SCOTT Garnham first caught the eye as a teenage prodigy in York and Ryedale youth theatre shows. Now a professional actor, working regularly in the West End and on tour in musical theatre, he is returning home to direct Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman’s Whistle Down The Wind for York Stage Musicals.

Charles Hutchinson catches up with North Yorkshire’s man of the musicals.

What makes Whistle Down The Wind a good show?

“Being honest, it wasn’t a show I knew much about when Robert Readman, York Stage Musicals’ artistic director, asked me if I’d be interested in directing the production for them. But after reading the script and listening to the cast recording I thought it had a huge amount of potential and I was excited by the challenge.

“It’s a beautiful story about the moral opposition of childhood goodness and the corruption of adults, with many different musical influences, such as revivalist hymns, soaring romantic ballads and 1950s rock.”

Returning from performing your cabaret show on tour in New Zealand, have you found it easy to switch from performer to director?

“Yes! I’ve directed lots before in the past and it’s certainly something I want to do a lot more of. It’s nice to be given this opportunity and especially from my old amateur theatre company.”

What do you bring to York Stage Musicals from your professional work?

“I suppose I can bring a skill set and knowledge base that you simply can’t get unless you train and then work professionally. It’s a very different beast to amateur theatre and some amateur performers find that hard to accept.

“Luckily, the YSM members have been willing to go along with things and try different ways of working that they weren’t necessarily used too. Some of the younger members, in particular, have been very responsive and it shows in the work they’ve produced at rehearsals. It’s great for me as a director to see when someone really gets it and suddenly their performance comes alive.”

You must be pleased to be seeing more of your family while you are back up in Yorkshire.

“I’ve loved seeing my family, although unfortunately I haven’t seen them as much as I’ve had liked. I live in London, so I’ve really only been travelling up specifically for rehearsals and those rehearsals have been full days. I love York, though, and would definitely like to work more in the York area.

Which young stars should we look out for in your cast?

“We have lots of children in the show and they’re literally some of the best children I’ve ever worked with. It’s not an easy score to learn but the children have tackled it brilliantly and I’m proud of them all.

“Two of lead roles in the show are played by children and I’ve been blessed with Coraleigh Hobson and Oscar Rogers, who are absolutely brilliant and will definitely steal some scenes. Also special mention must go to Robyn McIntyre, who plays the leading role of Swallow. She’s a wonderful singer and an incredibly talented actress and I’m sure she has a long a successful career ahead of her.”

How did you decide to end your time performing in Les Miserables after two years?

“All good things must come to an end. I joined the show for its 25th anniversary year at the Queen’s Theatre in the West End and I also appeared in it at the O2 Arena. I was lucky enough to work with an incredible cast, including Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas, and even won a BroadwayWorld award for my work in the show, so I felt it was time to close that chapter of Les Miserables and try something else. My favourite memory was playing Marius for the very first time and singing Empty Chairs in the West End, knowing my parents were watching. That is something I’ll never forget.”

What’s coming up for you next?

“I’ll be appearing as Mr Lindquist in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford. I love Sondheim so I’m very excited.”

Which West End shows would you like to perform in?

“I try not to view it as ‘West End shows’ and more as ‘what projects would I like to be attached to?’. I’d really love to create a role in a new musical.”

Are you planning to perform your cabaret show on home turf?

“I’ve actually been talking with York Theatre Royal about bringing it to York, so fingers crossed.”

• York Stage Musicals presents Whistle Down The Wind, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Saturday to May 31 at 7.30pm plus 2.30pm matinee this Saturday. Tickets: £12, concessions £10, on 01904 623568