Interview: Sam Ryder on Big Night of Musicals
Sam Ryder has been talking about performing in Big Night of Musicals by The National Lottery, where he'll perform Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) ahead of his debut in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Sam Ryder has been talking about performing in Big Night of Musicals by The National Lottery, coming to BBC One and iPlayer this Saturday 28 March at 7.45pm, and at 10.30pm on BBC One Scotland.
Jason Manford hosts a spectacular celebration of musical theatre from Manchester’s AO Arena, packed with special guests and showstopping numbers from the UK’s biggest productions.
Highlights include Alexandra Burke starring as music sensation Chaka Khan in I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical and, in a world exclusive, Sam Ryder delivers a powerhouse performance of Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) ahead of his debut in Jesus Christ Superstar this summer.
Who is performing on this year’s Big Night of Musicals?
The Lion King, with full cast including Thenjiwe Nofemele as Rafiki and Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Simba
Oliver! The Musical, starring Ava Brennan as Nancy
The Producers starring Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin
Annie, starring La Voix as Miss Hannigan
Sunny Afternoon, with touring cast
Miss Saigon, with full cast
Disney Medley celebrating multi-award-winning composer Alan Menken, and starring Trevor Dion Nicholas, Mae Ann Jorolan and Lucie Jones
Paddington The Musical starring Grammy and three-time Olivier Award nominee Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Millicent Clyde
Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Sam Ryder as Jesus Christ
The Choir or Man, with the Infant Hercules Choir and featuring Jason Manford
Wicked starring Emma Kingston and Zizi Strallen
I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical, starring Alexandra Burke as Chaka Khan
Sam Ryder (Jesus Christ Superstar)
Having performed on the worldwide stage for The Eurovision Song Contest, you must be well-prepared for performing at an event of this scale?
Every show is different. I really enjoyed doing the sound check, which was probably the most fun singing that I’ve had in this kind of world. I just loved that feeling of standing in front of an orchestra, with everyone playing live, a light show that myself and the guys on the team had sorted out and performing a song that is such an emotional journey. That’s what music and singing is to me.
Which other performances are you most looking forward to seeing?
Paddington and I’m Every Woman: The Chaka Khan Musical. I love being around good singers, because it makes you want to up your game. It’s all about tone for me as well. If someone’s got that tone, it’s not always about the riffs and runs. That’s what I like musical theatre for because you focus more on the story and the emotion. That really is the heart and soul of singing. I love being around all of this and I’m enjoying every single minute.
Is it exciting to be leading the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar later this year?
The original album from the 1970s had Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan as Jesus. He’s one of my favourite vocalists. He inspired Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden, who are my favourite band on the planet. So, all this heavy metal and rock and roll history and heritage that is ingrained in the DNA of Jesus Christ Superstar isn’t lost on me. I’m just thrilled to get a chance to be part of that, like history going forward.
Lucie Jones, another Eurovision alumni, is also performing at Big Night of Musicals. Have you compared notes?
We’re pals and I saw her as Elphaba on her opening night in Wicked. This was way before I had any inkling that being on the West End would be in the stars for me. I’ve always been so fascinated by life in the orchestra pit. And I’m interested by the warm-up routines, and the respect you’ve got to show your voice. For me, the pinnacle of being a vocalist is to be able to do eight shows a week and I’m up for the challenge.
