Pop star turned stage star Gareth Gates is preparing to cut loose when he comes to Dartford in in his latest role next month.

The singer, who has sold over 3.5million records, has played lead roles in hits such as Les Miserables and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat but never has he tackled anything like his part in Footloose.

Gareth, 31, plays Willard in the musical based on the 1984 Kevin Bacon-starring, double-Oscar winning movie.

He told us: “I decided for the past few years now to do theatre. I’ve had the privilege of playing some great roles in some great shows and this show is really fun and upbeat.

“I’m playing a part and a type of character that I’ve never played before: I’m the comedy guy and it’s great. It’s different for me and I have lots of fun doing it.”

Footloose is set in a small American town, Beaumont, where dancing is banned. That is until a city boy, Ren, arrives and shakes things up. Gareth plays cowboy Willard.

Gareth said: “Willard’s kind of in awe of this guy. He wants to break the rules and think outside the box when Willard is more ‘stick to the rules, don’t cause any trouble’.

“He’s a very fun guy, though, a cowboy, and loves the fact Ren is here to break the mould. He is the first one to follow Ren.”

Born in the year the film was released, Gareth was initially attracted to the role because of its iconic music.

He said: “My favourite era of music is eighties. It is great to be in a show where there’s all those classic eighties songs and I’m chuffed that I’m going to be hearing those songs every night.”


Of course, the chance to do something different was also a huge draw.

He said: “I have played some very serious stuff like Les Miserables, which is very focussed and talking about war.

“So to be doing something like this which is more light-hearted and I can have fun on stage and hopefully get some laughs – I haven’t played a part that has made people laugh – I’m quite looking forward to it.

“I’ve worked with comedians in the past and I’ve watched them and their part evolve once you have an audience.

“I’m quite looking forward to that, actually, and seeing where the laughs work and where to soak up that laughter and where not to. It’s a complete new thing for me.”

The chance to flex some hitherto untested comic muscles may be one difference for Gareth on this show, but another is surely the music.

Unusually it does not come from a band beneath the stage but is played by the actors on stage, which adds another layer of difficulty to rehearsals.

Gareth said: “It has meant we have got a hell of a lot to learn.

“We have obviously had to learn all of our lines and the dance routines, which I find very, very hard. I’m a terrible dancer.

“To do all that with the song and learn the instrumental parts is really hectic.”

It probably helps, then, that the cast is in an environment where they feel comfortable.

 “Racky (Plews) the director, she’s great,” said Gareth. “She gives us our freedom to make our parts what we want.”

“It’s a very safe environment and we can try anything. If it works, brilliant, if it doesn’t we can try something else. To be given that freedom is great.”

Footloose is at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford, from February 8 to 13. Go to orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.

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