Express & Star

Will Young: Acting has brought out my dark side

Will Young doesn't like musicals. Which is a bit awkward seeing as he's currently starring in one.

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Although it's not your usual leaning-on-a-lamppost, high-kicking, happy-smiley production. It's dark, it's dangerous, it's Cabaret.

"Well, I don't like a certain type of musical," clarifies Will, who plays all-seeing, all-knowing Emcee. "I like ones with deep characters and challenging stories – ones that make you think. The other sort are fine, but they're not for me.

"That's why I like cabaret as a genre, it shocks people into thinking. Things should be a little bit uncomfortable at times, although not one long run of uncomfortableness. Quite the opposite. Little Britain is a great example of this. It is very funny, great characters, great comedy but it is close to the bone at times, it's dark. You know, the single mother with eight kids, it gets you thinking. That's what cabaret as a whole is all about."

The show, which hits Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre from November 26 to 30, is set in Berlin in 1931, when the pulse of Weimer culture was beating strong. Will's Emcee performs each and every night at the infamous Kit Kat Klub, a sassy and sizzling haven of decadence.

But this is not an easy character to play. He's intense, enigmatic and somewhat sinister.

"I don't take Emcee home with me. I have made a conscious effort not to do that," says Will, 34.

"But I wash him off and then get straight back home. He's a freeing character to throw yourself into but he is terrifying. Taking yourself there, to a really dark place, is an odd feeling so if I did take him home with me I'd probably end up killing someone! That's what he's like."

Will's been on the road with Rufus Norris's production since the end of August following a blazing run in the West End, which saw him nominated for a Best Actor in a Musical Olivier Award. And Will himself was instrumental in getting Cabaret out on the road.

"There are not that many shows like this that come along so I went to the producers and said we'd love to do a tour. That's how it got to this stage.

"It's been going great, it's a fantastic show. The audience come in with one expectation and then leave with a totally different feeling. That's something great to be part of. I really believe in it. I enjoy it so much.

"The show's directed by Rufus Norris, who's just got the big gig at The National Theatre. That shows the pedigree of the people who created this. I think that's what a real musical needs – a fantastic director."

It also seems that these days, what a truly successful musical needs is a big-name star. As well as Will, the Grand has also welcomed Marti Pellow and Paul Michael Glaser through its doors of late, with Heidi Range and Denise Van Outen on the way too.

So, would Will like to see more of his contemporaries take to the stage and help drag people away from their TVs and into the theatre?

"Hmm maybe. I think it would be good if more known people got involved in theatre but with lesser-known work. You know, these days you've got to have a celebrity in a musical but there are so many great shows out there and it would be great to give audiences something different.

"I hope if people come to watch Cabaret they will leave thinking 'I'd love to do that more often'. As well as more people seeing musicals, I'd love them to see straight plays too. They will spend their Sunday evenings watching Downton, and that's great – that's story-driven and full of characters – but if you saw that in the theatre, the enjoyment and intensity would be 10 times greater. Theatre is a fantastic way to watch a story. I still think the love is there though, we've been getting the audiences through the doors."

Will first dipped his toe into the world of acting in 2005, when he starred alongside Dame Judi Dench in Mrs Henderson Presents.

Before that, it was music all the way, with his career, as if you need us to tell you, starting on Pop Idol. He won the inaugural show, beating favourite Gareth Gates in the final, and went on to set the record with Evergreen/Anything Is Possible for the fastest-selling debut single in British chart history.

After that initial burst, Young took a more sophisticated step, crafting grown-up pop songs such as Leave Right Now, Grace and Jealousy.

But five albums and a greatest hits later, he's left Sony BMG – his record label since Pop Idol – and just signed to Island Records.

Following the split, Sony are now peddling another greatest hits album in time for Christmas – and Will's not too happy about it.

"The greatest hits is nothing to do with me, it's my old record label Sony. It's out there, if people want to buy it they can but I wouldn't have chosen to do one. I've already done one.

"I've just signed to Island, which is fantastic. I've had a year off this year but will be writing next year and then releasing a record. It's exciting. I've always wanted to work with Island, their roster is second to none, they worked with Amy Winehouse and have Florence + The Machine, Mumford and Sons and Grace Jones. It's a very exciting time for me."

Away from the entertainment world, Will has also been making headlines for his work with Stonewall. He's passionate about clamping down on homophobic language and the use of the word 'gay' as an insult in schools. He's working with the charity to address the issue and has also raised it with Education Secretary Michael Gove. Most recently, he wrote for The Independent, with the piece attracting huge support and prominence.

"The reaction has been amazing, really really exciting. We've got a campaign coming out later this year and it's shaping up to be something great."

So he's got the the information, the platform and the support to really make changes, does he ever consider a career in politics?

"I don't think so," he says. "At the moment I haven't really got that broader knowledge. I like speaking about things I am passionate about, like gay rights, and I am grateful that I have been given that platform as a performer. But I don't think there's ever really a chance of that happening."

Hmm, we're not so sure. After all, politics is in his blood – his family history is littered with notable figures and a couple of Sirs – and it's what he studied at uni.

Besides, he's no stranger to winning the nation's votes.

Elizabeth Joyce

Cabaret runs at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from November 26-30, call the box office on 01902 429212.

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