Gareth Gates gained national fame as the runner-up on the first season of Pop Idol in 2002 before going on to enjoy a successful career in music and theatre, with numerous chart-topping singles, platinum albums, and leading roles in major West End productions.
Ahead of his new show, ‘Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs from the Movies’, which will visit Grimsby Auditorium on Thursday 27 March, Lincolnshire Today caught up with Gareth to talk about the show, his long career, and what the future holds, including a meaningful new musical focusing on a subject close to his heart — stammering.
You’ve had a long and multifaceted career in music, from releasing chart-toppers to success in musical theatre. When did your passion for singing begin?
As a child I had a debilitating stammer. School was very tough, I was badly bullied and sometimes beaten because of my stammer. Fortunately, at the age of eight I discovered I could sing, and this changed my whole world, because finally I could get out of me what was in me; I could get words out of my mouth. My love for music really started because it became my only form of expression. I then went on to do lots of great things, selling records, with five number ones, did big arena tours, and then ended up doing quite a bit of theatre, which was great. I did Les Misérables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde, and Footloose to name a few.
I’m now producing shows, including this show I’m bringing to Grimsby — ‘Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs from the Movies’. My biggest hit and first ever number one was a song called Unchained Melody, which was made famous by the movie Ghost, and this got me thinking that some of the world’s greatest love songs are from movies, and that synergy between music and film is very, very powerful. We’ve put together a great show full of those big hits from the likes of Titanic, A Star Is Born, Armageddon, Pretty Woman, Dirty Dancing, to name a few, so we’re very excited.
In producing ‘Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs from the Movies’ yourself, what has that process been like, and how has it differed to preparing for other shows in your career?
It’s very different. In the past I’ve just showed up to whatever venue they’ve sent me to and performed, and you go home without a worry or a care. Being the producer is completely different, the prep leading up to the show is vast. It’s a beast in itself, looking at the marketing, the best way for spreading the word of the show.
Putting together the cast has been fun. I’ve been very fortunate to work with some great people over the past 23 years and so I’ve handpicked the best people for this tour. The cast have done big shows on the West End like the Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Grease, Footloose, and the band have played for big West End shows too. Producing is fun, it’s a lot of work, but when it goes well it’s quite gratifying.
There must have been a wealth of love songs to choose from for the show. How did you narrow it down?
There are too many songs really, and part of being the producer and putting it all together is you have to order or have the sheet music written for the band. I’ve massively over ordered because I couldn’t decide which songs, so I’ve had to whittle it down. The show is about an hour each act, so we’re probably talking 14 songs in each half, and trust me, I managed to find a good 50. It’s tough, but we’ve chosen some of the favourites. To find out which songs we went for, you’ll have to come to the show!
What song are you most excited to sing at the show?
There’s a couple of songs I’m very excited to sing. The song Aerosmith did for Armageddon, I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, I’m really looking forward to singing that. I’ve always wanted to sing it actually. Steven Tyler is a hero of mine and his voice is incredible, so doing that one will be fun. I’m also looking forward to the duet Shallow from A Star Is Born. We have a girl called Maggie who has done Wicked on the West End, and she’s a great singer, so I’ll be playing guitar and singing that with her, so that’ll be a nice moment too.
What are you looking forward to about performing at Grimsby Auditorium?
I love Grimsby. I’ve spent quite a bit of time here in the past. I performed here two years ago in this very venue, the Grimsby Auditorium. I’m from Bradford, so not too far away, and it’s always great to perform to a northern crowd. I find the more north you go, the more up for it they are and I’m hoping to get that from the Grimsby audience.
Alongside this show, you continue to further expand your repertoire, and are now developing a musical called Speechless, exploring the challenges faced by a young man with a stammer. Could you tell us a little bit about it?
We’re still writing, but I had the idea probably eight years ago, and it took going into lockdown for me to actually have the time at a piano, at a guitar, to be able to write it. I wrote eight songs, took it to a good friend of mine who’s a big West End producer, and he said “don’t speak to anybody. I’ll commission it right now!” We then had meetings with scriptwriters, to find the best person for the job, and we came across a guy called Samuel Adamson. He’s done a lot of work for the National and the Old Vic — a very prestigious playwright. I’ve been working with him for the past year and a half and we’re finally at a stage now where we’re going to do a workshop at the end of this year, and then hopefully we’ll have a show on the West End in 2026 if all goes to plan.
It’s very exciting and to be talking about a subject very close to my heart — stammering — and educating people on what exactly it is is very important to me. The music is great so I can’t wait for the world to see it.
You’ve performed in major musical theatre productions for a long time now on the West End. What is it that keeps drawing you back?
Musical theatre is where it all began for me. I couldn’t speak at all as a kid, and it was actually the show Joseph my first school were putting on a production of, and my music teacher kind of saw that talent in me, nurtured it, and gave me the role of Joseph. Then some 15 years later I was in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s office with Andrew, and he auditioned me for the role in the West End, and I got Joseph! It was a full circle moment, and I owe a lot to theatre. It’s my first love and I’ll always come back to theatre. To be now producing theatre shows is a real thrill too.
Are there any other projects in the pipeline?
The writing is taking a lot of focus right now because I want to get that so right. The thought of having a West End show of my very own is mind blowing, so a lot of effort is going into that, and this tour I’m producing. I’m also in talks with another producer about co-producing some big West End shows that we’re hoping to bring over from Broadway, so that’s opening a new avenue. I’d really love to produce panto at some point as well and produce tours like the one I’m doing but for other acts, so that’s something I’m going to be looking at.
As someone with such a longstanding career in music and theatre, what advice would you give to people who want to get into the industry?
Firstly, I think work ethic is everything in this industry. You really have to be prepared to work because there’s always somebody more hard working than you, or better than you, and so by putting in everything and whatever effort is necessary you know you are giving yourself the best opportunity to succeed. I work ridiculously hard. Sometimes too hard. I have to tell myself to slow down a bit, but I’m hoping to retire in a few years!
Is there anything else you want to share with the readers of Lincolnshire Today?
I’m just really looking forward to being here in Grimsby on Thursday 27 March. It’s a really fantastic show, perfect if you’re into love films, if you’re into movies. Either bring your partner or bring your girlfriends and come and have a great night with us. I think it’s going to be a real fantastic night.
‘Gareth Gates Sings Love Songs from the Movies’ will visit Grimsby Auditorium on Thursday 27 March, with tickets available now.
See this interview in the March issue of Lincolnshire Today Magazine here.
