Sir Bruce Forsyth To Perform One-Man Show At The New Theatre, Cardiff - Interview

Sir Bruce Forsyth, one of the nation’s most famous and adored entertainers, will step on to the New Theatre stage on April 27 for a rare must-see performance.

Performing prior to an appearance at the London Palladium, Bruce will be entertaining the audience in the way that only he can! Alongside Dave Arch (musical director of Strictly Come Dancing) and the country’s finest musicians, the star will present an evening of singing, dancing, comedy and audience interaction.

Bruce Forsyth’s successful career has spanned over seventy years, with hit shows like Sunday Night at The London Palladium, The Generation Game and, more recently, as a host on Strictly Come Dancing.

Now he swaps the television cameras for the New Theatre stage in a special one-night-only performance. Andy Howells recently chatted with the legendary performer.

The Generation Game was a mainstay of Saturday evening TV back in the 1970s along with Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies and Doctor Who. What was it like to have a successful show in that era?
To me it was a lovely show business, a period of top ratings and shows like Eric & Ernie and The Duchess of Duke Street all on before The Generation Game and finishing up with Parkinson and Match of The Day, it was a whole evening of varied entertainment. Not shows that take two hours, It's just too much and they're doing it in The States now, we've just got back from Puerto Rico and they're stringing things out. Of course, they're making them long because they've got nothing else to put on. We had all these shows that all followed one another; it was a variety of programmes. You could sit there all evening and watch different shows for different moods and different feelings and it all worked. I'm pleased I've got the memories of them.

You've  given millions of television viewers so many great memories over the years too.
All my career I've been lucky, if there’s a secret to my longevity is that children have grown up with me, even if they grew to hate me later on in life (laughs). They knew me from the start, even people who watched me on The Palladium when they were 10 years old, you go on 50 years and they've grown up with me. Even with Strictly now, kids come up to me with their mothers and fathers and want autographs. I've put that down to luck of been in programmes suitable for children. I'm like Uncle Bruce!

Can you tell us more about your forthcoming show at Cardiff’s New Theatre?
It’s more or less the show I've done everywhere. I've even done it at Glastonbury. People were phoning me up and saying "Bruce is that right you're going to Glastonbury? What are you going to do there?” I said "I'm going to do what I've always done. Sing, dance, play the piano and involve the audience with a few things. I do impressions, all the things I've done all my life, I'm a family entertainer.” I must say I was very scared, how would a young crowd who go there to see all these pop stars react? I think it was the most wonderful feeling I've ever had to be able to perform for these younger people. Forgetting that they'd all grown up with me, I went on there wondering what it would be like; it was very emotional for me afterwards.

One of the favourite things I saw you do on television was a TV special with Sammy Davis Jr.
The best thing I ever did on television was the hour with Sammy Davis Jr. We did all the things that we do, we sang together and danced together. I played piano for him when he sang and he did a whole comedy routine with instruments when I tried to sing.  We did impressions together. I wish we'd been able to do more; he was starting to feel a bit ill when we did it. I'm sorry we didn't manage to do a couple of more specials in that time. I don't think there was anyone else I could have done it with apart from Roy Castle. We were genuinely all-round performers. That term is used very loosely now.

What has been your career highlight?
Apart from the Sammy Davis Jr special, it would be doing my one-man show for the first time at The Palladium because a lot of people said I was wrong doing it at a London Theatre. They had Cats on and I was doing odd nights there. I went touring and then brought it to the New London Theatre and then the Palladium. That means more to me than any other place and to do it as an all-round performer completely on my own with just an orchestra backing me was a very big thrill.

How are you feeling now?
I've just got back from Puerto Rico which I go to every year for three months so I've had a lovely rest from all the cold miserable damp weather you have here in January, February and March. I'm back now and feel my batteries have recharged and I'm ready to have a go again.

• Bruce Forsyth Entertains is at the New Theatre on Monday 27 April.  Tickets are on sale now with prices from £28.00 to £40.00. For further details about the show or to book tickets* visit www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk  or call the Box Office on (029) 2087 8889.
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 24, 2015.

Recalling Paul Robeson - Tayo Aluko Discusses One-Man Show

Tayo Aluko's one-man play Call Mr Robeson is currently making a welcome return to South Wales. The production recalls the true story of one of the 20th Century’s most impressive but overlooked figures, the actor, singer and civil rights campaigner Paul Robeson.

When over the years Robeson gets progressively too radical and outspoken for the establishment's liking, he is branded a traitor to his country, harassed, and denied opportunities to perform or travel. Just as physical, emotional and mental stress threaten to push him over the fine line between genius and madness, he is summoned to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee, to give the most difficult and important performance of his career.

