After playing Pugsley Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY Live In Concert at The London Palladium in February 2024, Nicholas McLean is reprising his role in the full musical for this summer’s UK Tour, which opens 7th July in Birmingham, followed by dates in Leicester, Salford, Canterbury and Blackpool (with the tour closing in Blackpool, which runs 26th to 30th August), and Nicholas works alongside Lauren Jones as Wednesday Addams, Jacob Fowler as Lucas Beineke, Ricardo Afonso as Gomez Addams and Alexandra Burke as Morticia Addams. Nicholas made his West End debut in 2016 in The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and he rejoined the show in March for a limited time, seven years after originally leaving. Further shows for Nicholas include playing Lola in Kinky Boots in August 2023 at the Gaiety Theatre on the Isle of Man, Boq in Wicked at the Victoria Apollo Theatre in the West End, and he toured as Gary Coleman in Avenue Q. Answering our questions, Nicholas talked to us about playing Pugsley Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY Tour (opening 7th July in Birmingham), what it was like performing in THE ADDAMS FAMILY Live In Concert at The London Palladium last year, his time in The Book of Mormon and being in the cast of Wicked in the West End as Boq.

Was there anything that drew you to the role of Pugsley Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY and what are you looking forward to for touring with the musical from 7th July and reprising your role from the concert version last year?

Oh he really is just a joy to play. He is so mischievous, which is probably why I feel so at home portraying this character. Plus, I loved the challenge of bringing out both his comedic side and his emotional depth, especially in his solo number What If. It’s a chance to really show that, underneath all the eccentricity, he’s just a little brother who’s afraid of change and losing his family the way he knows it. That mix of humour and heart is what made me want to step into his shoes.

For those not familiar with the musical production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, can you say about the show and how would you describe Pugsley?

The show is hilariously heartwarming and features a whole host of characters from the TV show and movies. The musical tells a new story about the big secret Wednesday is keeping and all the drama that ensues when the cat is out of the bag. Within our story, Pugsley features as the younger brother we all know and love. He’s weird, wonderful and worried that his sister is too preoccupied with growing up and will leave him behind. Bless his soul.

What is it like working alongside the rest of the cast, which includes Lauren Jones as Wednesday Addams, Jacob Fowler as Lucas Beineke, Ricardo Afonso as Gomez Addams and Alexandra Burke as Morticia Addams, and have you worked with any of the cast previously?

I mean… it really is a powerhouse cast. I remember looking around at the meet & greet and thinking “Ohh this is going to be good!”. We’re very early into the rehearsal process but it’s coming together incredibly quickly and I’m so excited for everyone to see and hear this extremely talented cast.

Why would you recommend booking tickets to see THE ADDAMS FAMILY, which is touring around the country at Birmingham, Leicester, Salford, Canterbury and Blackpool until 30th August?

Our production is the perfect mix of spooky, funny, and heartwarming. It’s not just about the creepy and kooky family we all know – it’s a story about love, acceptance, and what it means to be part of a family.

Can you tell us about your time performing at The London Palladium in THE ADDAMS FAMILY Live In Concert in February 2024?

We performed three sold-out performances at the world famous London Palladium and I have never experienced anything like it. The atmosphere was electric and, once again, Jane Deitch (casting director) put together a powerhouse company for the performances.

You made your West End debut in The Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2016, what are some of your favourite memories from your time in the show?

What a show to make your West End debut in. It’s bold, high energy and dastardly funny. It pushes the boundaries in such a smart and creative way and I still stand by it being one of the best musicals of late. Being part of such a fast-paced, challenging production helped me grow as a performer, and working with a cast that brought so much energy every day was truly inspiring. Making people laugh while also telling a meaningful story? What’s not to love?

In March, you rejoined the cast of The Book of Mormon for a limited time, how has it been returning to the musical seven years after leaving?

Coming back to The Book of Mormon after so long has been surreal, in the best way. It felt completely familiar and fresh at the same time. The show still has the same energy, humour, and heart that made it such a joy the first time around. There is something really special about reconnecting with a show that helped shape you early on in your career. The cast – old friends and new – has been amazing. It’s a show that has really stood the test of time and continues to evoke full belly laughs on a nightly basis. Also, Blair Gibson singing I Believe – chef’s kiss.

How did you find the experience of taking on the role of Lola in Kinky Boots at the Gaiety Theatre on the Isle of Man in August 2023?

Stepping into Lola’s incredibly high heels was both exhilarating and humbling. The character arc of self-discovery and acceptance resonated deeply with me, and performing it in front of an audience that embraced the show’s themes of individuality and inclusivity made it even more special. It was a real treat to bring Lola to life in such a welcoming and enthusiastic community.

How was it playing Boq in Wicked in the West End and is there anything you miss most about the character?

For anyone who doesn’t know, I am THE BIGGEST WICKED FAN. Getting to be a part of this show was a dream come true. Boq has such a good heart and goes on a really touching journey throughout the show. I miss playing his innocence, tacking his unrequited love of Glinda (played by the funniest woman in showbiz, Helen Woolf) and taking on the big scene in Act Two which leads to his eventual transformation after a dramatic encounter with Nessarose where Carina Gillespie would nightly remind us that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Do you have any stand-out highlights from working on the show that you can share?

Reopening Wicked after the pandemic was one of the most electric nights in theatre history. Sophie Evans (Glinda) spoke her first line “It’s good to see me isn’t it…” and the cheers went on for what felt like a lifetime. A really special evening at the theatre.

I also have to make a special mention for the Wickedly talented Laura Pick (Elphaba). Once a week, I’d take myself up the lighting tower to watch Defying Gravity from the best view in the theatre and be blown away by her crystal clear vocals and the passion and vigour with which she tackled the role, a real inspiration.

What did you enjoy about touring with Avenue Q as Gary Coleman and how different was this production to your other shows?

Touring with Avenue Q was a real delight. It’s one of the funniest and most outrageous experiences I’ve ever had on stage. The show tackles real-life issues with puppets, satire and a whole lot of attitude. Playing Gary Coleman, this wonderful, bizarre character was a blast. He’s funny, witty and has some of the best punchlines in the show. The show really thrives on audience reaction, every night felt a bit different depending on the location or the audience’s energy. Compared to a big polished musical like Wicked, Avenue Q felt raw, scrappy, and fearless. The show has a special kind of magic.

How did you originally get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I was lucky at high school to have a strong drama department led by Lucy Cuthbertson, now the Director of Education at Shakespeare’s Globe. The opportunities afforded to us to take productions to some of London’s leading theatres were so inspirational that there really was going to be no other career for me.

What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch and are there any you’d like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

I love to watch a production that makes me think. The last thing I saw and LOVED was Slave Play at the Noël Coward Theatre. It was controversial, groundbreaking and incredibly harrowing to watch. Along the same lines, PARADE is a musical I would LOVE to do professionally. We did the show in-house at Mountview in our second year but I would really love to take another stab at this show. It’s so haunting.

How do you like spending your free time?

Free time? What’s that? 😉 I’m such a foodie so I do love a lunch, brunch or dinner with friends and catching up on what everyone has been up to. Of course, being adults it has to be booked three months in advance once everyone has checked their diaries.

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