Five Questions With: Bob Harms

BOB HARMS plays Happy Man/Mr Thompson in the smash hit feel-good Pretty Woman The Musical at London’s Savoy Theatre and has done so since the West End production opened at the Piccadilly Theatre in February 2020.

Musical Theatre Review said of Bob’s performance: “Bob Harms shamelessly steals the show in a variety of roles, from the ‘Happy Man’ narrator (a Catweazle-like ticket tout on Hollywood Boulevard) to the fleet-footed manager of the luxurious Beverly Wilshire hotel.”

Theatre credits includes: Standby in Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre); Odin in Thor & Loki (Edinburgh Fringe and tour); King Arthur in Spamalot (Mercury Theatre and UK tour); Abananza in Aladdin (Richmond Theatre); Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity (Manchester Royal Exchange); Frankie in Jackie The Musical (UK tour); Steve Baker in Show Boat (Sheffield Crucible Theatre); Ephraim in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Ship Captain in Anything Goes (Sheffield Crucible/UK tour); Backing vocalist/Dad in Kate Bush Before the Dawn (Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith); Dr Grimwig in Oliver! (Sheffield Crucible Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar (UK arena tour); Fletcher in Wonderful Town (UK tour); Chicago (Adelphi and Cambridge Theatre); Larry Hastings in Bells Are Ringing (Union Theatre); Imagine This (New London Theatre); Lyle and Alternate Ren in Footloose (UK tour and Novello); and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake (international tour).

Here Bob continues Musical Theatre Review’s interview series: Five Questions With…

What is it like performing in a West End musical every night after such a challenging time for live theatre?

Pretty Woman was one of the first shows to come back after the pandemic, to 50% capacity. I’d have done the show in front of 5% capacity such was my eagerness to get back to the life I knew. It was jubilant but incredibly cautious. When I’m having a bad day, I often think back to how happy I was to be back.

Rachael Wooding and Bob Harms in Pretty Woman The Musical at the Savoy Theatre, London. Picture: Helen Maybanks

Can you tell us more about playing Mr Thompson/Happy Man and being part of the first London production of Pretty Woman?

It’s a gift of a role, I’m told that often! I just think I was in the right place at the right time when it was being cast. Jerry Mitchell (director/choreographer) took a punt on me, I think, as I was relatively unproven within commercial musical theatre. I’d just been a standby on Come From Away so my multi-role skills were in good shape. The role itself (whichever part of it you’re playing) is really likeable to a point that I think if anyone played it people would still fall in love with him. Jerry allowed myself and covers to bring bits of ourselves to the role.

You have appeared in a huge range of shows both in the West End and up and down the country, what do you like in particular about being part of a musical?

To be honest, it’s all I’ve ever done. But I think it’s a bit of an addiction. Musicals, in the majority, are joyous and I think we could all use extra joy in our lives, I know I do.

Are there any particular musical theatre roles/shows you dream of playing/being involved in?

Whenever I’m asked this my answer is normally a disappointment. There aren’t any roles I dream of playing. I normally wait to see what is around when I’m available and see if it fits. I’d much rather create something than step into something that already exists.

Impossible question, but can you pick out a special highlight from your career so far?

There are a few jobs that come to mind, Come From Away was a very happy time, the message of the show really spreads through your life. Working with Dan Evans was always a pleasure, especially on Show Boat and performing in Kate Bush’s Before The Dawn. It was completely different to anything I’ve done. A great experience. At the time, I didn’t really understand how much of a big deal it was, but I look back on it with huge fondness.