La Cage Aux Folles at Birmingham theatre

Set in the heart of St Tropez against the backdrop of the infamous Cage Club, this hilarious and heartening story follows the trials and tribulations of life-partners Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, otherwise known as Za Za.

Za Za’s idyllic existence suddenly comes unstuck with the arrival of Georges’ son Jean-Michel, soon-to-be married to the daughter of a notorious right-wing politician who is determined to close down the local colourful night-life.

Drama and hilarity quickly ensue when a meeting of the parents forces the duo to cover up their less-than-orthodox lifestyle. The question is, will Albin muster the strength to step into the role of a lifetime so that Jean-Michael can marry his love and live happily ever after?

The production of La Cage Aux Folles, which plays Birmingham’s Hippodrome tonight and tomorrow, will see Eastenders’ actor and West End favourite John Partridge step into the coveted high-heeled shoes of Albin alongside long-time Broadway leading man and T.J Hooker star, Adrian Zmed as his hen-pecked partner and club proprietor Georges.

We caught up with Broadway veteran and life-long La Cage fan Adrian Zmed to talk taking on the stage role of a lifetime, touring the UK for the very first time and, what he sees, as the show’s enduring appeal today.

Firstly, how did you become involved with the show?

Bill Kenwright has always been my champion. I did Blood Brothers for Bill Kenwright on Broadway in New York several years ago and Bill had always said that he wanted to bring me to the UK as The Narrator in Blood Brothers but every time the opportunity presented itself, I wasn’t available. So Bill called me up about this particular project and, of course, I jumped at the chance. It’s one of those roles and one of those shows that you just can’t refuse.

How do you feel about touring the UK – do you mind living out of hotels and suitcases?

It just comes with the territory – I’ve been doing it my whole life. In normal circumstances, I’d say living out of a suitcase is my least favourite part of the job but – in the case of La Cage Aux Folles, it’s actually been a real pleasure because this is the first time I’ve visited the UK. I’ve toured the United States my entire life, I know every city like the back of my hand. But now, I’m discovering an entire country. It’s just so charming.

What’s your favourite part of the show to perform?

For me to perform, it’s has to be my first love song with Albin, Song on the Sand. It’s a very, very important moment because in the play because it shows the audience that this is a relationship between two human beings. It could be a man and a woman, a man and a man or a woman and a women. It’s a song about the moment we first met and for me, it’s an essential, critical point in the show because it shows the audience that this is about two real people who really care about each other. It’s the first point where we come down to earth amidst all the chaos of what’s going on in La Cage Aux Folles and we see the true humanity at the heart of the story.

With a career lasting more than 40 decades in stage and screen on both sides of the Atlantic, what’s the secret of longevity in show business/performing?

Versatility – absolutely. Many of the peers who I worked with when I first came to Hollwyood unfortunately haven’t really carried on working – and that’s because they only learned how to be in front of a camera. I’m still an actor at my age working on a major national tour and that’s because I’ve been able to do stage work, I’ve been able to dance and to sing – I’ve been able to do drama. Versatility is the key to staying alive as an actor. I’m so grateful and very lucky to have only been an actor my whole life and never had to do anything else. It’s one of the things I love most about the UK actually. I can count on one hand the national touring companies right now in the United States.

l Tickets are priced from £17 and are on sale now via 0844 339 5000 or online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com