INTERVIEW
with
James Darch
who plays Brad in
Richard O'Brien's ROCKY HORROR SHOW Tour
coming to the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
29th July - 3rd August 2019
with
James Darch
who plays Brad in
Richard O'Brien's ROCKY HORROR SHOW Tour
coming to the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
29th July - 3rd August 2019
The Rocky Horror Show continues to play to packed houses as it tours the length and breadth of the UK throughout 2019 featuring a wealth of star performers. More than 100,000 people have seen the show during the tour and there are no signs of this incredible cast slowing down. Strictly star Joanne Clifton, who has been delighting audiences and receiving rave reviews as Janet, will continue to don her corset and fishnets as she extends her role in the musical extravaganza for a further six months until the end of the 2019 tour.
The legendary musical extravaganza also stars Kristian Lavercombe, who reprises his role as Riff Raff following more than 1500 performances around the world.
James Darch took over the role of Brad in the Rocky Horror Show at the end of May and is thrilled to be joining Joanne Clifton as well as Steve Punt in the role of the Narrator and Stephen Webb playing Frank n Furter.
The legendary musical extravaganza also stars Kristian Lavercombe, who reprises his role as Riff Raff following more than 1500 performances around the world.
James Darch took over the role of Brad in the Rocky Horror Show at the end of May and is thrilled to be joining Joanne Clifton as well as Steve Punt in the role of the Narrator and Stephen Webb playing Frank n Furter.
I chat to James just a few days after Glastonbury weekend and discover that he was born and raised on a farm in Steart, not far from the famous festival venue. Here's what he had to say...
First of all tell us about growing up on a farm.
My family are all farmers in Somerset. My brother's taken on the family farm.
Is it far from Glastonbury?
You know what, I can see Glastonbury Tor outside of my childhood bedroom window, which is just across a river and not too far away at all; and I seem to remember when I was younger - if the wind was blowing in the right direction - we could hear the music. I know it's awful to say, but I've actually never been to the Festival. My plan is always to try and do the Sunday but because of work, it just never works out. I had so many friends there this year - I'm going to have to go one year. All I've seen is Instagram stories of my friends having fun in the sunshine this last week!
Let's talk about the Rocky Horror Show. Did you see the film or watch the show before you were cast?
Shall I be entirely honest? I didn't know the show really at all before. I'd heard of it, I think you've been living in a box under a shelf if you haven't heard of the Rocky Horror Show. But, I've never seen it live, so it was definitely a - what shall we say - experience being introduced to the show! It's great fun. I love it and when you've got a couple of audience members that know exactly when to shout out and what to say, it just gives the show such a fantastic rhythm - it's real live theatre.
First of all tell us about growing up on a farm.
My family are all farmers in Somerset. My brother's taken on the family farm.
Is it far from Glastonbury?
You know what, I can see Glastonbury Tor outside of my childhood bedroom window, which is just across a river and not too far away at all; and I seem to remember when I was younger - if the wind was blowing in the right direction - we could hear the music. I know it's awful to say, but I've actually never been to the Festival. My plan is always to try and do the Sunday but because of work, it just never works out. I had so many friends there this year - I'm going to have to go one year. All I've seen is Instagram stories of my friends having fun in the sunshine this last week!
Let's talk about the Rocky Horror Show. Did you see the film or watch the show before you were cast?
Shall I be entirely honest? I didn't know the show really at all before. I'd heard of it, I think you've been living in a box under a shelf if you haven't heard of the Rocky Horror Show. But, I've never seen it live, so it was definitely a - what shall we say - experience being introduced to the show! It's great fun. I love it and when you've got a couple of audience members that know exactly when to shout out and what to say, it just gives the show such a fantastic rhythm - it's real live theatre.
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What was it like joining the cast of Rocky Horror?
I joined the cast in May, and I was terrified starting but the cast have just been so lovely. Everyone keeps talking about the Rocky Horror family and I feel like I've become part of the family quite quickly. Essentially it's got a script that the audience interject with during the performance, and I don't think I'd ever been in a show like that before. Sometimes you get your die-hard fans coming in who know it really well and it can really change a show - it keeps you on your toes! I've done Wicked and Mamma Mia for years on end in the West End and as much as you want to keep it exciting, it's the same show each night; whereas this one can change so much every night. I like that element of it. What's it like working with Joanne Clifton [Janet] and Stephen Webb [Frank n Furter]? Stephen's absolutely fantastic, a real old school pro. He's been working in the industry for the last 15-20 years and is a very talented boy. He's just fantastic and Joanne is just great to work with. You know, the producers bring in these people and you never know if they're going to be great but she is fan-tas-tic. She's an actress and a singer in her own right and she's lovely to work with. |
Kristian Lavercombe, has played Riff Raff in the show over 1,500 times, as well as taking on other roles, he must know the show inside out?
It's more than 1,500 I think he's on to about 1,700 times now! He knows the show and he's got some great stories. He'll come out with, "Oh yeah, I remember when I was working with Richard O'Brien and he did this", or, "we were in this country and this happened.." There's a point at the start of Act 2 and it's a bedroom scene and there's just Kristian, myself and couple of the cast that are waiting at the back of the bed before we start and he's always got a story to tell.
You've said that you would like to put your own stamp on the character of Brad, how have you gone about that?
I don't know if I have done that, but I've done my best to. Even though I didn't know a huge amount about the show, I knew about the people who had played Brad before and everyone has this image of who they think he is.
