The Bodyguard is proving to be a guaranteed winner with audiences in Milton Keynes, and there's still time to bag a different if you haven't already - performances continue through to Saturday.
Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don't expect is to fall in love.
Matt Milburn stars as Sy Spector is the modern musical smash. He talked with Total MK about his career so far...
Tell us about your first memory of the theatre
When I was around 7 or 8 and we went to a pantomime at the Davenport theatre in Stockport and Ken Dodd was the headliner and the show lasted an hour longer than it should’ve and my mom complained, my dad loved it and so did we!
And the moment when you realised theatre was for you
I’d never even done a school play, so my first time being onstage was my first job after Hollyoaks which was Open air Shakespeare around Europe, and feeling the response from a happy audience was like nothing I’d ever experienced before, and I was hooked.
You've enjoyed success in shows including Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and Corrie too, of course - how do the two forms vary for you, and which is preferable? The immediacy of live theatre, or the controlled atmosphere of a set?
I love them both equally because of the instant gratification of theatre and seeing yourself on TV is enjoyable because there’s a wider scope for error and therefore perfection has to be on the spot.
Any dreadful calamities, or funny happenings on stage that you would care to share with us?
On this tour, on opening night, I left the stage and proceeded to take off my costume in preparation for my next scene, forgetting however I had one more scene to do in that costume, which I then had to quickly get back into. I flew onstage very quickly with my fly still undone and fixing my belt buckle narrowly making my entrance. Great start!!
Which stage actor, living or dead, would you most like to meet, and what question would you ask them?
Gary Oldman - Was being a character actor always your ambition or did it evolve naturally?
Do you have any superstitions, or pre-performance routines?
I say two very tough tongue twisters that need to be said to perfection before I go on.
The best piece of advice given to you when you started in the business
From my dad: Make sure you leave every conversation knowing you were exactly yourself.
What do you think has been your steepest learning curve
General self confidence, trusting my instinct for all my career.
How do you fill your spare time while on tour
Gym, reading, watching box sets, catching up with pals.
Nerves or excitement? Which takes over just before the curtain rises?
Equal balance of both, every show, even after 25 years.
Finally, plug The Bodyguard!
A dynamic powerhouse of a show, knock your socks off dance routines, voices from heaven, and ME!
Book you seat here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-bodyguard/milton-keynes-theatre/
Image: Matt Milburn as Sy Spector. Credit Paul Coltas
