Esther weaves a richer Tapestry
THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED POP DIVA CAROLE KING IN THE MUSICAL BEAUTIFUL IS TAKING THE LEGEND’S REVERED ALBUM ON THE ROAD
Esther Hannaford isn’t quite done with Carole King. The Australian actor played the iconic songwriter and musician in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for more than a year from 2017, winning a Helpmann Award for Best Actor.
Hannaford is returning to Carole King’s music for a national tour in April and May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic 1971 album Tapestry.
It was the record where King reinvented herself from behind the scenes songwriter to artist, selling more than 14 million copies and winning four Grammy Awards, including Album Of the Year. It’s regularly voted one of the best albums of all time and is home to classics It’s Too Late, I Feel the Earth Move, So Far Away and her versions of her hits for other acts, including Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.
For the first time in her career, Hannaford will hit the road — rather than play regular shows in the same theatre — with a band who will play Tapestry from start to finish, followed by a selection of other Carole King hits.
Hannaford, who says Beautiful is the highlight of her career to date (which has included King Kong, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors and last year’s ABC COVID-comedy Retrograde) and she jumped at the chance to go on tour.
“I didn’t think I would ever get a chance to sing these songs again,” Hannaford says. “I can’t wait to go back to them with a different band, this time not telling Carole’s life story, just singing the songs. Those songs are so emotional and mean so much to so many people.”
Hannaford says doing Beautiful meant she got to see how many people call Tapestry their favourite album.
“It wasn’t just people singing along in the audience, you get a lot of ‘When I heard that record for the first time’ stories. It’s one of those moments for people where everyone remembers where they were, which partner they were with, I think that’s why it’s so special and why people still love it 50 years on. Back in the day albums were written to be listened to in full, start to finish, you don’t get that so much any more. So people of that generation will appreciate that’s how we’re performing it.”
After the tour, Hannaford will wait for Melbourne Theatre Company work that was blown out with Melbourne’s latest lockdown to resume, but has another iron in the fire.
“I’m doing an electronic music production at university in May, learning how to use different tools. I make music at home, I want to hopefully make music for plays. I still love musicals and plays, I just
want to try something different. I’ve had the interest for far too long, now’s the time to see where it
leads me.”
Tapestry tour, Civic Theatre Newcastle April 15, Twin Towns Showroom Tweed Heads April 16, Kings Theatre Caloundra April 18, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre April 20, Cairns Performing Arts Centre April 22, Empire Theatre Toowoomba April 24, QPAC Brisbane April 25, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre April 28, Crown Theatre Perth April 30, State Theatre Sydney May 2, Anita’s Theatre Wollongong May 5, Albury Entertainment Centre May 7, Canberra Theatre May 8, Ulumbarra Theatre Bendigo May 11, Festival Theatre Adelaide May 13, Palais Theatre Melbourne May 14. Tickets livenation.com.au