The song and dance man

Seasoned West End star Gary Wilmot tells Tei Williams that he is loving The Watermill

Gary Wilmot, who stars in Radio Times at The Watermill throughout this month and September, is, without doubt, a successful actor.

His stage career encompasses many West End musical successes including Copacabana, Oliver!, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, probably most importantly for Gary, Me and My Girl, written by Noel Gay, the writer of Radio Times.

Although there were three actors before him, it is Gary's name that is synonymous with the role of Bill Snibson, a role he played for more than two years and which earned him a Best Actor nomination.

“The role could have been written for me', laughed Gary during a recent break in rehearsals.

“I was born in Lambeth. the setting for the story, not far from the famed Walk, so the accent wasn't a problem. After the West End run, I was over the moon to be asked to do the first national tour, which played to sell-out theatres.

“I guess I must have appeared in more than 1,100 performances over the years.

‘That goes some way to explaining why I am so pleased to be here in another Noel Gay show. Coincidentally, I was in the original workshop for the piece more than 20 years ago in the Adelphi Theatre so to be here at the glorious Watermill revisiting it is amazing.

“I've heard a lot about The Watermill music theatre productions over the years and, so far, it is living up to every expectation.

“The cast is amazing, so talented, so musical and they can all play at least one instrument. And now even I can, as we have all had to learn to play the same instrument for an all-singing, all-dancing, all-playing number in the show.

“It's going to be an unforgettable and funny experience seeing the 12 of us on stage at the same time, playing the same instrument.

Singing and dancing while playing are not the easiest things, but it is enormous fun for us all, as I think it will be for the audience.”

Before letting Gary back into the rehearsal room, there was one thing I had to ask, something I remembered clearly from my own childhood.

Was it true that it was his father who recorded the immortal line I Am a Mole and I Live in a Hole?.

“Indeed it was,” laughed Gary.

“He was a member of the Southlanders, a group that enjoyed international success in the '50s, but I hardly knew him as he died when I was just seven years old.

Though I guess if he were alive today he would probably think I was a chip off the old block.”

Gary appears with West End favourite Anna Jane Casey who has also appeared in many London musicals, including Sunday in the Park with George, Chicago, Grease, Starlight Express and, of course, opposite David Soul in The Watermill's production of Mack and Mabel, which won her a Best Actress Award.

Radio Times opens at The Watermill tonight (Thursday) and runs to Saturday, September 24.

For tickets, telephone the box office on (01635) 46044 or visit www.watermill.org.uk