you get told something like that, nothing else around you really exists and your only focus is facing it head-on. You kind of automatically resort to tunnel vision and everything also around you is just black. Though there was an obvious language barrier between myself and the doctor’s, I felt very lucky with the amazing healthcare out there and am so grateful to have received the amazing treatment I did- and so quickly! On top of this, I was also doing what I loved and was working with the most wonderful cast. 

10 of the Best Theatre related Guinness World Records!

Longest theatre performance - individual

The longest marathon theatre performance by an individual lasted 110 hr 46 min and was achieved by Adrian Hilton (UK) when he recited the complete works of Shakespeare in a 'Bardathon' at the Shakespeare Festival, South Bank, London, UK between 16-21 July 1987. Adrian's chosen spot on the South Bank was the location of the original Globe Theatre.

Most expensive theatre production

“Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”, the musical based on the legendary comic superhero, is the most expensive production in the history of the theatre. As of 14 June 2011, the show’s record cost climbed to $75 million, the largest investment ever for not only a Broadway production but for the West End or anywhere in the world where there has ever been a stage.

Highest-grossing Broadway show

As of the week ending 1 March 2020, Disney’s The Lion King had grossed $1,680,389,582 (£1,310,480,000) since opening on Broadway in October 1997. A total of 15,696,974 seats have been sold for the musical across 9,292 performances (including 33 previews). It is now the third-longest running show on the Great White Way, behind the 1996 revival of Chicago and 1988's The Phantom of the Opera.

10 Long running shows that didn't win Best Musical at the Oliviers

Chicago

The original production of Chicago in 1979 lost out on the Best Musical Award to Songbook. However the revival did win Best Musical revival in 1998. The original production ran for 600 performances at the Cambridge Theatre. The show was also nominated in two other categories at the 1979 Olivier Awards; Antonia Ellis (Roxie) for Best Actress in a Musical and Ben Cross (Billy Flynn) for Best Actor in a Musical. However The Awards went to Virginia McKenna (The King and I and Anton Rodgers (Songbook).

Starlight Express

This long running show at the Victoria Apollo ran for 7,409 performances over 18 years. The show is currently the ninth longest running West End show in History and remains the Apollo Victoria Theatres longest running show. The musical lost out on the Best Musical Award to 42nd Street in 1984. Lon Satton, who played Poppa in the original London production, was also nominated for Best Actor in a Musical but the award went to Paul Clarkson for The Hired Man.

Hardest Male roles in Musical Theatre

Being a musical theatre performer is not easy in the slightest; from the auditions to get the job in the first place, to the constant rehearsals and finally recreating an incredible performance for a paying audience night after night. This is even before you look at some of the challenges some roles might have within them; either emotionally, physically or vocally. Here at Pocket we have teamed up with our friends at LondonBoxOffice.co.uk and put together a list of characters we think are among some of the hardest. And don't just take our word for it; we've had help from some of our performer friends who have played the roles to give you an insight into what it was like from their perspective. 

There are so many more that could be on this list so if we've missed any, tweet us what you think should be on it! @PocketSizeBlog

THEN AND NOW: Starlight Express

Starlight Express broke down all the barriers when it opened in the West End in 1984, putting things on stage that had never been done before. After countless productions around the World, its now a household name and instantly recognisable across the globe. Its holds the World record for being one of the longest running sit down productions in the World after the Bochum production celebrated its 30th Birthday this year. The thing that we found super cool about this show is how its evolved through the years, different productions have some completely different designs and its really interesting to see how its altered through time. Productions that are included here include the original West End run, the 1992 revamp of the show, UK tours and the Bochum production, both past companies and the current revamped version made especially for the 30th year. Take a look and share your favourite moments of the show with us on Twitter! @PocketSizeBlog #PocketThenNow  

Rusty 

Ray Shell (1984), Paul Baker (1994), James Gillan (2004), Kevin Kohler (2014) & Blake P Anderson (2018)

Pearl

Stephanie Lawrence (1984), Cheryl McAvoy (1998), Amanda Coutts (2012), Trina Hill (2014) & Georgina Hagen (2018)

STARLIGHT EXPRESS at The Other Palace

The Other Palace is set to do a concert-style workshop performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical STARLIGHT EXPRESS, in The Theatre at The Other Palace.

Members of the original creative team of STARLIGHT EXPRESS will collaborate again, along with a group of carefully chosen actors and musicians to explore the piece. Focussing on the score and lyrics, and working for a week before the public showings, Andrew and the team will continue to work on the show in the daytime before evening performances, responding to audience reaction and feedback as they navigate the exciting process of revisiting this classic work.

The cast includes Christina Bennington (Pearl), George Ure (Rusty), Oliver Tompsett (Greaseball), Liam Tamne (Electra), Patrick Sullivan (Caboose), Natalie McQeen (Dinah) Sabrina Aloueche (Belle), Laila Zaidi (Tassita), Mica Paris (Mamma, formerly Papa), Anthony Selwyn, Michael James Stewart, Parisa Shahmir, Jamal Andreas, Carl Man & Divine Cresswell with Jude Harper-Wrobel as Control.

The Other Palace Announces Concert-Style Workshops of STARLIGHT EXPRESS

The Other Palace is delighted announce three concert-style workshop performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical STARLIGHT EXPRESS, in The Theatre at The Other Palace on Thursday 14 , Friday 15 and Saturday 16 September at 7.30pm. All tickets are priced £25 and go on sale at 12.00noon on Friday 11 August. Tickets are only available from The Other Palace Box Office, online at theotherpalace.co.uk or by calling 020 7087 7900. 

Members of the original creative team of STARLIGHT EXPRESS will collaborate again, along with a group of carefully chosen actors and musicians to explore the piece. Focussing on the score and lyrics, and working for a week before the public showings, Andrew and the team will continue to work on the show in the daytime before evening performances, responding to audience reaction and feedback as they navigate the exciting process of revisiting this classic work.

STARLIGHT EXPRESS originally opened in the West End in 1984 where it ran for over 7000 performances, and continues to run in a purpose built venue in Bochum, Germany where more than 15 million people have seen it. The Bochum production celebrates its 30th anniversary next year.