As an ensemble member of the UK & Ireland premiere of the Winnie the Pooh musical, Alex Cardall plays/puppeteers Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit and Tigger in the A. A. Milne-inspired show, which opened at the Riverside Studios in London earlier this year. The Winnie the Pooh musical is currently touring around the country, with upcoming dates including Milton Keynes from the 9th to 11th June and Alex’s home theatre Birmingham Hippodrome from the 16th to 18th June, where Alex appeared on stage for the first time. Last year, Alex was in the cast of The Osmonds: A New Musical, originating the role of Andy Williams, also covering George Osmond as well as being the Alternate Alan Osmond, and whilst on tour, he went on as emergency cover for the drummer in the band. Previous productions for Alex have included playing Teddy in MTFestUK’s workshop production of Come Dine With Me – The Musical, being part of Evita at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, making his professional debut in Sweet Charity as Oscar Lindquist, and he was in the two-hander musical The Season. For Alex’s training, he attended ArtsEd, and he is currently working on and writing Thy Kingdom Come. Chatting to Alex, he told us about being part of the UK & Ireland premiere of the Winnie the Pooh musical, his time in the show so far playing Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit and Tigger and originating the role of Andy Williams in The Osmonds: A New Musical.
You are currently in the cast of the UK & Ireland premiere of the Winnie the Pooh musical, was there anything that drew you to the show and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the job?
I have such fond memories of Winnie the Pooh from when I was very young. I had all the memorabilia, from posters, to bedsheets, to mugs – I even listened to the stories on cassette tape! After seeing the buzz surrounding the American production, I was so excited to hear it was coming over to the UK. I’d just finished working with ROYO, our amazing producers, on The Osmonds Musical UK Tour – I was thrilled to hear from my agent Chris that I’d be working with them again, on a production so close to my heart. To be a part of this wonderful story makes little kid Alex very happy indeed!
Can you tell us what your characters are like to perform and what do you enjoy most about bringing the story of Winnie the Pooh to the stage?
I play Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit and Tigger on rotation with the other ensemble members. All the characters are a joy and a challenge to play, not only from a puppetry perspective but there’s a degree of responsibility when evoking the nostalgia of these loveable creatures – all of them play an equal part in telling the story and spreading the joy. Winnie the Pooh wouldn’t be able to find his precious honey without his friends behind him – just like I wouldn’t be able to perform the show without my wonderful castmates!
How was it seeing the puppets for the first time and how is it getting into character for each of your roles?
Seeing the puppets for the first time was magical! Even more exciting was the journey of bringing them to life. The puppets, just like the characters, have their own unique quirks and personalities – we try to honour A. A. Milne’s conceptual voicings as much as possible, while also bringing a bit of our own flair. This in turn makes every show completely different and keeps us on our toes.
What was it like reading the script and preparing to open at Riverside Studios in London?
We had a lovely first read through, which began with the full company sharing fond memories of Winnie the Pooh. We had a four-week rehearsal period, a couple of days technical rehearsal at Riverside Studios, followed by a handful of preview performances where we made some final tweaks to the show. A highlight for me was visiting the original Hundred Acre Wood with the puppets, where we played Pooh Sticks and had afternoon tea in the Pooh Corner Cafe.
What are you looking forward to for taking Winnie the Pooh around the country on the UK & Ireland Tour and what is it like seeing the audience response to the musical?
It’s going to be such a joy to take this show around the country. Winnie the Pooh is such a huge part of our cultural identity, and I think audiences will connect to the show regardless of age or class. I’m particularly excited to visit the Birmingham Hippodrome, my home theatre where I stepped on a stage for the first time – I’ll be bringing a nostalgic story to audiences, but also going back to my own childhood memories of amateur dramatics there on a Saturday morning. It really will be a full circle moment!
Who do you think will enjoy watching Winnie the Pooh and why would you recommend booking tickets?
Winnie the Pooh really is for everyone – for kids from one to 92! It’s a heartwarming story about friendship and celebrating our uniqueness. It’s also funfunfunfunfun!
Can you tell us about playing Teddy in the workshop production of Come Dine With Me – The Musical at The Turbine Theatre with MTFestUK?
It was brilliant! We got to work with the original Channel 4 creators of Come Dine With Me, so all the characters were hybrids of real contestants and crew – I even got to meet the actual sound operator that Teddy was based on (except he was much less awkward and much taller than me!). MTFest is always a really fun week of collaboration and a celebration of new musicals.
Last year, you were in The Osmonds: A New Musical as Andy Williams, and covered the role of George Osmond, what was the show like to be part of?
