John Partridge Interview - CATS Berlin, 29th November 2002

"Theater Am Potsdammer Platz: Musical star John Partridge plays his favorite role in his favorite city."

"John Partridge is the Rum Tum Tugger in CATS. “You came to the rehearsals just 3 weeks before the first show! How come?"
"I had another engagement in London, in ‘Taboo’ with and by Boy George. When I got the offer to go back to Berlin, I agreed right away. My boyfriend lives here and I love this city. The chance to be able to perform here again came very unexpected. It’s very difficult for an actor to get work in Berlin – and particular a dream role!"

"The director and choreographer Gillian Lynne had decided to set up a pure german cast, but then they cast you in London for the role of the Rum Tum Tugger. Did Gillian have a good old think about that?"
"Yes, I think so. Gillian knows me since I first performed CATS on stage when I was 17, now I’m 31. She’s seen me as Rum Tum Tugger from the start and watched me grow with that role. But she does continuously look for new performers. That she actually chose me again, makes me really proud."

"In how many productions have you been performing as Rum Tum Tugger?"
"In four, in London, Hamburg, on the UK-Tour and in the CATS-Video. But it was never boring. That role was written for me, the more often I performed it, the more of myself filtered into it."

"Whats so special about this role?"
"The Rum Tum Tugger is someone, that excites the people. He spreads a good time, touches everyone with his enthusiasm. I’m exactly like that myself when I’m on stage – and also off stage."

"The audience loves you for it. Could it be, its because your not just turning on the women but also men?"
"Of course, I want to turn on both. That’s what makes it successful and that’s the thrill – to be sexy for men and women. I love to play with this and fool around with it."

"The critics in german newspapers are excellent. What do you think of CATS-Berlin?"
"Well, I honestly have to say, that this production is at least as good as in London, if not better . The cast and staff are absolutely professional! Besides, what I really like is, that the cast is fairly old, on average – around 30. This raises the acting qualities."

"Your stage german is really good."
"(laughs) Yes, they taught us with the whip!"

"Do you speak german offstage as well?"
"My boyfriend is Italian, so we don’t necessarily speak german at home. I tried all different ways to learn german, but it just doesn’t work. That’s why now I’m going to the university 3 times a week in the mornings."

"Many of the performers think that Berlin is one of the most exciting cities in the world – what do you think?"
"That’s true, Berlin is the most fantastic city in Europe! Such a lot is going on here. We live in Friedrichshain and I already met such a lot of interesting people in that area. Besides that, I have a band and my band-members came along with me. We take in everything around us and get totally influenced by it."

"What kind of music do you play?"
"Particulary Electro-punk. The band is called ‘Machtlos’ (powerless, helpless(?)). In a couple of days, when our third band member arrives from his world tour with Patricia Kaas, we will start to play in Berlin."

"Have you been in the music-business very long?"
"I was working as a dancer in video-clips, f.e. in ‘Real Thing’ by U2. I got to know the company that way. Later I also worked with Pet shop boys, Kim Wilde, Nenneh Cherry, Pete Townsend, Mica Paris and Ultra Nate as a background singer."

"Which three locations in Berlin would you suggest to go and see to someone, who comes to Berlin for the first time?"
"That is difficult. Well, I would most definitely go to the restaurant No. 55 (near the University). You get a brilliant view over all of Berlin. Than the Jazz-bar ‘Soul Trane’ in the Stilwerk in the Kantstrasse – its just fantastic there. And then the Technikmuseum (museum of technic). Its great. And they do the best cappuccinos."

"Right, the show will begin soon so I better leave you alone to put on your make-up. They say it takes a performer up to 2 hours to put it on!"
"(laughs) Oh, I only need 15 minutes. I throw all the make-up into the air, put my face underneath, then the make up falls onto it just the way it should."

This interview was written by Anne Oettel.
Thanks to Demata's wickerbasket for this! Go to this site, it's good!

It’s home, sweet home for Miss Saigon star

HIT MUSICAL 'Miss Saigon', currently the largest touring musical in the UK, began its run at the Palace Theatre last night (Wednesday).