This roller coaster journey through Robeson’s remarkable and eventful life highlights how his radical activism caused him to be disowned and disremembered, even by the leaders and descendants of the civil rights movement. It features much fiery oratory and some of his famous songs, including a dramatic rendition of Ol’ Man River.

Tayo Aluko's compelling tour-de-force performance, was seen at New York’s Carnegie Hall in February 2012, and in London’s West End in October 2013. Andy Howells recently put questions to Tayo Aluko about the show.

You will be bringing Call Mr Robeson back to Newport Riverfront soon, what originally inspired you to put the show together?
A lady heard me sing, told me I reminded her of him, but I hadn't heard of him. By chance, I stumbled on his biography two months later and discovered this amazing story which I felt strongly needed to be told.

How does one approach playing such an inspirational and talented individual as Paul Robeson? 
Others may do it differently,but I did it by picking a few incidents and episodes of his life that I considered key, and those songs he sang and speeches he made that I considered most important, and constructing the narrative around those in a manner that flows well and allows us to hear his true story, from his own mouth. I was also interested in going into private, personal areas of his life, because that reminds us that he was a human being, with fears, weaknesses and doubts like the rest of us. He was just a lot braver, more remarkable and more accomplished than practically everybody else.

Living in the time he did, Paul Robeson faced hardship, prejudice and hurtful accusations from critics and senior governments. What do you think made him such a strong individual?
He often retold the story of wanting to quit playing American football at his otherwise all-white college because he had been attacked by the entire squad, to prevent him from joining the team. His father had persuaded him to persevere, because succeeding would mean opening doors for other Black boys, so he "had to be ready to take whatever was handed out." I believe he carried that thought with him throughout his life, especially as he believed that he was called to show how the world could be a better place.

His relationship with South Wales goes back to the 1920s when he became aware of the hardships of the Welsh Miners while performing in ShowBoat in London’s West End. He ultimately joined the miners on their hunger marches in 1927 and 1928 and established a relationship with Wales that would last many decades. Have you found that his legacy here in Wales is still strong?
One only needs to go to the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl to see proudly displayed on their walls images of the occasion when Paul sang down a telephone line from New York to the Eisteddfod there in 1957, or to Big Pit in Blaenavon to see images of him there too. More so, I believe his recordings are routinely played on Welsh radio, and he is talked about generally, so yes, his legacy is still strong.

There are many powerful moments within the show, one I recall is when Robeson halts a performance when he realises his audience has been segregated and another is when he sings Ol’ Man River in Kansas City midst rioting and the whir of a low flying helicopter. Evidently these are very powerful moments how do research them?
The segregated audience was in Kansas City, and the riot in Peekskill, NY. These stories are in the excellent biography by Martin Duberman, though not necessarily with the detail that I give them in the play. For instance, the helicopter was mentioned in a radio interview I heard when Paul Jnr, his son, was asked what his favourite rendition of his father singing Ol' Man River was, and he mentioned the Peekskill event, but specifically the police helicopter. I had my sound designer include a helicopter sound for that part of the play, and it really makes it very dramatic, especially with what I say in the monologue preceding the song.

Were there any moments or songs that have proven a particular challenge to recreate or perform?
First of all, Ol' Man River itself is a huge challenge because it was written for a bass (and actually with Robeson in mind at the time), and I am "only a baritone". Although I sing it in a much higher key than he did, the range is so wide that the bottom note was always difficult to place if I wasn't going to strain on the top note. I am however growing into the song, so to speak. Another challenging part was reenacting a scene where he has a mental breakdown and attempts suicide. Both the writing and the performing of that (from a point of no personal experience, thankfully) required quite a lot of imagination.

As you have taken the show around the world, have you uncovered any new or inspirational stories about Paul Robeson?
Here I am responding to these questions from Adelaide, Australia. After last night's performance, an audience member recalled his father saying how he interviewed Robeson one-on-one in his hotel in Adelaide in 1960. He had been granted ten minutes by Robeson's publicist, it stretched to forty, and he left (after talking about everything from politics to music to Aussie rules football) thinking that Robeson remained the most impressive of all the people he had met in his long life . That's the kind of thing we have heard said most recently about Nelson Mandela, so it is good to know that these feelings, these memories of Robeson remain in all corners of the world, being passed on from generation to generation.

Clearly the show has proved very popular, have you any further plans as to how it will develop in the future?
It has now been published, so I hope that other Black actor/singers will perform it around the world. In the meantime, I am enjoying travelling with it myself, and hope to do so for many more years to come.

