Singer, Actor and West End leading man Graham MacDuff answered 20 questions. Currently starring as Monsignor O’Hara in Sister Act the Musical on tour. Soon to be appearing at the Mayflower theatre in Southampton
Let’s start off with some favourites…
Favourite show (whether you have been in it or not)?
West Side Story because that’s where I met my wife (performer Anna Jane Casey) and Spamalot are my two favourites
Favourite book?
I like a boy’s own adventure, so anything by Tom Clancy etc, but I’ve just finished reading Madly Deeply, the Alan Rickman Diaries.
Favourite theatre?
The Palace Theatre in London, where I first did Spamalot
Favourite song?
Knocks Me Off My Feet by Stevie Wonder, it our first dance at our wedding
Favourite music?
Disco and 90’s RnB
Favourite food
Italian, I love pasta and I love cooking
Favourite line from any show?
From Chess the Musical – “I’m tired of mediocrity getting in the way of the game I love“
What is your favourite role?
Lancelot in Spamalot
What was your first role?
An Ostrich in Peter Pan in Worthing, Christmas 88
And what role would you really like to play?
I’d love to play Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar
If you could be anyone else for the day, who would it be?
I’d still be me. I have a wife and children I love, I’m happy being me
You have children, would you encourage them to become a performer?
I’d encourage them to do whatever they want to do. I do think my youngest is going to be a performer
What are the nicest/weirdest things you have ever received from fans?
After I finished in Grease at the Dominion, I was given a lovely framed collage of different pictures of me in the show, that was lovely. And then I was given a plastic watch, that didn’t work but it was in a lovely box and nicely wrapped – that was a bit weird
Have you considered doing a play or straight acting with no singing?
I’ve done a few plays, but where else can you just randomly burst into song
So to follow on, do you prefer TV or Theatre?
Live theatre always. I love the instant reaction
If you weren’t an amazing performer what would you be?
Something in the building industry or a plumber. I enjoy doing DIY. Or a world class golfer
What advice would you give 16 year old Graham?
Trust in yourself and don’t believe everything you read about yourself, whether it be good or bad
What was the last stage show you saw and really enjoyed?
I saw Beverley Knight in The Bodyguard and again in The Drifters Girl. But I could listen to her sing the phone book
What made you decide to be a performer?
My sister used to have dance classes on a Saturday and mum would drag me around town while we waited for her. But I hated being dragged around town and ended up joining the dance class. Then I saw Guys and Dolls at the National with Julia McKenzie and that was the catalyst
Can you tell us what you will be up to next?
I finish Sister Act in July when this leg of the tour ends. And then I have a new kitchen to fit. I’m sending out positive vibes for a new show to do. Something will turn up it always does.
You can catch Sister Act at the Mayflower Southampton from Monday May 2nd and you can buy tickets here. The rest of the tour continues until July buy tickets here