Before auditioning for the show how familiar were you with the cult classic movie Dirty Dancing?

I had never seen the film before! I think this really helped me in the audition because I have no expectations or preconceived ideas of what I should be doing. I just bought myself into the room and connected to the material I was given.

How much, if at all, do you identify with Johnny?

I identify with Johnny very much, it is one of the reasons playing him is so special to me. I connect to the challenges he faces in the show and I feel like I can draw on this when performing the material.

Patrick Swayze’s role as Johnny in the film is iconic. How do you keep that performance in your mind and let it guide you, and how much do you try and put aside and make the role your own?

I take so much inspiration from Patrick’s ‘Johnny’. He created the role and brought to life a character that has resonated with so many people. I listened to a lot of his interviews so I could find his voice and mannerisms and then brought that into my take on the character. I think I have a responsibility to the fans to bring his essence into the show and a responsibility to myself to be creative and original.

You have been playing the role on and off since 2018//19 how do you keep your performance fresh each night?

The main key for me is to try and live in the unknown. If you know exactly how you’re going to say every line then it’s very hard to be in the moment and keep it fresh. However if you keep focused on listening to your scene partner and responding with your impulses that are in the world you’ve created then it’s going to be a different and magical show every night.

The show is full of physical and emotional challenges. Which moments do you find the most challenging? How do you maintain your physicality and energy?

The most physically demanding part of the show is definitely ‘Johnny Mambo’. It is the first thing I do on stage and it is a very intense and complex partner work number. I always need to make sure I’m warm and in the right frame of mind before stepping on stage for that number.

Emotionally the end is always very difficult too. You’ve spent the whole show falling in love with Baby and now you have to imagine you are saying goodbye to her for the last time and you’re never going to see her again. Luckily we have a very uplifting ‘Time of my Life’ afterwards.

To maintain my energy for the show I make sure that I train every day, warm up before the warm-up and look after my body after the show. But to be honest I think the hardest part is eating enough food!

What can people expect from seeing Dirty Dancing The Classic Story on Stage?

I don’t think any of our audiences walk away disappointed that it didn’t stay true to the film and I think most walk away genuinely having the time of their lives. We try to bring the audience into Kellerman’s with us and let them experience living the journey for the first time.