And local man John Partridge will take one of the lead roles in the epic production, which features more than 50 actors and musicians and is already taking the North West by storm.

Set in 1975 during the final days leading up to the American evacuation of Saigon, Miss Saigon is a heart-rending love story about the relationship between an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman.

John will take the role of his namesake, American GI John, who is one of the most interesting and rounded characters in the show.

And in the middle of his non-stop schedule, the accomplished actor took time out to catch up with the Guardian.

"I play John, Chris (the lead character's) best friend. It's quite interesting for me as an actor, because most of the characters are pretty much one-dimensional, but John isn't.

"In the first half he's your typical soldier's soldier, a typical man's man, whereas in the second half John realises that what they were fighting for wasn't what he wanted.

"He starts up a foundation to get all the displaced children back with their American fathers. You see a completely different character, so I get to play two totally different roles."

Although he was born into an ordinary Radcliffe family, at the age of just 10 John followed his dream and moved down to the bright lights of London to train with the Royal Ballet School.

Success followed in everything from theatre shows to musicals to television programmes, and he is now based in Berlin, working as a popular soap star. But, ever the family man, he'll be back in North Manchester for the festive season.

John said: "I wanted to do Miss Saigon and, because I'm in Manchester for Christmas, it's a great opportunity to see my family.

"When I was young I went to Radcliffe United Reformed Church with my family and was involved in productions there. I went to a local music school and, when I was 10, my teacher Rita thought I could take it further.

"I auditioned for the Royal Ballet School, got in, and moved down to London. Then, when I was 16, I auditioned for 'Cats' and it went from there.

"It was a bit of a Billy Elliott story - my family aren't musical and I come from a traditional, working class, northern background."

John also offered young townsfolk some advice on how to get into showbusiness.

He said: "I think, if you have a passion for something and if you've got something inside you that tells you you want to do that, then that's the best thing.

"It's like most things - you have to work hard and you have to want it. There are hundreds and thousand of people out there who want it, so you have to really want it and really work at it.

"It's a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work."

First published by the Middleton Guardian. Thank you for lettting me have this!

A date with Miss Saigon

From the archive, first published Friday 25th Nov 2005.

WEST END performer John Partridge is returning to his Radcliffe roots for Christmas.

The 34-year-old is to perform in the acclaimed musical Miss Saigon at the Palace Theatre in Manchester which means he gets the chance to catch up with his family over the festive period.

As a youngster growing up in Park Street, Radcliffe, John's only ambition was to become a dancer.

He received early encouragement and support from his mum, Bridie and late father George and went on to study at the Royal Ballet School in London at the age of ten.

John's training also took him to the Bush Davies School and Doreen Bird College before he hit the West End stage in shows like Tommy, Starlight Express and Cats.

Widely travelled and now living in Berlin, this will be the first time John has performed in Manchester.

He said: "I have never worked in Manchester and that was the sole reason for me taking the job. It means I will be in Manchester for Christmas and New Year for the first time in five years and provides an opportunity for people who know me to come and see me in the show."

As well as John's family, who still live in Radcliffe, his old dancing teacher from the Rita Seddon School of Dance will be in the audience, prompting fond memories from his childhood. John said: "My sister, Fiona, went to dance classes and at that age you want to do everything your sister does so I asked if I could go. Before my dad would shell out for proper tap shoes he got me an old pair of normal shoes and fitted some taps to them. After I made a good job of the lino in the kitchen my parents allowed me to go to proper classes."

"I also remember performing in pantomimes at Radcliffe United Reformed Church. My parents were very supportive and have only ever been proud of me. I used to watch Gene Kelly and Fred Astair films with my dad so he had no problem with me wanting to be a dancer. I think he saw it as a ticket out for me and the job has certainly enabled me to meet a variety of people. I was rubbish at school and there was never any other option for me but to be a dancer."

As well as dancing, John will show off his singing talents in the production of Miss Saigon, in which he plays a character called John.

The musical tells the love story of an American GI and a young Vietnamese woman, set in 1975 during the final days leading up to the American evacuation of Saigon.

Thank you to the Lancashire News for this!