JEREMY SECOMB is playing the villainous Curtis Jackson in the UK and Ireland tour of Sister Act The Musical, following the show’s hit run at London’s Eventim Apollo. He appears alongside Sandra Marvin as Deloris Van Cartier, Lesley Joseph as Mother Superior, Clive Rowe as Eddie Souther and Lizzie Bea as Sister Mary Robert.
Jeremy’s West End Theatre credits include: A Christmas Carol (Dominion), Les Miserablés (Queen’s), Sweeney Todd (Shaftesbury Avenue), The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s), Lend Me a Tenor (Gielgud), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace), Evita (Adelphi), The Woman in White (Palace) and Jerry Springer – The Opera (Cambridge).
Other theatre credits include: Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse), Evita (International/UK tour), Sweeney Todd (Harrington’s Pie and Mash shop, Tooting); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK tour); A Grand Night for Singing (Footbridge Sydney) and The Phantom of the Opera (Australia/New Zealand and UK tour).
Jeremy has also been seen Off-Broadway in Sweeney Todd (Barrow Street, New York, Winner of The Theatre World Award and nominations for Lucille Lortel, Drama League and Drama Desk Awards).
There are some musicals that just look like SO much fun to be part of and the current production of Sister Act is definitely one of those. Can you describe what the experience of performing at the Eventim Apollo was like?
It’s very interesting to play the Eventim Apollo. It’s a massive house and isn’t usually known for its housing of musicals. There have been a few there over the years but it’s known for its gigs – whether it’s comedians, singers or bands. It’s a brilliant experience to play this show to 3,500 people show after show. Because there really is nothing like having those 3,500 people on their feet, dancing and singing at the end of the show.
Curtis is the villain of the show, but you still have to engage the audience (your great delivery of the dialogue and songs plus the chemistry with your awesome sidekicks help that!). How did you approach the role?
I really wanted to be the villain in this production. There has to be a real and present threat to Deloris for the rest of the story to play out. So I had conversations with director Bill Buckhurst before I accepted the role about where he saw the character as well. Luckily we both were singing from the same hymn sheet. We had to try and counterbalance the song lyrics of ‘When I Find My Baby’ with what the three guys behind me are doing. The fact Curtis is in his own little world getting carried away with doing what he wants to Deloris with what his Henchmen – Tom Hopcroft, Bradley Judge and Damian Buhagiar – are doing behind, works so well with the intention of the song.
You are on a major tour with a very talented company. Do you like travelling the country with a show?
I’ve been extremely lucky to spend a lot of my career in the UK in London. Touring is a part and parcel of being a performer I think. I’m looking forward to seeing some more of the UK and Ireland.
Jeremy Secomb as Curtis Jackson and company in Sister Act The Musical. Picture: Manuel Harlan.
You have a hugely impressive CV featuring performances in a number of long-running West End musicals. What is it about musical theatre that appeals to you?
Thank you. Musicals have always held a special place in my heart. My parents both listened to musical theatre albums but we lived in country Australia so we didn’t get a chance to see theatre. I didn’t even see my first professional musical until I was 22. When I did, I knew it was where I wanted to be.
Being in a show like Sister Act that brings so much joy to people is very special after the past two and a half years that the country as a whole has gone through. Theatre can change your life. It certainly changed mine.
Impossible question, but can you pick out a special highlight from your career so far?
I’ve actually been asked this before. It’s a hard question to answer really. I’ve been very fortunate to have had some incredible experiences as I’ve gone along. But working so closely with Stephen Sondheim on Sweeney Todd was mind-blowing for me. If I could go back to my 14 year old self and tell him that, his head would explode. Then to be involved in the concert that Cameron Mackintosh organised as a sort of memorial for Steve was an incredible highlight as well. Very Lucky.
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