20/10/2023

Interview: Samuel Wyn-Morris, Beauty and the Beast, Sunderland Empire

 

Les Miserables’ Samuel Wyn-Morris will appear

as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast

  


Samuel hails from Llanelli, South Wales, and is a first language Welsh speaker. Most recently Samuel has starred as Enjolras in the Les Misérables UK Tour which visited Sunderland Empire in November 2022.  He will be appearing in the Empire’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, which runs from Friday 8 – Sunday 31 December 2023. He reveals how he feels about doing panto in the North East.

 


 

Sam, you recently starred as Enjolras in the tour of Les Misérables which visited Sunderland for the first time last November. Are you looking forward to coming back to the Empire’s stage? 

 

“Absolutely! It’s a beautiful theatre and they’re proper people in the North East, they remind me of home (Wales) so anytime I get the chance to go to the North East I'm happy.” 


 

What did you like about performing in the North East?  

 

“The crowds. Especially in Les Mis, the crowds love a rebellious one. Playing Enjolras was great fun. Proper singing, great theatre to perform in and a good night out, which is always important.”  

 

Have you performed in a panto before or is this your first?  

“This is my first, I’m breaking the panto duck. I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to it.”  

 

The Beast is known for being a bit of a prickly character, are you looking forward to taking on the iconic role and what will you be bringing to it? 

 

“Absolutely! Well, I’m hoping to bring a bit of Welsh thunder, you know? Like open the organ up and go for gold. A bit of Tom Jones may be involved.”  


 

Les Misérables is one of the most famous musicals the World has seen, is there anything you’ll be bringing from your West End experience to panto this year?  

 

“Always arrive on time. That’s probably it. The rest is the same. Theatre is theatre it’s a great start and so I kind of do panto, which was kind of my introduction to theatre, having done my dream job and doing this now it’s fabulous and I can’t wait. I’m just dead chuffed.”  

 

Have you grown up watching pantomime? If so, what’s your favourite memory? 

 

“I have grown up watching pantomime. Panto is Denny Twp. Denny Twp which translates to silly Denny in English. Absolute legend of the game Denys Jenkins in Llanelli and watching his pantos growing up was second to none and it inspired an entire generation of theatre goers in Llanelli and theatre performers.”  


 

What do you love the most about performing on stage?  

 

“I just enjoy the rush. There’s an adrenaline buzz that you get from it that you don’t get from anything else. There’s this little part of your engine that just starts ticking when you get up on stage and you know that once you’re on the train there’s no getting off. I can’t wait for it. Just to feel it again. To feel alive!”  

 

Do you have any Christmas traditions? 

 

“So, the one that we kind of went through for a long time as a family was curry on Christmas Day. So, we’d have curry basically so dad could see us on Christmas Day, otherwise it’s just like you know his one true love is the turkey for the entire day. So that’s probably the biggest one. Or we go and do carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve, which is my favourite one. You just turn up and sing carol after carol. I always get a shout out. My brother doesn’t and it really annoys him. The Rev always gives me a shout out and a little wave like I’m Bill Clinton.”


 

Why should people book to see Beauty and the Beast at Sunderland Empire?

 

“Because it’s going to be brilliant. It’s going to be the best pantomime the North East has ever seen. In fact, all of England has ever seen. I go that far.” 

 

Photos: Barry Pells

Tickets:

#ad Tickets are available from the theatre box office and online from ATG Tickets: https://prf.hn/l/ERkdOm2

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.