Summer with 'Alchemy': An Interview with Chris Lewis
1. How did your adventure with 'Alchemy' start?
Chris: When Clive decided to stage 'She' in Cheltenham the Caamora choirmaster, Dorothy Frances, phoned me and asked if I would like to audition for the part of Holly. I did and I got the part. At that time Clive was working on 'Alchemy' and so cast me as Anzeray.
2. How did your work routine look like while recording the album and preparing for the Katowice concert?
Chris: When I first heard what Clive had written for us I was completely blown away and couldn’t wait to start rehearsals. Clive gave us our parts to learn at home before going to his studios to record. We attended the studios individually and work on our tracks under Clive’s instruction until he/we were happy with the result. Some of us rehearsed for Katowice in Cheltenham while others (for geographical and tour obligation reasons) rehearsed at Clive’s home in Surrey. For three weekends before we came to Poland we all met at Clive’s Thin Ice studios for full rehearsals. They were fairly long and arduous days but we had a lot of fun doing it and that is where I first met the full, amazing cast of talent.
3. Do you expect the theatre version of 'Alchemy' in Cheltenham to be more difficult than the Katowice show?
Chris: No, it is harder to force yourself to stand in front of a mic and keep the acting to a minimum, rather than sweeping around the stage and doing the full drama thing.
4. Do you think 'Alchemy' will affect your future career and did your past musical experience help in the 'Alchemy' project?
Chris: At the moment 'Alchemy' is my musical career and I am thrilled that it is so. My involvement with Clive’s work has been a real gift for me. The material that he writes is just amazing. My previous experience at this level, was working with Robert Godfrey (see the background story by Googling Chris Lewis Fall of Hyperion and log on to www.charismalabel) and working with Clive and crew has been a far more enjoyable experience. In recent years I have been doing concerts arranged by Dorothy Frances and the varied programme in those shows has kept my voice well prepared for the demands of Clive’s work though I will say that one of Clive’s first questions was ‘how high can you sing’? He then went on to pitch the Anzeray part to take full advantage of my vocal range.
5. Was it your first visit to Poland and how will you remember it?
Chris: This was my first trip to Poland. We flew Polish Airways LOT and they were great. The hotel was really comfortable and warm with an amazing 7th floor view of a busy snow covered street... and the trams!!!! I love trams. I will remember this visit for the friendliness and warmth of the people, the snow, the amazing stage production and the wonderful reception from the audience at the end of the show and meeting people like your Artur Chachlowski and Agnieszka of Metal Mind. I loved Poland and I will be back.
