Stephen news 15/11Stephen and his amazing technicolor life Nov 15 2002 IT'S the show everyone knows, starring the singer everyone's heard of. But that doesn't stop Boyzone's Stephen Gately admitting to nerves as he prepares to take the title role in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Empire Theatre this Christmas. "I'm sure I'll be all right once I've got the whole show in my head," says the 26-year-old Dubliner, still living by media decree with the attached label of 'cute'. But notice how even the music Press never talks about ex- members of Boyzone. That's because the Irish line-up fronted by Ronan Keating, who spent seven years notching up 16 consecutive top five singles and became the first group since the Beatles to debut at Number One with their initial four albums, has never officially disbanded. But let's get real. Another Boyzone gig would be a bigger miracle than Christmas itself. They've all gone their separate ways, with Stephen now transforming a solo career with hits like New Beginning, into yet another fresh start as an actor. "I am very excited, but I am actually quite nervous as well," he tells me prior to the start of rehearsals next week. "Of course I have done big shows. With Boyzone I played in front of audiences of more than 60,000. "But it's worse in front of a smaller audience. When it's more intimate, they can see every detail. That can be more scary." Not that Stephen is a candidate for being shy. "I love attention," he says with a grin. "There's nothing wrong with that. I look forward to that part." Life hasn't always been easy for the son of a Dublin decorator, one of five children raised in a two-bedroom flat in one of the toughest neighbourhoods of the Irish capital. And one of the biggest strains for Stephen once stardom struck was concealing the fact that he was gay. So he came out - during midsummer 1999 for the record - and won laurels from other celebrities like Victoria Beckham, as well as flowers from the likes of Lily Savage and Elton John. But nowadays Stephen's manager Grant Logan pre-empts any more questioning along those lines "because it's all been said before." So Stephen, living back in Dublin, doesn't allude to his personal life, except to say that although he sees all the other members of Boyzone, he doesn't meet up with Ronan Keating. "But when I'm in Liverpool, I'll be popping to Manchester to see Keith (Duffy) who's been doing Coronation Street, and I daresay he'll be coming to Liverpool to see me. We're still best mates. "I have fond memories of staying in Liverpool for the Boyzone gigs, and will feel very much at home being back in the city. "I have some friends who I have met over the years, and will also spend some time hanging out with them."
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But, right now, the show's the thing. And re-launching a show as well known to Liverpool audiences as Joseph is no mean challenge. "I have been working in London with a musical voice coach," says Stephen. "Of course, I have heard some of the well-known songs from Joseph, but I haven't ever actually seen the show, which is probably an advantage. In fact, I'm glad I haven't. "Nor have I listened in detail to any of the soundtrack recordings. "That's because I don't want to be influenced by anyone who has played the role before. I just want to do it the way I think it should be done. "I think the credibility of doing musical shows is your ability to sing, not just in a pop music sense, but theatrically as well. "I have always loved the theatre and acting, from when I was a kid, and I would like to do more of it." At 13, Stephen joined a community drama group. Little could he have imagined then that he was destined for the West End. For when Joseph finishes the Empire season, that's exactly where it's heading, produced by the show's biggest ever champion, Liverpool impresario Bill Kenwright. He started staging the Tim Rice/ Andrew Lloyd Webber musical (originally a schools' chamber opera) on a four-week licence during the mid-70s. He then lost the rights for three years while Joseph went into the London Palladium, starring among others, ex-Neighbours actor Jason Donovan and the TV presenter Philip Schofield. But the Old Testament-inspired show, with its easy on the ear songs (Any Dream Will Do; Close Every Door, etc ...) was soon back on the road, and even the so-called current tour is in its sixth year. So Bill Kenwright - notching up his fifth consecutive Christmas show at the Empire - has decided it's time for a full relaunch, with new costumes, sets etc. And young Mr Gately is your man. "I'm not very religious or anything," says Stephen "I have my beliefs, but I am not of one religion. "I am doing this show purely because I love the music. It is a family show for all ages." But standing centre stage entwined in the famous Technicolor coat does have some bonuses. Stephen has been invited to switch on Liverpool's Christmas lights this Sunday .. "That's something else," he says with just a hint of anxiousness. "I've not done anything like that before. "I haven't got any great speech prepared. "Hopefully, it will just involve flicking a switch." * Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Empire Theatre, December 16 to January 11. |
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