Summer with 'Alchemy': An Interview with Andy Sears
1. How did your involvement in "Alchemy" begin?
I don’t actually recall the precise moment Clive first suggested the part to me, but it was most probably early 2010. We’ve known each other for many years, so it might have been earlier. I certainly would have jumped at the idea, as I’ve always enjoyed the theatre, and I’ve always found it a pleasure to work with Clive. By the by, I had my own acting group at University in which I directed and performed in several plays, including the lead role in a 2hour, one-act version of Jean Paul Sartre's 'In Camera'. However, I had never been involved in a musical before 'Alchemy', so the invitation to take part was very appealing to me. It’s been a highly enjoyable, totally new and enriching experience.
2. How did your work routine look like during recording of the album and practising for the Katowice show?
The recordings were made back in June or July of 2010. I believe 'The End Justifies The Means' (Jagman’s principal song) was one of the first written for 'Alchemy', although Clive would need to confirm that. I hadn’t heard the song before, and as with most session recordings it was literally a case of looking at the lyrics, listening to the tune a couple of times, and interpreting it. It was a fun piece to do, and an enjoyable afternoon’s work. And I get to play the baddie! If I had to describe the Jagman I’ve summoned up through Clive’s lyrics and music, I would say he is a devoutly wicked hedonist, an evil perfectionist with an epicurist’s penchant for cruelty. All this, naturally, in the best possible taste! The full cast & band rehearsals were also extremely entertaining. You would expect some form of friction to arise when so many people are working so closely together with very little rehearsal time available but, hand on heart, everyone had a great time. We had a great team for Katowice, and it has been a real pleasure working alongside each and every member of the cast, band, and crew; all excellent at their craft. Some of them I hadn’t met before, so it’s been good to make new friends. Cigars go to Scotty, Mark, Claudio and Kylan who had to play through the entire two-hour set many times over throughout the weekend rehearsals, whereas the singers had only to appear when their characters were needed. The rest of the time we spent drinking coffee and cracking jokes (oh, and rehearsing our lines! Ahem...). Beth Turner also did a tremendous job putting together the costumes, many of which she made by hand! So, all in all, a lot of intensive work and many, many laughs along the way. As Jagman might say: “It was a scream!” As the rehearsals were more a matter of introducing the performers, going over lines, entrances, exits, and mic changes, the characterisation of each part was very much left to the player’s discretion, although obviously guided by the lyrics and the mood of what is an extremely strong and memorable musical score. Ultimately, I think the result is a cast of very unique personas who stand apart from one another sufficiently without losing the homogeneous feeling of a set of intertwined characters.
3. Do you expect the September theatre version of 'Alchemy' in Cheltenham to be more difficult that the Katowice show?
Most definitely. Clive’s idea for the Katowice show was a concert performance, id est, not a theatrical performance per se. More along the lines of the 'Les Miserables' 25th Anniversary show. Having said that, we were given some licence to include a few thespian meanderings! The Cheltenham shows will present a full theatrical version of the musical, complete with on-stage choir and all the relevant scenery. Anyone who saw the concert version in Katowice, complete with Alec Morris’s wonderful lighting design, can look forward to enjoying a completely different show in Cheltenham. So there’s a lot more to come yet!
4. Do you think 'Alchemy' will affect your future career and did your past musical experience help in the 'Alchemy' project?
To the first part of the question, I can only say ‘who knows?’. Certainly it would be wonderful to have the opportunity of doing more theatrical work, drama and/or musical. So clearly my participation in 'Alchemy' will look very good on the Curriculum Vitae. I should hope that life for 'Alchemy' will continue beyond Cheltenham, so perhaps my continued involvement in the project could lead to other offers further along the line. Let’s wait and see. As for the second part of your question, anyone who has followed my own musical trajectory will be aware that I have always used acting in my performances. It was a decision I took back in the 80’s to use theatre to ‘bring the character out’ rather than using costumes to ‘hide behind the character’. One of the characters I created for Twelfth Night, Blondon Fair, could be considered as not a million miles away from Jagman. But whereas Blondon is a reflection of pure evil in a real world, Jagman has a more perverted, humorously twisted mentality. By giving him this ridiculously well-to-do Eton accent, and over-accentuating Mr Nolan’s deliciously malevolent lyrics, he becomes almost loveable - “In a wicked sort of way.”
5. I know that it wasn't your first trip to Poland – how will you remember this visit?
I have been back to Poland many times since my initial visit back in 2011 as solo support to Pendragon. I must admit, for most of the entourage this particular visit was so rapid as to be simply a case of turn up Thursday evening, play Friday night, leave Saturday morning. I stayed on an extra day to discuss business with some dear friends from Upper Silesia who are backing my forthcoming solo album, The Dragon Inside. Nevertheless, though the visit was swift, I will have a lasting memory of the excellent organisation by Agnieszka Swiatnicka-Kulpinska and Metal Mind, and of the excellent stage technicians at the Teatre Slaski. We were looked after very well indeed. Most memorable were the audience, whose en-masse full-house standing ovation at the end of the show took us all completely by surprise. I even got a traditional “boo!” for the baddie when my turn came to take a bow. And let us not forget the welcoming cake and champagne organised by our own private angel, Magdalena Grabias! “Far too much kindness!” ;-).
