Disney's Aladdin on his whole new world ahead of magical Empire Christmas
When Gavin Adams arrives in Liverpool next month as the titular Aladdin in Disney’s stage spectacular it will be the finale of what he describes as “the best year ever”.
The lavish production of the magical musical is taking over the Empire for Christmas as the final date on its extensive UK tour.
Not only does the young actor play the title role, but it’s also his first ever professional production, fresh out of the Royal Academy of Music where he received his MA in Musical Theatre last summer.
No one, it seems, is more surprised (and delighted) by this than Adams himself, not least because, he admits during a chat on a flying visit to the city, it was the last thing he expected…having not actually auditioned for the part!
“I auditioned for the role of Kassim, who covers Aladdin,” he explains of the protracted process which involved six separate auditions including two early self-tapes.
So along with the excitement and, he admits, some fear, “there was also the element of shock of ‘have they got something wrong?’
“I let it sit for a few days, and eventually I was like, this is the coolest thing ever!”
The call came during the academy’s Easter holidays, and from then on it was what he describes as “a whirlwind of experiences” including intensive pre-rehearsal dance sessions to get him in shape for the physically demanding show.
There was also the small matter of chopping his locks.
“I used to have long hair past my chest,” he gestures. “Before I got the call I remember saying to my sister ‘if Disney ask me to chop my hair off I’m not going to do it’. And then they asked me and I was ‘of course I’ll do it!’
“My hair is very thick so it’s actually quite a relief now to have the short hair with all the running around I do.”
Above: Gavin Adams in Disney's Aladdin. Photo by Deen Van Meer. Top: Aladdin and the magic lamp in Liverpool. Photo by Brian Roberts.
Despite studying musical theatre, and now appearing in one of its biggest shows, it’s not something that featured in Adams' life when he was growing up.
Born in Hong Kong to a British father and Cantonese mother, he was raised in Liverpool’s twin city Shanghai. There he learned the violin from the age of eight, and watched Disney films at home, but theatre trips were rare and Western musicals even more so.
“I think the only show I saw was Phantom of the Opera when I was about 15,” he says. “I don’t really remember that to be fair. It wasn’t until I saw The Lion King in Hong Kong when I was 21 that a switch kind of flicked in my brain and I thought ‘oh, I’d quite like to do that, I’d quite like to experience that’.”
Adams had been on course to study medicine, but after a conversation with his school university counsellor he changed his mind.
“He kept saying to me – I just don’t get the vibe that you’re really committed to this medicine thing, I feel like something’s pulling you back,” the actor says. “He said, ‘I’ve seen your face on stage, and I’ve seen your face when you talk about the idea of doing medicine, and to be honest, you’d be so much happier doing music’.”
His school had links with the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and Adams subsequently won a place to study on the UK’s only Bachelor of Music degree in Popular Music.
It was during his time in Manchester that he made what have been the only visits to Liverpool to date – to play violin on Ray Quinn’s 2000 album Undeniable, recorded at the former Parr Street Studios and with Adams also appearing on the promo video.
Now he’s heading back to take centre stage at the Empire at the finale of that ‘best year ever’.
He smiles: “It’s been incredible. I’ve experienced some things that people don’t get to until they’re five years into their career, sometimes 10, sometimes 15. And the fact I’ve been given the blessing of this role so early on in my career. Especially sharing the stage with such amazing people, both cast and the rest of the company.”
Above: Adams with Daisy Barnett (Jasmine) and Yeukayi Use (the Genie)
So what’s next after Disney?
“The bar has been set quite high!” he laughs. “But as I said, this job has been such a blessing, and the fact that I get to do this as my first job has been incredible and I’m excited about what comes next.”
First, there’s Christmas in Liverpool. It’s busy schedule with plenty of two-show days to test the seasonal stamina, although the whole cast gets three consecutive days off around Christmas itself, and Adams’ family will be joining him to celebrate the occasion.
As for what Empire audiences can expect, he says: “There are so many amazing things. Firstly, the story of Aladdin is so well-known, whether people have seen the live action of the movie, or the original animated movie from 1992, or whether they’ve heard about the original, original story.
“And what Disney does so well is bring that story to life. Amazing costumes, amazing set, amazing talent on stage, and the magic, it’s such a magical story with genies and lamps and treasure.”
Disney’s Aladdin is at the Liverpool Empire from December 11 to January 5. Tickets HERE
Comments