Garrett gets musical theatre bug after Sound of Music

Published Tuesday 15 January 2008 at 18:50 by Matthew Hemley

Lesley Garrett is poised to make a return to musical theatre, following her successful debut as the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music.

The opera star told The Stage that plans were in place for her to take up a role in another major musical theatre project, although she was unable to reveal precise details of the production.

She added that performing in The Sound of Music alongside Connie Fisher had been one of the greatest experiences she had ever had and claimed she would “do it again in a second”.

Garrett said: “I definitely want to do more [musical theatre] and I have plans to, but I can’t talk about them right now. I absolutely loved The Sound of Music and I only signed up for six months because I thought I would be so bored by then, but I was not for a second.

“There was so much more in it than I expected. Every single night was a different performance. It was a great experience - one of the greatest experiences I have ever had, actually, to my surprise.”

As well as preparing for a role in the West End, Garrett revealed she was in talks with broadcasters about hosting a chat show that will combine topical conversation with music.

She said the format would be similar to the show she presented last December on the BBC called Christmas Voices, which included guests such as Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts and Yorkshire folk singer Kate Rusby.

Garrett said: “I will be doing more of the Christmas Voices style show but I don’t want to have to wait a year, so I am developing a project that will be a chat and music show for later in 2008.”