One More Step.

One More Step.

Coral Drouyn talks to the Artistic Director of Next Step Productions, Leigh Barker, whose new project God of Carnage opens at Chapel off Chapel on Nov 19th.

Theatre is booming in Melbourne, in terms of amount, if not always attendance; and whilst Art shouldn’t be a cut-throat business, often it comes down to the survival of the fittest. Last year Next Step entered the Gladiatorial theatre with a stunning critically acclaimed production of Rent, directed by Paul Watson (now appearing in ONCE) and starring founding Producer of Next Step, Leigh Barker, in a stellar performance as “Angel”.

“It was my dream role,” Leigh tells me, “and the critics were very kind. But that wasn’t my reason for creating the company. The reality is, if a Main Stage revival of Rent was mounted, I’d probably have no chance of even getting an audition as Angel.”

As with The Collective – which followed Next Step as a new company with a stunning production of Parade only weeks ago – the Mission Statement of Next Step is just as the name says …to provide a stepping stone to lead roles – the next step in the ladder – for some of the spectacular talent we have who often languish in the ensemble of musicals, or never even get to audition for main stage companies. For Leigh, there was a personal imperative as well.

“A very good friend of mine had the (replacement) lead role in a major musical. She was smashing it, and the composer himself said she was brilliant in the role. But then the original star was brought back for the Anniversary revival, and my friend ended up nowhere. I thought then, this isn’t right, we have to provide consistency for the really good performers out there – a platform, a showcase – not just for the artists, but the audience as well, so that they will start looking for those artists they don’t ordinarily see. It shouldn’t be just the same faces, every time, no matter how talented they might be. Some can, and do, break through on the Main Stage – like Jemma Rix in Wicked, who went from being one of two standbys, to being one of the most acclaimed Elphabas in the world. Recently Luigi Lucente stepped out to fill the lead role in Parade, after audiences had barely noticed him in ensembles of other shows. He blew everyone’s socks off and audiences were saying, “Where has this amazing talent come from?” Well he was there all along – he just needed a showcase, a role in which he could shine and give the performance of his life.”

Leigh has been luckier than some. After appearing in musicals at high school he auditioned at 18 for a show in Hong Kong that wanted “singers who moved”. He got the job and, after being overseas for more than a year, became part of a Rocky Horror Tribute show, where he graduated to playing Riff Raff….and he still holds The Rocky Horror Show in deep affection. “That became seven years of my life,” he says with pride. “I was lucky, but I also stepped up, put myself out there and took a chance – and if I can give something back now, why wouldn’t I?”

But surely it’s an enormous gamble? “Of course it is,” he concedes. “Theatre is thriving, it’s true, but people don’t tend to book a long way ahead as they once did. They make decisions for smaller productions at the last minute – which is incredibly nerve-wracking as a producer because you don’t know if you’re going to be playing to a packed house or a half empty one. It would certainly be better for my health if people booked a week or so in advance. I could sleep nights.” He laughs.

So why, after such a triumph with a musical, is he now turning to drama, albeit Black Comedy? God of Carnage is a Tony and Olivier award winning play that dazzles with its script – but no-one bursts into song. Leigh laughs. “You’re right, there’s no music to fall back on. Two…no…three reasons really. I wanted the company to stretch itself and broaden our audience. Not everyone loves musicals. And there were actors I wanted to work with who weren’t part of that musical theatre scene. And, to be honest, it’s been a lifelong ambition to direct, and I understand this play and believe I can do a good job with that. Plus, I’ve got a terrific cast in Anna Burgess, Amanda McKay, Alan Laverty and Brett Whittingham. They are just marvellous, all four of them. And then there’s Chapel off Chapel, which has such a great vibe. It’s what theatre should be about. I don’t think some Melburnians appreciate how lucky we are to have this space which is so supportive of new companies. It’s always a joy to work with them.”

In the long run, the success or failure of this new project comes down to Leigh. “As Producer/Director I have to wear it if we fail. Even a great cast won’t save me and there’ll be no budget for a third production. It’s my backside on the line.”

God of Carnage opens on November 19th at Chapel off Chapel. I’m definitely going, so why not book in advance and let the Director/Producer get some sleep?

Image: L-R: Allen Laverty, Anna Burgess, Amanda McKay & Brett Whittingham. Photographer: Woodrow Wilson.

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