Andy Williams was one of my dad’s favourite crooners, so originating that role on stage was a pretty important and emotional experience. Andy kickstarted the Osmonds’ career back in the 60s by putting them on the Andy Williams Show – recreating his iconic variety TV charisma, and singing his hit Music To Watch Girls By was a real honour and so much fun. We also worked closely with Jay Osmond himself, who nurtured and guided our performances to be true to his family. The story was a celebration of great music, whilst also exposing the pressures of showbiz and the family heartache when everything comes crashing down.
You were the Alternate Alan Osmond, what was Alan like to portray and how was it performing The Osmonds’ music?
The Osmond boys had show business drilled into them by their ex-sergeant father, George. Alan was the leader of the band when Dad wasn’t around, and felt pressure to hold the family together as things crumbled. It was amazing to perform the music of The Osmonds, brought to life by Bill Deamer’s jazz-inspired 70s choreography. Don’t get me started on the costumes and those iconic haircuts!
How did you find the experience stepping in as emergency cover for the drummer in the band whilst on tour?
It was the epitome of “That’s Showbiz”. A huge responsibility met with a huge amount of excitement and love and support from the team around me. Playing drums for a Number 1 UK tour was always a dream of mine and to do it on a job I was performing on stage for was a very special experience. I always thought I should have to choose acting or music but realised that day that I’m glad I kept up both.
What are some of your favourite memories from performing in Evita at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2019?
Singing the final requiem from Evita under the stars in Regent’s Park was a proper goosebump moment for me. Jamie Lloyd had a stripped back vision of the show, which not only exposed you as an actor, but also Eva Perón’s rise and fall to power.
What was it like making your professional debut in Sweet Charity as Oscar Lindquist at The Watermill Theatre?
It was really special to make my professional debut, drumming and acting in one of my favourite shows and as one of the lead roles. The Watermill is such a special theatre and I learnt so much from the incredible company, including the powerhouse Gemma Sutton, who I’d previously seen in Legally Blonde. You couldn’t get a much better first job!
Over your career so far, you have performed in a number of other productions including The Season (winner of Best New Musical at The Stage Debut Awards in 2020), #PFTLightHopeJoy with Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Wind in the Willows, can you say about some of them?
From puppeteering the Elephant in a workshop of The Elephant’s Child at The RSC, to outdoor kids theatre at Kew Gardens, to Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s online series during the pandemic, I’m very lucky to have met and worked with some incredibly inspiring people on some very exciting and varied productions.
The Season by Kit Buchan and Jim Barne is still my most treasured production I’ve been a part of. A two-hander musical written by two dear friends of mine that received critical acclaim and won awards after its first outing! I’m insanely proud of that show and that team!
Is there anything you can share about Thy Kingdom Come and how did it come about?
Thy Kingdom Come (working title) is a play about a mother and son delivering newspapers to the people of Solihull in the West Midlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s about connection during a time of isolation – we were all connected by news, but getting out and physically delivering the papers connected the community together. And in turn, started a healing process for a mother and son grieving a lost husband and father. Currently on draft four – let’s see how we get on!
Where does your love of acting, drumming and performing come from and how did you get into the industry?
I used to play on the pots and pans in the kitchen and pretend I was my Uncle John. I played the youngest member of the Snow family in Carousel at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham when I was six. Just after, Mum and Dad got me a drum kit and a karaoke machine (mainly to stop the pots and pans racket) and that was that.
My parents were big fans of all kinds of music, and my dad hugely inspired me to join the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, a band he played in in the 1970s, when I was about 15. Playing big band arrangements of well-known show tunes gave me a real insight and appreciation for composers such as George Gershwin and Irving Berlin.
I joined various acting and music groups in and around the Midlands before deciding I fancied a crack at getting into drama school. I studied Musical Theatre at ArtsEd in London, graduating in 2018, winning the Rising Star Award and the Stephen Sondheim Society Performer of the Year Award at the Savoy Theatre.
What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?
I love all kinds of theatre but some of my stand-out favourites are the Sally Cookson adaptation of A Monster Calls, Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth and Things I Know to Be True by Andrew Bovell. My favourite musical has to be Gypsy!
How do you like to spend your time away from your career?
When I’m not working as an actor or musician, I turn to teaching in various forms; acting, singing and drumming. Young people are just the best and, to be honest, I let them teach me most of the time. They have such passion and honesty and reinstall the love for it when I’m losing the love from time to time (one of the many reasons why I’m loving Winnie the Pooh).
I love connecting with my local community, doing a bit of gardening and visiting pals along with going to see live events, especially the late show at Ronnie Scott’s in London. I also love visiting family in the Midlands and taking Billy – mine and mum’s miniature Dachshund – for a wander round our local park.
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