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Interviews
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Stephen McGann - Probably best known as ‘love rat’ Sean Reynolds in Emmerdale - is a man who loves a challenge Stephen McGann talks to Sheila Connor Actor and writer McGann has now added singing and dancing to his CV in his current show, the musical Footloose, now coming to the end of its lengthy tour before exploding into the West End. When I spoke to him he was in Edinburgh, and enjoying a mild sunny day (to my surprise) and thoroughly enjoying the show. Although the tour has been somewhat exhausting, and he was missing his family, he is really enjoying the experience – “It is a great pleasure to be able to do this – so much so that when I’m not needed I stand in the wings and watch anyway – I love it – I love every minute of it. The show itself is one of the most enjoyable distractions from that (family life) I’ve ever had”. He is , however, looking forward to a week’s break before opening at the newly named Novello Theatre, when he will be able to take his son, nine year old Dominic, to school each day.
“I was in a soap opera (Emmerdale) when Dominic was a young boy, and by sheer coincidence we had another actor who was in a soap opera very near to us whose son he used to play with – so he presumed this was completely normal – so much so that he would look on television for other members of the household”
Asked about the character he is playing – Rev. Shaw Moore - it would appear that McGann takes the role very seriously, “although in the context of a full-on West End Musical it has a strongly dramatic premise”. The show is based on the immensely successful 1984 film which ‘took the world by storm with its youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music’ and made a star of lead actor Kevin Bacon, and the stage show, now on its second UK tour, is enjoying similar success.
Rev. Shaw rules his mid-western community – not with a rod of iron, but with a very strong moral hand. A very caring man, popular but uncompromising in the moral stand he takes against the kind of temptations that young people have to go through, and he bans rock and roll music, dance and alcohol from the Beaumont area which is the town where the play is set. “You begin to discover there’s a personal tragedy in Shaw Moore’s life – the loss of his son – that led him to taking the stance he takes, and when the boy Ren arrives from Chicago and sees that these kids aren’t allowed to dance he begins to rally them against the laws of the town….. On one level it seems to be the battle between youth and kill-joy adults, but Shaw has his own reasons for wanting to keep children protected……..and once those reasons are addressed………and resolved, Shaw can change his mind and his views – so there’s a lot to play with and all of that within the context of a musical – almost a unique opportunity! There is a strong dramatic theme to Shaw’s character which for someone who’s principally an actor is a real bonus and it’s been a real joy to play”.
McGann has performed in several musicals previously, but never plumbed the depths dramatically (except perhaps once – when he played Mickey in Blood Brothers in the West End) and he repeatedly asked, “Do you want the full drama, or more like in the context of musical theatre?” They were adamant about wanting the reality of drama “So in a way we do both……I also sing as well and I even dance at the end which is comedy by anybody’s book!.”
Turning to his writing career, he is equally enthusiastic, considering it a fascinating world and also incredibly humbling. He screen writes rather than writing books, and is particularly proud of his work writing the screen-play for the 1995 BBC drama about the Irish potato famine The Hanging Gale, in which he starred along with his three brothers. “It encapsulated a very terrible event which people don’t like to talk about. It was very difficult and took a very long time, but I’m so glad we bothered. I had a recent e-mail from a teacher in Canada who was using is as course material for his pupils on the emigration of the Irish……….one of those lovely moments when you find you may have done something which may be worthwhile”.
There weren’t many laughs in that show as the theme was pretty unrelenting, but McGann mostly finds that comedy is not very far from his mind and he tends to work at having a good time. His co-star Cheryl Baker (originally a member of the singing group Bucks Fizz) is obviously a kindred spirit – “a dream to work with…….. absolutely wonderful……..fantastic and hilarious. We began giggling like two schoolchildren within about five minutes of starting rehearsals and I’ve never really stopped since. We get told off about it because we’re very naughty!”. I feel that the above photograph must be in one of his more serious moments!
It was in a musical that McGann, as a teenager, began his theatrical career – Yakety Yak in 1982, in which he starred along with all his brothers. In fact he worked recently with two of them, Mark and Joe, in the Ray Cooney farce Tom, Dick and Harry in London’s West End. The brothers all lead such busy lives that it is not easy to get together – but they all enjoy catching up on family news when the opportunity arises. “This year” says McGann “I’ve done a straight play, a farce and a musical, three very different disciplines, with very different skills and, gosh, it was hard work – the farce was a tricky one - hardest for the timing, but very rewarding, and it’s completely relentless. Once you start you start this roller coaster ride and you don’t have a break - you’re there all the time ……….the concentration needed is amazing, but it was great fun to do – very funny!”
McGann has no theatrical background – his father worked in a factory and his mother was a teacher, but he enjoys a story where son Dominic came to see him in Tom, Dick and Harry and there were his Uncle Mark, his Uncle Joe and his cousin Charlotte (doing work experience) all in the same building. It seems the McGann brothers have begun their own theatrical dynasty and it remains to be seen whether their offspring will carry it on, although at the moment son Dominic wants to be a marine biologist despite doing well in school plays, and proud father is very happy about that.
McGann’s time in Emmerdale was great fun and he considers it a fantastic job which provided a stable three years in which to have nice holidays and the time to take care of family, but it didn’t stretch him and he came out feeling a little bit jaded – then he did Art in the West End “which was the most wonderful cure – the most brilliant play – an absolute delight”, and a very challenging part too.
On the subject of challenge - commenting on a trekking company co-incidentally called Footloose - brought us to more of McGann’s challenging activities. He has completed two trips, one to Nepal and one to Peru which went up to 18,000 feet in the Andes. Being an enthusiastic hill walker he jumped at the chance of partaking, but also to promote the work of The Children’s Society, a charity very close to his heart. He has a soft spot for charities which deal with children – particularly teenagers, difficult teenagers with problems. He grew up in working class Liverpool and attended school there with kids without much of a chance – “The kind of people that the Prince’s Trust helps, and it’s my way of saying thank you and to help those who didn’t get the opportunities that I was lucky enough to receive!” A charming man - a very successful actor, writer, and now singer and dancer…….and also with an active social conscience.
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