The Stage

Musicals beckon Barrowman back to West End

Published Wednesday 12 December 2007 at 11:05 by Matthew Hemley

Exclusive: John Barrowman is planning a return to West End musicals after a hiatus of more than three years and is in discussions with both Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh about roles in forthcoming productions.

The actor, who last appeared in the West End in the play A Few Good Men in 2005, has spent the last couple of years concentrating on television projects such as Torchwood. However, he said that he anticipated making a return to musical theatre by the end of next year.

He told The Stage: “I will return to musicals. I have a meeting with Cameron Mackintosh and also with Andrew Lloyd Webber, so trust me, I will be back in the theatre. Nothing beats a live audience, there is nothing that beats that thrill.”

Barrowman’s last appearance in a West End musical was as Billy Flynn in Chicago, from September to December 2004. Prior to that, he played the lead, Billy Crocker, in the National Theatre production of Anything Goes, a show he credits with giving his career a resurgence.

More recently, Barrowman has been playing Captain Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood, and he has also appeared as a panellist in the Andrew Lloyd Webber BBC shows How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do.

Speaking about the rise of theatre talent search shows on television, Barrowman acknowledged that there had been criticism from some performers in the West End, but claimed the programmes went on to provide jobs for hundreds of people in the industry.

He said: “If you had said five years ago that there would be a prime time show on Saturday nights promoting musical theatre, everyone would have laughed at you. This has been the biggest thing to help the industry in the last ten years. They have shown everyone there is a world in the West End of talented people who are underestimated and not looked at. That one role cast on television creates 100 to 200 jobs for other people in the business.”

Barrowman said the theatre industry must “embrace” the shows but admitted there were some finalists from the programmes working in the industry who “did not deserve” to be there.

He also confirmed he was lined up to appear in the next BBC talent search show, but would not reveal which musical it would be looking to cast. However, he ruled out reports that the choice was likely to be My Fair Lady.