The Stage

Exclusive: Thriller Live director Lloyd unveils Marc Bolan musical as his next project

Published Thursday 19 March 2009 at 10:50 by Matthew Hemley

Thriller Live director Gary Lloyd is turning his attention from Michael Jackson to singer Marc Bolan for his next project - a musical based on the life of the former T-Rex frontman.

Called 20th Century Boy - The Story of Marc Bolan, the musical has been written by record producer Nicky Graham, who has worked with Shirley Bassey and Julio Iglesias, and former music publisher Brian Dunham.

Lloyd, who is to direct and choreograph the production, said Dunham and Graham - who are the show’s producers, along with Arden Entertainment - are negotiating investment for the production, which is likely to have a UK tour before coming into the West End early next year. He added that Lee Mead had expressed an interest in playing Bolan, after attending a workshop of 20th Century Boy last September.

“The project has not been given the green light completely yet, so nothing is confirmed, but he came to the workshop and showed an interest - we shall see,” Lloyd said. “Marc Bolan is not an artist I was madly into, but it’s a fascinating story and I got hooked very quickly. We developed it together as a team and put together a very strong cast, who performed a successful workshop last year. We are all excited about getting it out there. The music is fantastic, the story is electric and it is going to be quite a big production.”

Lloyd admitted the success of Michael Jackson musical Thriller Live would be an advantage in securing a West End run for the project, which he said was very different from other shows he has directed.

“This is different in that it has a book, so directing it will be more about directing actors, which is very exciting for me. Thriller Live was a choreographer’s dream, but directing that was not dissimilar to the big concert tours I have put on,” he said.