How would you describe the show to anyone who still hasn't seen it?
A one-man play about Paul Robeson, complete with his songs, his politics, his trials, tribulations and triumphs. A play that seeks to put him up there where he truly belongs - with the very best of humanity.

• Tayo Aluko will present his one-man performance of Call Mr Robeson at Newport Riverfront this evening. Visit the official Riverfront website for further information.
• For further details on the Call Mr Robeson show including further tour dates, visit the Tayo Aluko and Friends website.
• A shorter version of this Q&A with Tayo Aluko was published in the South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 17, 2015.
• Review of Tayo Aluko's Call Mr Robeson at Newport Riverfront from 2011

On Stage: Return To The Forbidden Planet, New Theatre, Cardiff

It’s easy to see why the Olivier Award winning Return to the Forbidden Planet has remained so popular this last quarter of a century.

A fusion of Sci-Fi comic strip, classic rock n roll and a dose of William Shakespeare for good measure, Return to the Forbidden Planet is simply a must-see for any purveyor of baby boomer pop culture. All the ingredients of a classic adventure are here, a journey into space, a crash-landing on an alien planet and a mad scientist as well as robots and aliens. Throw in a live soundtrack of songs popularised by The Animals, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Moody Blues and you have a night of great fun.

Queen’s Brian May appears on a big screen to narrate the proceedings but undoubtedly the stars of the show are the talented team of musician actors who make up the ships crew. Among the highlights are Sean Needham’s pipe smoking hero Captain Tempest, Sarah Scowen’s 50s style heroine Miranda, Jonathan Markwood’s Edwardian stylised eccentric Dr Prospero, Joseph Mann’s robotic Ariel and Christine Holman’s femme fatale Science Officer.

The real stand out however is Mark Newnham’s Cookie who gets to shine with a comic style akin to Jerry Lewis as well as deliver a fabulous guitar solo during his rendition of The Zombies She’s Not There.

Return To The Forbidden Planet also has several surreal moments usually professionally handled by the comic timing and musical professionalism of the ensemble cast. Closing the first half of the show to Them’s Gloria while the cast's space-ship is under attack from an alien's giant tentacles is undoubtedly a theatrical moment to savor. I’ll never listen to Gloria in quite the same way again!

Return to the Forbidden Planet continues at Cardiff's New Theatre until Saturday April 25, 2015.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus on April 23, 2015
• Return To The Forbidden Planet UK tour website
• Andy Howells Interview With Return To The Forbidden Planet's Mark Newnham

Out Of This World Fun As Forbidden Planet Musical Comes To Cardiff - Mark Newnham Interview

The adored and critically acclaimed Olivier Award winning Sci-Fi rock spectacular Return to the Forbidden Planet comes to Cardiff New Theatre on its 25th Anniversary Tour this week.

Inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest and packed with rock 'n' roll classics such as I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Young Girl and Good Vibrations the show features stunning special effects and a brilliant cast of actor musicians.

"Its fun, lively and it'll make you laugh" says Mark Newnham who plays Cookie in the show, "If you're a fan of rock'n'roll you’ll just go absolutely nuts for the music and great Sci-Fi effects as well, it’s a great night out."

Mark describes his character as a "love-lorn low status character" that has parallels with Cinderella's Buttons. "He falls in love with Miranda who is the love interest when we crash-land on Prospero's planet," he says, "She doesn’t love him back and falls in love with the Captain of the ship, the character gets a lot of empathy from the audience."

Mark who is an accomplished musician will be performing a rendition of a 60s classic in the show. "My big number is She Not There by The Zombies. We put a little twist on it because this is the point in the story when Cookie realises Miranda has fallen for the captain and not him. He does this anxious version which has a big four minute long guitar solo in it."

Mark who also played a Young John Lennon in the musical Lennon at Liverpool's Royal Court is a big 1960s fan and is currently relishing his role in the musical, "To play guitar, sing, make people laugh and speak some wonderful Shakespeare verse - it’s a dream job!"

• Return to the Forbidden Planet runs at Cardiff's New Theatre between Monday April 20 - 25. Visit newtheatrecardiff.co.uk for details.
• A version of this article by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 17, 2015. Read the e-edition here.

Meet Nina Jones

At just 17 years old, Nina Jones is an extremely talented teenage vocalist with a big future ahead of her. Based in Newport, South Wales, her new single is the kind of accessible hit that can go a long way to establishing a new name in the music industry.

