In These Are A Few Of My Favourite Songs, critic and journalist Mark Shenton conducts a series of live personal interviews with some of the leading figures in the theatre world.
On separate nights, Simon Russell Beale, Jeremy Sams, Howard Goodall and Kerry Ellis will talk about the songs that inspire them and the work they do, and a selection of their chosen songs will be performed by Caroline Sheen (20 & 27 May) and Emma Willliams (17 June).
On 20 May, Shenton will talk to Russell Beale, whose acting credits include Collaborators, London Assurance, Much Ado About Nothing, Jumpers, Humble and Hamlet, all at the National Theatre, and West End productions of Death Trap and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
On 27 May, Shenton will interview director, lyricist, translator and composer Sams, whose directing credits include Noises Off in the West End and on Broadway and The Wind In The Willows at the Old Vic. He has also written, arranged and directed music for around 50 productions including Arcadia, The Merry Wives Of Windsor and The Wizard Of Oz.
On 17 June, the Sunday Express critic will speak to Emmy, Brit and BAFTA award-winning composer Goodall. His original musicals include The Hired Man, which he co-wrote with Melvyn Bragg, and Love Story, which was seen in the West End in 2010. He is also well known for creating the TV themes for Red Dwarf, The Vicar Of Dibley and Mr Bean, among others.
On 8 July, Shenton will return to the Soho theatre to interview Ellis, who is best known for her performance as Elphaba in Wicked. She also originated the role of Meat in We Will Rock You, starred as Nancy in Oliver! and as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Sheen is currently appearing in the West End as Fantine in Les Misérables at the Queen’s theatre while Williams has starred in Goodall’s Love Story, as well as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Desperately Seeking Susan.
The series of interviews will benefit The Theatrical Guild, the charity that looks after backstage and front-of-house personnel in need.