| With rehearsals for the Piccadilly Theatre musical starting next month, Norman Bowman (35) can’t wait to start going over his lines alongside the international Scottish superstar.
Having lived in London since 1994, Norman secured the position of understudy for the part of gambler Sky Masterson following a gruelling process which saw him audition five times over a five-month period, with his singing and dancing talents put to their most demanding test yet.
He said, “I’m very excited as it’s my first job in the West End since Les Mis in 1996. Since then I’ve been on tour. This means I’ll get to be at home for the next year.
“This is a major step up for me, as although it’s kind of unspoken, there’s a kind of prestige with doing a show in London. When you’re in London, you know you’re in the hub of things. The job itself is the most high profile I’ll have done yet.”
Norman, a former pupil of Arbroath Academy, began his acting career at the town’s Webster Theatre. He spent eight years working with the MIDAS Group, where he was given the opportunity to participate in numerous amateur shows.
From there he went on to study music at Perth College for two years, where a singing teacher encouraged him to go for the big time, before he moved south to study at the London Academy of Performing Arts.
Former shows he has been involved with include West Side Story and Cats at Edinburgh’s Playhouse Theatre, and London West End shows Les Miserables and Pirates of Penzance, where he appeared alongside Paul Nicholas.
He played lead role Danny in a national touring company production of Grease, which finished in January, and has previously starred in television commercials.
Norman said one of the challenges facing him will be dealing with the disappointment of fans coming along to the show especially to see Ewan McGregor and finding it is his night off and Norman playing the part of Sky instead. However, he is looking on this as an opportunity to win audiences over.
Ewan is making a welcome return to the West End since his departure in 1999, his previous performances having included Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunachs.
Norman continued, “I’m looking forward to working with Ewan as he’s a fellow Scot and a global superstar now. If I inhale some of the same oxygen he does, it may give me a whole sense of possibilities.” |
