6c Light Rain
All the Fun of The Fair, Venue Cymru, Llandudno
HEART-THROB David Essex looks more distinguished than ever these days. He plays Levi Lee - the boss of a travelling funfair - in a musical, called All The Fun of The Fair which features his own songs like Winter's Tale, Gonna Make You A Star and Hold Me Close.
The trademark curls have been replaced by silver strands but the charisma is still there. How, though, is he taking the passing years?
"I've never had any surgery or anything. I'm quite proud of every wrinkle I've earned," says the 61-year-old, down the phone from his room at Swansea Grand Theatre.
Indeed, one of his three sons, Billy, is understudy to stage son Jack, played by Paul-Ryan Carberry.
He bring his show to Llandudno later this month.
Essex-born David says: "I love Llandudno. We've played quite a few times. I really enjoy coming there so we're all looking forward to it very much.
"All the Fun of the Fair was one of my album titles. It's become a show which is a massive hit, much to my relief. It's a show about relationships and unrequited love. And it all takes place in the underbelly world of a travelling funfair.
"Jon Conway and I sketched out the story. Jon wrote the script and we looked at all the music I've written over the last 30 years. From film scores to ice ballets and everything else. And we put in songs we thought might be relevant to the story. It's very important that any music of mine is not just stuck on to the story. It's more like a play with music."
David even worked on a funfair as a teenager.
He remembers: "When I was about 14, there was a local funfair. I joined that and forgot to go back for a couple of months. I started off on one of those stalls where you have to throw hoops. But I graduated to the dodgems, which was much more cool."
Girls hung around the dodgems, he reveals.
"The minute one of those dodgem guys jumps on the back of your car and you're with a girlfriend, you think ‘Whoops!' We've got synchronised dodgems and carousel horses in our show."
You can tell David is an old hand an interviewing.
He sells himself well (his musical is a ‘massive' hit) and tries to take control of it by leading the conversation and so leaving little time for any awkward questions.
Not that there's anything he can't handle. He has sold millions of records in a starry singing and acting career.
He rose to fame as Jesus in Godspell and later played Che in Evita. But, to many, he is most fondly remembered for his fantastic hits.
Roll up, roll up...
All the Fun of The Fair, Venue Cymru, Monday, May 11-Saturday, May 16, 8pm. Ring 01492 872000 to buy £17.50-£29 tickets.
