'It was rowdy last time': John Barrowman unravels star-studded career in captivating ‘My Life in Musicals’ show at Theatre Royal
Famous actor returns to city for dazzling show
For more than three decades, John Barrowman has made a name for himself on some of the biggest stages in musical theatre — and now he’s bringing the soundtrack of that extraordinary career to Portsmouth.
The star will take to the stage at Theatre Royal Portsmouth on Saturday, October 24 with My Life In Musicals - his very own “love letter to every stage, every song and every one of you who've cheered, cried, laughed and believed right along with me.”
Over the years, Barrowman has been the lead in 22 musical productions, both on Broadway and West End, with his impressive credits including Sunset Boulevard, Anything Goes, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Company, La Cage Aux Folles and The Phantom of the Opera.
The actor is no stranger to the city after last visiting Portsmouth in 2019 for his festive production, ‘A Fabulous Christmas’ at Guildhall, which coincided with his debut album featuring seasonal favourites.
In an exclusive interview with The News, he said: “If I remember the last time, it was raucous and rowdy, and we had a fabulous show.
“I enjoy the unexpected. My favorite part of this show is the response of the people that I get when I'm done because they've gone on such an unexpected journey. Some of them are shocked a little bit about how much they enjoyed it.
“My show is very interactive in the sense that I ask them questions. We do a Q&A in the second act - an audience needs to understand when they come to a show that they are part of the show also.”
Speaking about Portsmouth 100, he continued: “Celebrating the show itself, which is a milestone for me, it's also fun to know that the city is having its own milestone. And of course, now that I know, I'll probably put something in the show to reference it, and I'll probably do that during the Q&A. That's really nice and special for the city.”
Throughout the evening, Barrowman, who is also known for his roles in Doctor Who and Torchwood, will share personal memories from his career. Fans can also expect the warmth and wit that have made him a popular television personality, with stories ranging from his childhood performances in Scotland, to life backstage in some of the world's biggest productions.
He added: “I'm telling the story of my life, my life in musicals. Basically the journey that I've had from the beginning until where we are today. It's all told through the shows that I've done, things that have happened during those shows, the stories of things like that. And also, I've dug into the archives of photographs of things from the shows, pictures that I've taken personally of myself and people like Elaine Paige and Stephen Sondheim. I've got videos from quite a few of my leading ladies who are talking about what it's like and what it's been like to work with John Barrowman.
“It's really, it's very interesting for the audience to hear their point of view, what they have experienced and how they know me, as opposed to what everybody has read. The other thing about the show and why it's important to me is I'm very straightforward about everything. I've always been that way, and very blunt about stuff. And during the show it's very straightforward. You're not gonna get a documentary of John Barrowman's life. You're gonna get a fun journey, you know?”
The two and a half hour show will keep an audience on their toes with lively anecdotes and musical numbers that will captivate.