Nowt2Do.Com brings you our interview with James Powell, the Resident Director for Mary Poppins.

James along with the casting director, musical director and choreographer will form the panel for the Jane and Michael Banks open auditions in Bristol and will be putting the local talent through their paces as they try and cast these two roles and give Bristol Kids the chance of a lifetime. James however promises he is no Simon Cowell…he’s far sweeter! 

The team will be selecting as many youngsters as possible to become starts overnight and to tread the boards at the Hippodrome. We asked him what he was looking for,

“We’re looking for 2 children who are somewhere between 8 and 12. They have to be good all-rounder’s, it’s a big show and a big part so they need to be able to sing, dance and act fantastically!” “The children are in the show throughout, unlike The Lion King where the large child parts are only in the first act. They will also need an understanding of Victorian times and the manners associated with them but above all they have to be spirited young souls, will-full, creative and determined.”

Liking the parts to that of Gavroche and Cossette in Les Miserables James said the children will be at the centre of this incredible journey, and their concentration will have to be watertight.

James raved about the Hippodrome, 
“It is a great theatre, its fantastic and its wonderful that the Hippodrome is getting a world premier of this scale…it’s going to be wonderful for the area.” “Make no mistake, Mary Poppins is a huge huge huge production. I’ve been to design meetings recently to see some of the ideas and its just going to be massive and of course incredibly magical. When Cameron and Disney co-produce you are in for something big.”

James of course has had lots of experience in being in shows of this kind he sees his main job as serving Richard Eyre (the director) but let slip that its all about the energy you bring to the room, having the insight, knowing the concept and being able to pass it on to the cast. James hopes to bring, uphold and maintain a standard of excellence on the production.

Of course, we had to ask what James’ favourite scene was!

“There are some wonderful moments throughout, as it stands I currently love the bird woman. There seems to be a lot of texture in the scene and of course since we are basing the show on the book where all is not quite what it seems, it means everything else is particularly exciting. My favourite song? Well I find the new material by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe is fantastic, but then again there are so many great songs from the original. Feed The Birds has a lovely haunting melody..it’s magical and touching. Of course on the other hand you have Super-Cali-Fragalistitc-Expi-Ali-Docious which is all about upbeat razzmatazz. The show really takes you on musical journey with a wonderfully fantastic score. George and Anthony new music has really complimented the original and moved it onto a place where today. The whole show is something the ears and eyes will lavish upon. I just can’t wait to get it on the stage.”

And nor can we to see it. Tickets are now on sale, so what are you waiting for….book now!

Main Page

Review

World Premier Feature

Your Say

Behind The Scenes - Week 2 of the 'get in' & interview with Production Manager Simon Robertson.

Cast Announcement

Original Composer Richard Sherman Interview

Mary Poppins Comes Alive!

Read about the Mary Poppins Auditions

Read our interview with Resident Director James Powell

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