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musical whodunit, has been a huge Broadway success already. ‘What I love about Frank is that he’s such a sweet guy, even considering he’s there to solve a murder,’ Jason says. ‘He loves theatre but hasn’t had the chance to be on stage, and that’s not dissimilar from how I started. ‘He’s fun to play. One of the challenges is the accent, but I get to work with an accent coach and I’ve been watching lots of films set in Boston to get an ear for it. We’ve also got a few dance numbers, so I’ve been hitting the gym to prepare for that!’
Family fortune
Stepping in to musical theatre has given Jason an escape from lthough he’s best known the sometimes lonely world of as a stand-up comic, stand-up. ‘I didn’t realise at first Jason Manford is quite at how much I enjoy working with home singing and dancing other people. You spend so much his way around the stage. In time alone when you’re touring fact, his performing roots as a stand-up. I mean, don’t feel were more in that area. sorry for me, I did very well out ‘I remember being of it, but it’s a lonely job! about nine or 10 at So, in theatre it’s lovely to ‘In theatre school,’ Jason says, be part of a cast, a family it’s lovely ‘and I don’t know how feel, which I really love.’ to be part Jason isn’t swapping they got away with it, of a cast, a roles entirely – he will but they took us to see family feel’ still pursue his comedy Sweeney Todd! It was career, as well as whatever quite an experience, and else comes along. ‘My dad I remember thinking it was just always used to say to me, “Your brilliant. I was in every musical I horizon should become your could be at high school, whether middle distance” so that you it was my year group or not I aim for things and when you would badger the teacher until get there you head on to the they let me be a part of it.’ next thing. That’s great advice. Jason’s love goes further than I don’t have a preference at just performing. ‘I actually the moment – there are times when stand-up is number one wrote a couple of musicals and times when it’s theatre.’ myself when I was at uni too When he’s not performing, and I’ve got a couple of writing Jason is always busy working – projects for theatre that I’m but his family brings him back working on, but it’s a big world to normality. ‘I don’t really have to dive into and a flop is a down time!’ he says. ‘Even when real flop, so it’s a big risk.’ I’m off I like writing down ideas or music, but that’s a privilege Mystery theatre really. I suppose my real down For now Jason is getting into time is hanging out with my character as Frank Cioffi, a kids. They’re a good laugh and Boston detective obsessed I love it!’ with musicals. When a murder Curtains is at Venue Cymru happens in a theatre, his dogged from 4th to 8th February. pursuit of the killer begins. The See www.venuecymru.co.uk show, described as a comedy
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Comedian and TV star Jason Manford comes to Llandudno’s Venue Cymru this January with the Tony award-winning musical Curtains. Shire caught up with him to chat about the show and how he finds life in musical theatre compared with his roots in stand-up comedy
January/February 2020 | SHIRE MAGAZINE 17
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