I had a chat with the director, Christopher Luscombe, very early on in rehearsal and we just talked about going back to the basics with Brad: what does it say in the script about him? Is he a dork? And I just thought I'd take him back to the 1950s archetypal, what we thought was a man then. So my kind of story in the show is what Brad thinks is a man, what he judges other people for doing, is he a prude? He doesn't know how he feels about a boy dressing up as a girl, about his own sexuality, about all this kind of stuff; and then just flipping that on its head and going, well what does really make you a man? Does it make you a man to disagree or disapprove of those things? And that's what I'm taking from my little story of Brad. It's actually teaching Brad that a modern day man can do all of those things; your partner can be a boy or a girl, you can like dressing up in heels, but that actually doesn't take away from what being a man is. So that's my 2019 take on Brad.
It's more than 1,500 I think he's on to about 1,700 times now! He knows the show and he's got some great stories. He'll come out with, "Oh yeah, I remember when I was working with Richard O'Brien and he did this", or, "we were in this country and this happened.." There's a point at the start of Act 2 and it's a bedroom scene and there's just Kristian, myself and couple of the cast that are waiting at the back of the bed before we start and he's always got a story to tell.
You've said that you would like to put your own stamp on the character of Brad, how have you gone about that?
I don't know if I have done that, but I've done my best to. Even though I didn't know a huge amount about the show, I knew about the people who had played Brad before and everyone has this image of who they think he is.
I had a chat with the director, Christopher Luscombe, very early on in rehearsal and we just talked about going back to the basics with Brad: what does it say in the script about him? Is he a dork? And I just thought I'd take him back to the 1950s archetypal, what we thought was a man then. So my kind of story in the show is what Brad thinks is a man, what he judges other people for doing, is he a prude? He doesn't know how he feels about a boy dressing up as a girl, about his own sexuality, about all this kind of stuff; and then just flipping that on its head and going, well what does really make you a man? Does it make you a man to disagree or disapprove of those things? And that's what I'm taking from my little story of Brad. It's actually teaching Brad that a modern day man can do all of those things; your partner can be a boy or a girl, you can like dressing up in heels, but that actually doesn't take away from what being a man is. So that's my 2019 take on Brad.
And that's as relevant now as it was then, don't you think?
Absolutely, when I read the script for the first time, that was all I took from it. It's such a 2019 tale, especially this month with PRIDE everywhere, it is so relevant, which is lovely. We have these audiences that turn up and you do literally get George, who's a banker and lives in the middle of Southend and doesn't get to the theatre that much, but he's so happy going along to the theatre, dressing up in a corset, a pair of heels and fishnets, and will just have the best night. And it doesn't mean anything, it's not embarrassing, it's just going out and having a good time - that really shows the Rocky Horror message.
Absolutely, when I read the script for the first time, that was all I took from it. It's such a 2019 tale, especially this month with PRIDE everywhere, it is so relevant, which is lovely. We have these audiences that turn up and you do literally get George, who's a banker and lives in the middle of Southend and doesn't get to the theatre that much, but he's so happy going along to the theatre, dressing up in a corset, a pair of heels and fishnets, and will just have the best night. And it doesn't mean anything, it's not embarrassing, it's just going out and having a good time - that really shows the Rocky Horror message.
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Have you ever corpsed during the show?
Definitely. There was one point with Steve Punt, (left) [who plays the Narrator] a couple of weeks ago. I'm about to sing a nice love ballad and while I'm in a freeze, he comes over and talks about the fact that I'm stood there in just my pants. So yeah, you try to keep a straight face but as soon as you go, you know the audience are absolutely going to go as well. What's the 'maddest' thing about this show? I think I've lost what 'mad' is! I was in Bristol a few weeks ago and all my family came to watch and I think I'd forgotten that it is slightly strange that people turn up in the weirdest costumes. That's just become normal to me. It wasn't until my family came and they were like, 'Oh people really do dress up?' People love to dress up as the characters, it's great. What do you like to do when you're not performing - do you get out to the theatre yourself much? I love to go cabaret type things, like Udderbelly Festival on the Southbank; little intimate things. You know what, Rocky Horror is probably the closest thing to what I would go and watch in London. It's got that kind of quirky, cabaret, audience participation, little bit risque, on the each, kind of vibe. I like it weird and wonderful. |
You have a little Fan Club going on Twitter - how did that start?
Yes, they are a couple of girls who first came to watch me in my Mamma Mia days and they are absolutely gems. They follow me around the country and let everybody know what I'm doing. They're a really sweet couple of girls.
Have you toured before and are you looking forward to coming to Southend?
I toured with Cats a few years ago and we came to Southend. I love Southend. Every time I've come to Southend the sun's been glorious and it's got everything - seaside, property, a nice bunch of people! I'm looking forward to coming in a few weeks time.
Interview: Kim Tobin
See below for how you can get tickets to see James in the Rocky Horror Show when it comes to Southend.
Yes, they are a couple of girls who first came to watch me in my Mamma Mia days and they are absolutely gems. They follow me around the country and let everybody know what I'm doing. They're a really sweet couple of girls.
Have you toured before and are you looking forward to coming to Southend?
I toured with Cats a few years ago and we came to Southend. I love Southend. Every time I've come to Southend the sun's been glorious and it's got everything - seaside, property, a nice bunch of people! I'm looking forward to coming in a few weeks time.
Interview: Kim Tobin
See below for how you can get tickets to see James in the Rocky Horror Show when it comes to Southend.
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Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.
The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits. The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in the most outrageous fancy dress. Website: www.rockyhorror.co.uk Twitter: @rockyhorroruk Facebook: /rockyhorrorshow Tickets from www.southendtheatres.org.uk / 01702 351135 |