CityLife

Ramon royally pleased about his kingly role

The children from the King And I

You may have already seen the award-winning film of the splendid Rodgers and Hammerstein smash hit musical The King And I, which is packed full of popular musical numbers like Getting To Know You,  I Whistle A Happy Tune, Hello Young Lovers, The March Of The Siamese Children and Shall We Dance.

Now there’s the rare chance to see the stage version, presented by The Curve, in Leicester, which arrives at The Lowry next week.

Based on the 1951 book, Anna And The King Of Siam, this true story became first a stage musical and then a blockbuster movie.

Although it may have glamorised the tale of the English governess who arrives in Thailand to teach the King’s children and ends up teaching the monarch as well, the invention of the repressed love story and fabulous score made it a box office winner both on stage and screen.

The film starred Deborah Kerr as Anna and Yul Brynner as the King while this stage version sees West End star Josefina Gabrielle as Anna and Ramon Tikaram, who plays Amira’s father, Qadim Shah, in East Enders, as the charismatic king.

“I’d seen the movie many years ago but when I was offered this role I watched it again and Yul Brynner was exceptional in the role,” Ramon tells me.

“There’s no way I would want to emulate him because that would just be a parody, so as an actor you have to find your own way to play such a powerful personality and yet try to make him human as well.”

Ramon has an exotic background himself, being the son of a Fijian-Indian British Army soldier and a Sarawakian mother.

“Admittedly, my background has been useful in my career, although I was first sent to military school and initially studied economics and politics at the University of London.

“But I actually paid my way to study English at the University of Kent, gaining a first class honours degree and that gave me the impetus to get work as soon as possible.“

Ramon played Eddy Weaver in Crossroads and first came to the attention of the television public as Ferdy, the leather-clad biker, in the cult television series This Life. Since then he’s had a flourishing career on both stage and screen.

“I never trained in musical theatre but music has always been important in our family and my sister is Tanita Tikaram the pop singer.

“Although as an actor I like diversity, I soon found a niche in musical theatre.
“It was challenging playing Judas in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar because he’s such an unsympathetic character.

“I also loved the Bollywood musical Bombay Dreams which was a success in the West End – now that was great fun!”

Ramon also played Rama in the National Theatre production of The Ramayana and Gadaffi in English National Opera’s Gadaffi :The Living Myth.

“That was also quite a challenge playing someone who was such a forceful and intimidating character.”

Since then, Ramon has been seen on television in Krakatoa: The Last Days, Moving On, Silent Witness, Judge John Deed, Dream Team and Primeval. Among the films he’s appeared in are Mischief Night and Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love in which, he tells me, his head was nearly crushed by an elephant. “Don’t ask!” he adds.

Returning quickly to The King And I, Ramon is looking forward to the tour which brings him to the north west in a production which he’s thoroughly enjoying.

“My favourite song has to be Shall We Dance, but the whole score is a delight.

“I find the King endlessly fascinating because although he’s a dictator and could be cruel, he knew that times were changing in the world and he wanted his country to be prepared for that.

“I think that’s where Anna was able to help him. But also what’s great about this musical is that it’s not all sweetness and light and there are dark moments in it as well – perhaps it’s okay for children over eight.” The man responsible for bringing this blockbuster musical here is locally-based Paul Kerryson, currently artistic director of The Curve.

He first came to Manchester’s Library Theatre as an actor and choreographer under the direction of Howard Lloyd-Lewis, who established it nationally at the forefront of musical theatre.

I vividly remember the excitement of the UK premieres of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies and Pacific Overtures and Paul agrees.

“I feel so lucky to have been part of that exciting era and Howard was a terrific artistic director.

“I learned a great deal from him and he encouraged me to direct. I chose at the time a little known show called Chicago, which won me lots of awards and set me on the path of directing.”

Paul has since worked closely with Sondheim, whom he greatly admires.

“He’s a strict disciplinarian where his work’s concerned and you can’t blame him.

“No deviation from the script is allowed and I only have the deepest respect for him.

“We kept in touch whenever I was in New York – long after we worked together.”

Among the theatres where Paul has directed are Chichester, Birmingham Rep and Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre and for a couple of years he was artistic director of the Oldham Coliseum  before leaving to run the Leicester Haymarket and eventually The Curve.

“Although I’ve directed lots of stage plays, musical theatre’s in my blood,” Paul smiles.

“I get a kick out of directing musicals like Company, Sweeney Todd and On Your Toes with Adam Cooper.

“Now there’s the challenge of The King and I, which is still considered one of the greatest musicals of all-time,” he enthuses. “It earned that reputation not just because of the wonderful music but because Rodgers and Hammerstein didn’t avoid the fact that it’s a meaty story and there are dark moments.

“I directed it in 2010 in our fantastic new theatre in Leicester and it was a huge success.

“But I’ve recast it for the tour and I’ve introduced some surprises along the way.

“The King and I is rarely taken on tour because it’s such an expensive show with lavish costumes and lots of children.

“We’re using local children wherever we go as there’s so much talent out there.

“For this production at The Lowry we auditioned over 130 local children for the roles of the king’s children but only 32 were lucky enough to be chosen by an expert judging panel.

“They make up the two teams of 16 who’ll perform on alternate nights and they come from Salford, Manchester, Bolton, Wilmslow, Oldham and Cheadle. They just add joy to what is already a great family show.”

Who knows you may well spot a star of the future!

The King And I, The Lowry 21st-25th February.