THE Commitments, the West End hit, has two Yorkshire commitments on its seven-month tour, playing Leeds Grand Theatre this week and returning for February run at the Grand Opera House, York, next year.

Brian Gilligan will be reprising his starring role as Deco from the two-year run at London’s Palace Theatre, where he originally played drummer Billy "The Animal" Mooney in Roddy Doyle's story of the world's hardest-working soul band.

Several months later, he was overheard singing to himself in the theatre stairwell and blew away the director, who then re-cast him as Deco. “I'm very fortunate to be returning to a role and show that I really love," he says.

"I haven't performed in Leeds or York before, but I'm really looking forward to it as this is my first tour of the UK, having just played London outside Ireland."

Brian was in the final year of his degree studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin when he "managed to get matched up with London agent". "He secured me an audition for The Commitments to play the drummer, which I played for a year, and then came the chance to play Deco," he says. "It's kind of like Dave Grohl's story: playing drums for Nirvana and then leading Foo Fighters, and I like that thought because they're my favourite band.

"I asked to understudy Deco because I'm quite vocal and it's difficult to get a lead in the West End, and thankfully C Jay Ranger, the resident director, had such faith in me so I got to do the ground work to see what was needed.

"I watched Killian Donnelly for a year in the role, which was a great learning curve, and to have him there to pass on advice and take me through the tracks was fantastic. He was so supportive."

Brian had "an incredible experience" leading The Commitments company in town up to November 2015. Since then he has appeared in two plays in London, as a multiple role-playing actor-musician in Piaf at the Charing Cross Theatre and then playing Cornelius and understudying Kit Harrington's Faustus in Dr Faustus at the Duke of York's Theatre, "getting Faustus into the dark arts".

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Brian Gilligan: from drummer to lead singer..."like Dave Grohl"!

He returned to The Commitments in September, touring in Roddy Doyle's stage adaptation of his original novel in a show packed with more than 20 soul classics. "It's been fantastic; we've got a smashing cast and I'm surrounded by incredible people in this show," says Brian, who particularly enjoyed his homecoming to Dublin for a three-week run.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered is my favourite song to sing; it's amazing to get to sing these great songs every night. That's what pushes you through every show and gives you momentum."

Playing Deco is "quite a busy role", says Brian, in a delightfully understated way. "There's only one or two moments when he's off stage, and I'm singing 18 songs in two and a half hours, so I just need to make sure I get to bed early after a show and have loads of hot drinks for the voice.

"When you're on tour you have to strike the right balance: looking after yourself; going to the gym; eating the right things; trying to steer clear of sweets and chocolate; sticking to the fruit and veg."

He loves the power of soul music to move people's feet and emotions alike. "Soul is the working man's music that comes from the heart and speaks to those who've lived hard and gritty lives," says Brain. "That's why it works so well portraying Dublin, with all its grit and raw energy."

The Commitments runs at Leeds Grand Theatre from tonight to Saturday and the Grand Opera House, York, from February 13 to 18. Box office: Leeds, 0844 848 2700 or leedsgrandtheatre.com; York, 0844 871 3024 or at atgticketscom/york