Introducing... the first visit to York of Disney's Beauty And The Beast

1:21pm Friday 15th June 2007

Nominated for nine Tony awards including Best Musical, Disney's Beauty And The Beast has had record-breaking runs in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo and London.

Now the West End production is bound for the Grand Opera House in York for a fortnight's run.

CHARLES HUTCHINSON meets the man inside the Beast, actor Matthew Cammelle.

Was the audition process any different, what with this being a Disney show, Matthew?

"To be honest, it was all fairly normal: I rocked up for the audition in London and got the job. The show is under licence to a company called UK Productions, and Disney pop in every so often to make sure their lines are being said in the right way."

How long will you be in the touring show?

"I started in February in Ireland, in Derry and Cork, and we're out on the road until the end of the year; it's pretty much a year's contract.

"Touring has its pros? and its cons. I have two young children, Joe, who's two-and-a-half, and Martha, who was born the week before I went away on tour, and being away from them goes with the territory, but that doesn't make it any easier.

"But it's my job, it pays the mortgage; it's a great role to do, it's the lead, and because we're mostly touring in the UK, there are many places I can drive home from at the weekend or take a flight."

Going anywhere nice this year, sir?

"Later in the year, the show's going to Athens, in November, when it might be a little colder.

Shame! We'll be at the Badminton Theatre; it's called that because that's where they held the badminton in the Olympics, and for some reason they've started playing British theatre shows out there: Mamma Mia, My Fair Lady."

Do you feel extra pressure when playing a title role?

"It is a different kettle of fish. I started with chorus and understudy roles and graduated to the juvenile leads and then Phantom and the Beast, and you feel the difference. It's not pressure but responsibility to lead the company.

Part of the job, as well as going out to do a good job on stage, is to be a good example to other cast members.

"It's always great doing lead roles. Something like Phantom, it's an iconic role and you're singing extremely well known numbers, like The Music Of The Night and The Phantom Of The Opera. I never thought in my wildest dreams it would happen to me, but all of a sudden, there I was doing it."

How would you describe the Beast by comparison with the Phantom?

"It's a bit like Phantom-light.

There's a bit of light and shade with the Beast. The Phantom is a dark, sinister role, but the Beast, it's a softer role.

"With each role, you have to approach it like any acting job, from the angle of finding the humanity in the character. With the Beast, he was a prince in the beginning but has been turned into the Beast by a spell, and as with any job, you go for the truth, and especially with this part. More than anything, children can see through fakery.

What do you look for in each role you play?

"I'm a jobbing actor, like the next man, and you do look for work that will suit your voice and have an emotional impact, as there has to be something to stimulate the 'actory' part of you, especially when you're in a long run."

How much time do you have to spend to prepare for Phantom and the Beast?

"Phantom took about three quarters of an hour; the Beast takes an hour, make-up and costume. In many ways, and I found this with the Phantom, you're sat in the chair with the prosthetics being put on, and you can just prepare for the show. By the time, the final bit of costume goes on, it's bing, bang, bosh! Ready."

Disney's Beauty And The Beast, Grand Opera House, York, June 19 to 30. Performances: 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm matinees on Wednesdays, Saturday and June 21. Tickets: £15.50 to £27.50 on 0870 606 3595.

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