BWW Interviews: BY JEEVES Choreographer And BWW-Award Nominee Andrew Wright

Hi Andrew! Welcome to BWW:UK. You've just finished choreographing Curtains at Arts Ed - how did that go?

It went so well. (pause) Actually, the other day, someone in the audience had a heart attack.

What?

Yes. I think everyone else thought it was just part of the show. It took a while to get going after that. But yes, in general, it's been a great run.

Any tips for future West End stars we should be looking out for?

Oh, lots. It's a very talented third year in general, and it was great to work with them as well as do a show that's new.

You're moving on now to choreograph By Jeeves at the Landor.

Yes. I beliEve Lord Lloyd Webber came to see Smokey Joe's Cafe there and was really impressed, and so he wanted to try out this slightly new version of By Jeeves. It has new orchestrations and has been reworked, and we're hoping for a tour next year. It's lots of fun - all the props and set are arranged to look like a village hall, and it's beautiful.

I'm working with ten actors, not dancers, so I needed to find a dance language we could all understand, that looks great and is truthful to the characters. The dances look like real people dancing, and I think it's really charming. Whether the audience are there because they love Jeeves or they love Lloyd Webber, I think they'll enjoy it - it's a frothy, silly evening, and will transport you into a new world.

I was going to ask about how you've choreographed this - I've seen your work in small spaces before with relatively large casts, and big spaces with small casts, but they've usually had dancers, rather than actors being asked to dance...

Yes, and here we have more props, meaning even less spce. I love embracing a challenge though - there's a lot going on.

And what will you be going on to after this?

I have a really exciting project that I can announce in a fortnight! I'm also choreographing Don Giovanni for the Welsh National Opera with John Caird, and then 42nd Street, which I did at Chichester last year, will be at Leicester Curve for Christmas, with a new design - I'm so glad it's getting a second life.

By Jeeves is running at the Landor Theatre.

 

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