Never Let You Go has potential pop hit written all over it, and also follows the recent trend of chart hits peppered with retro 90s touches. It’s a song about asking somebody to trust you in love, to let go emotionally and to fall completely for you. Andy Howells recently put questions to Nina

How did you get into singing?
I started singing seriously around 12/13 years old. I had singing lessons from Charlotte Church's singing teacher Louise Ryan. She was very strict but taught me a lot. When I was about 10 yrs old however I did perform in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Wales Millennium Centre with Aled Jones and H from Steps! As well as Pop music I love Musical Theatre and sang a lot of Musical Theatre stuff as a younger girl. I was in the final of 'The UK Open Mic' contest a few years back and was Runner Up in The Star Of Stage contest 2 yrs ago. I got to meet Connie Fisher through that who was great.

Your based in Newport, tell us more about that!
I live in Bassaleg, it's a nice place to live. I go to the 6th form in Rougemont School where I'm doing my 'A' levels. I love Newport, it's a great city, it's my home.

How would you describe your music style?
I originally started singing more Musical Theatre stuff when I was a bit younger but I love all kinds of music. My current style for the single and my album All Of Me is a mixture of a little Musical Theatre but mostly Pop, Soul, a tad of R&B and maybe a tiny dash of funk!

Never Let You Go is your new single can you tell us more about that?
Never Let You Go I think is catchy, infectious and toe tappingly paced – soulful pop-funk. It follows the recent trend of chart hits peppered with retro 80's/90s touches. It’s a song about asking somebody to trust you in love, to let go emotionally and to fall completely for you.

You’ve collaborated with songwriters Darren Parry, Dan Curtis and Laura Curtis, how did that come about?
Yes, Never Let You Go is written by award winning songwriters Darren Parry, Dan Curtis and Laura Curtis. Darren has achieved UK Songwriting Contest Award wins (2004 winner ‘Pop’), USA Song Of The Year, USA ‘Billboard’ and USA Unisong awards. Meanwhile, Dan and Laura Curtis have had songs recorded by Paul Potts, Broadway stars Ramin Karimloo & Lea Salonga and also wrote the successful, star studded charity track A Miner’s Song.

What happened was I was singing a few songs at an album launch party in Cafe Jazz, Cardiff last year. Darren Parry was singing there too that night with the talented Rob Devereux on guitar. Darren approached me after the gig and said that his covers band (Sounds Familiar) were looking for a new female singer. He said that he and Rob were very impressed with my voice so asked me if I'd be interested to join their band. A few months later, after my exams, I auditioned...and got in!

Darren later told me he had 'the perfect' original song for me; he played it for me on the keyboard at my house and I loved it; so I decided to record it! Darren produced the track for me and did a great job. We recorded the song at Shabbey Road Studios (with the great Al Steele as engineer) and Rob Devereux on guitar. I hope the public like it as much as I do!

Have you got any live appearances lined up?
Yeah, lots coming up all solo dates/appearances etc. will be posted on: facebook.com/ninajonesmusic

Who are your musical influences?
I'm very much inspired by the music of Adele and Sam Smith. On my debut album I've done a cover of One and Only by Adele. I also love John Legend; there is a cover of All Of Me on there too (you can check out my Soundcloud for these tracks but Carrie Underwood is a favourite of mine also.

What are you listening to at the moment?
Oooh Sam Smith and Adele mostly but always learning new songs for the band, e.g. we just learnt Happy by Pharrell, he's cool too!

Where can people hear your music?

• facebook.com/ninajonesmusic
• twitter.com/ninajonesmusic
• soundcloud.com/ninajonesmusic

The video for the song Never Let You Go has just been finished too and can be seen on my Facebook page and on Youtube. A talented guy called Rob Reed filmed the video and the great Al Steele and Ceri Darknell of Shabbey Road Studio directed/edited it. I love it! I think the video is funky and fresh...see what you think!

• A version of this Q&A with Nina Jones was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment section The Guide on April 17, 2015. Check out the e-edition here.

On Stage: Godspell UK Tour 2015, New Theatre, Cardiff

As I traveled to Cardiff’s New Theatre on Friday evening, I pondered how a full blown concert revival version of Godspell could work. Yes, we have all those wonderful songs composed by Stephen Schwartz including Prepare Ye, Day By Day and Light of the World, but could they still stand up with a new presentation and arrangement some 45 years after their Broadway debut?

With musical direction from Russell Scott, company cast members followed a dynamic prologue from actress Dominique Planter with a performance of  Tower Of Babble accompanied by rhythmical bleeps of mobile phones. From that moment on the talented cast gelled to perfection.

