York will be seeing a lot of Gareth Gates this week. In every sense.
The man who has turned from talent show contestant to chart-busting pop star to musical theatre stalwart hits the Grand Opera House in Footloose from May 2.
Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet.
Songs include Eighties favourites like Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and the title track.
Here Gareth talks about his early days, his skimpy stage attire and his favourite musical.
‘I need to be pumped up!’
When did you first start to sing?
Years later I was asked by Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Joseph in the West End and I jumped at the chance. It just hasn’t stopped since!
Did you know Footloose before joining this production?
Tell us about the role you’re playing.
Ren arrives in Beaumont and shakes everything up; he teaches Willard how to dance. Willard is a goofy character, and this is brand new for me. I am really enjoying playing someone completely different. I like to challenge myself.
We hear you have to wear gold hotpants in one scene…?
What is your favourite musical?
I learnt my craft on that job, from the best. We even got to take the show to Paris, which was obviously incredible.