NICHOLAS MCLEAN is starring in West End Acoustic – an unplugged celebration of popular musicals presented by New Frame Productions – at London’s Riverside Studios on 8 December 2020 alongside Maiya Quansah-Breed, Renée Lamb, Nicholas McLean and Sam Tutty, with musical direction by Chris Poon.
Nicholas’ credits include Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre – Black British Theatre Award for Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical), The Book of Mormon (Palace Theatre), Avenue Q (UK tour) and Sister Act (Gordon Craig Theatre).
Here Nicholas continues Musical Theatre Review’s interview series: Five Questions With…
How has life treated you during lockdown?
I can’t deny that it hasn’t been a massive adjustment, but I always pride myself in my ability to adapt to different situations and this is no different. I’ve been lucky enough to take part in some really exciting projects during Lockdown 1/Lockdown 2 which just wouldn’t have been possible if everyone wasn’t so aggressively available. I’m so proud of the entire arts community for the way we’ve all risen to the challenges surrounding the pandemic, continuing to create and innovate to keep audiences interested.
How does it feel to be in rehearsal for an actual live stage production at such an extraordinary time. Are you and the rest of the cast and creative team having to exist in a ‘bubble’?
It’s so exciting to be able to sing in front of a live audience again. With so much of the industry moving online for the majority of 2020 it’s a real privilege to get back in a room and sing for the lovely audiences of Riverside Studios. Of course things have to be done slightly differently (we don’t need to bubble as it’s a one-night-only extravaganza) but there will be other safety measures in place such as reduced capacity, use of face coverings where necessary and maintaining social distancing etc. It might be a little different but it’s worth it for the unbeatable experience of live performance!
Can you tell us more about the West End Acoustic at Riverside Studios, the role you play within the concert and the unplugged concept behind it?
I honestly couldn’t be more thrilled about it. New Frame Productions has lined up some top talent to serenade you with a range of the nations favourite musical theatre tunes. The unplugged concept is almost like a live lounge setting. We strip back some of the complex structures and allow The Voice, The Piano and The Guitar to blend seamlessly in a more intimate setting. There is an exceptional amount of vocal talent in this concert and that paired with the musical stylings of Chris Poon is going to set the audience up for a night to remember.
You are also involved in the release of a brand new musical short from Gus Gowland, Subway. Can you fill us in a bit on that?
I’m fairly new to the world of the audio musical, but Subway really has come along at the perfect time. In a year where so many people are feeling down in the dumps, in comes Gus Gowland with the most beautifully heart-warming story to give us all a bit of hope. George Strickland (MD) coined it as a Pixar Short of Musical Theatre which really is the perfect description. Take 11 minutes out of your day to have a listen and I promise it will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Your credits include Wicked (congrats on your Black British Theatre Award for Best Supporting Male Actor in a Musical), The Book of Mormon and Sister Act. I know it’s an impossible question but has there been a particular highlight that stands out from your career so far?
It’s so hard to pinpoint one particular moment because I’ve been so lucky to have some truly incredible moments over the last few years. If I had to pick though, I’d say winning at The Black British Theatre Awards was the highlight. The work that The BBTAS are doing to celebrate the excellence of Black Performers and Creatives is so very important. It was so wonderful to be able to celebrate the collective achievements of my peers but also pin a spotlight on the fact that we have so much further to go to improve the inclusivity and representation of Black people within our industry.
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