The energy, enthusiasm and delivery were spot on as Andy Abraham as John the Baptist performed Prepare Ye, before Tom Senior captivated the audience as Jesus with his rendition of Save the People.

Newport’s own Centrestage Cymru made their New Theatre debut as a walking choir and provided stellar support to Leanne Jarvis pitch-perfect performance of Day By Day, while the show's static choir Rechoir provided further emphasis on the shows big numbers with professionalism.

South Wales own Laura Mansell gave a wonderful soulful rendition of Bless the Lord and there was a further treat at the beginning of the second act when Laura collaborated with Andy, Leanne and Jennifer Potts for a music Jam.

Special mention must also go to Maeve Byrne, Mitch Miller, Jason Broderick and Robert Hannouch, all musical bright lights who added further magic to the show and are sure-fire ones to watch in the future!

My one hope is that this exciting interpretation of the music of Godspell is recorded for posterity before the tour ends; I would certainly love to enjoy every moment all over again.

• Godspell continues at Cardiff New Theatre until April 18 2015, check the New Theatre website for ticket availability.
• Check out the Official Godspell UK Tour website for further tour dates. 
• Centrestage Cymru Thrilled To Join Godspell Show at Cardiff New Theatre

Blow Monkeys Back On Tour In The UK - Robert Howard Interview

To support the release of their new album If Not Now, When?, The Blow Monkeys will play Cardiff Globe this Sunday (April 19) as part of their current UK tour.

Synonymous with the international hit songs from the 1980’s Digging Your Scene and It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way, the Blow Monkeys split in 1990 before reforming in 2007.

They released their tenth album If Not Now, When? on April 6, which is their fourth long-player since the reunion and have released a new single from the album entitled OK, Have It Your Way.

Andy Howells recently chatted to Blow Monkeys vocalist Robert Howard AKA Dr Robert.

Were you from a music background?
Not really, there was not a lot of professional musicianship in my family but there was a lot of music in my house. I had two older sisters and they went through the whole 60s thing. I was exposed to a lot of music.

How did you get into the music industry?
I caught the bug when I was very young. I guess the first thing I did was busking. I lived in Australia as a teenager and I grew up in the generation that was turned on by punk, although not a fact or in our music that was the beginnings of making me want to be a musician.

You formed The Blow Monkeys in 1982.
I met Neville, the Saxophone player and we just gradually built up the group over the next couple of years. We struggled really hard to get gigs because I didn't know anyone in the industry but we had fans straight away and with a combination of playing and song writing we just ploughed our own furrow. We weren't part of a movement or anything when it all started off but in the end that’s what put us in good stead.

What was it like when you got your first taste of success with Digging Your Scene?
It was lovely. I’m not complaining at all. It put more pressure on us, but it was pressure that we wanted. That was a game changer for us and another big thing was it opened doors for us internationally. We hadn’t really played abroad very much and as we had a hit in America that really changed things for us.

You went on to collaborate with Kym Mazelle (Wait!) and Curtis Mayfield (Celebrate, The Day after You), what was that like?
I was a massive fan of Curtis Mayfield and it was areal honour to work and play with him and did some gigs with him as well. With Kym that was a House thing but found that kind of took off.

The Blow Monkeys went their separate way in the early 90s, did you all remain friends?
There was no nastiness, court cases or anything. We were friends and just decided to stop. Seventeen years later, all our kids had grown up and we just wanted to be a group again. There was no question about it really but we wanted to make new music. Obviously when we play live we play the old songs as well and mix it right up but I don’t want to go on a 80s nostalgia trip, it isn’t about that. It’s all about making new records, obviously a different level to what we’ve done before but at the same time being really enjoyable. I still think we’re moving forward and the new re record, If Not Now, When? is new territory for us.

Can you tell us about your forthcoming Cardiff Globe show?
We’ll be mixing it up playing songs all the way back to 1982 up till now.

Are there any songs you enjoy performing live?
We have a song called Choice which I enjoy doing and the new single Okay, Have It Your Way, I’m looking forward to doing that live.

Finally, how did you become known as Dr Robert?
Its one of those things when you are young and you've got to have a name. I just used Dr. Robert. I've got no reason for it. I could have been called Sting or something!

I always made the connection with The Beatles song from Revolver.
That’s not such a bad connection!

• For tickets to see The Blow Monkeys live visit globecardiffmusic.com
• Find out the latest news on The Blow Monkeys via their official website theblowmonkeys.com
• A version of this interview by Andy Howells was published in the South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on April 17, 2014