We’ll be doing this when we are men
MICHAEL BALL AND ALFIE BOE ARE PREPARING TO SING THEIR WAY INTO CINEMAS. CHATS THEIR WINNING PARTNERSHIP
WIGS, dresses and lipsticks are in Michael Ball’s future as he prepares to return to the role of Edna Turnblad in hit musical Hairspray, while opera star Alfie Boe is already busy planning for his next album.
“Paul Merton’s going to be my husband,” laughs Michael of his stage turn, “I’m getting a new husband.”
Alfie adds: “I’m working on a new album and there are a few other projects I’m looking at that I can’t really talk about just yet.”
However, before any of that happens the West End star and the opera singer are aiming to continue their winning partnership with a tour that will end with a live broadcast across 1,000 cinemas.
Michael, 57, laughs that they are both ready to become movie stars and says: “The recent Les Miserables concert live screenings showed me that you can experience and relive the magic of a unique live performance all over again and the quality and intimacy are somehow heightened.
“I love the idea and I actually snuck into the back of one screening of Les Mis and it was really like being in the theatre.”
He and Alfie are about to head out on tour, with their final show at London’s 02 Arena being screened in cinemas across the country.
As well as featuring songs from The Lion King, The Greatest Showman, The Phantom Of The Opera and a Queen medley, cinema audiences will also be treated to candid behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the duo.
“What better way to end our Back Together live tour,” says 46-year-old Alfie. “It’s a little bit different with the cameras around, but you’ve just got to embrace it and not let the nerves creep in.”
Although he admits he will avoid taking a peek at any of the concert footage later.
“I can’t watch myself,” he confesses. “I can never watch myself or listen back to a performance or anything like that. “I take away any notes from people I know about what I might do differently, but I can’t watch myself without cringing ... I can’t even look at myself in a mirror sometimes.”
The duo are also looking forward to touring again and say the on-stage chemistry between them is something no one could have predicted.
Michael says: “It can be lonely at times on stage by yourself and it’s nice to have someone alongside you.”
He laughs: “We have our own career paths as well, so when we come together we are not flogging it and it does give you a bit of a lift.”
Alfie adds: “We both know what to do, we both love singing and sharing the stage and we’ve been lucky to find an audience that really loves what we do.”
Neither could have foreseen the overwhelming success of the musical partnership when they recorded their debut album, Together, back in 2016.
The album beat the likes of Little Mix and the Rolling Stones to claim the Christmas number one spot and two other successful albums have followed along with two sold-out arena tours and two classic Brit Awards.
They have also sold more than a million albums in the UK.
Michael and Alfie first met more than a decade ago in a production of Kismet at the London Coliseum and struck up an instant friendship.
“It’s been a surprise,” says Alfie of the success. “You can’t plan something like this.”
“It’s grown naturally,” agrees
Michael, “and what we do together has just got better and better.”
“It’s a no-brainer that we will go on and do another album together,” says Alfie. “It just seems right.”
They agree that they could not see the musical partnership working so successfully with anyone else and their different personalities gel when they work together.
“I have lots of pre-show superstitions and Alfie has none,” points out Michael.
“I’ve grown up in the theatre, so I have them all – no whistling, dressing in the same order – everything. I blame it all on fate. If things go wrong it’s not my fault.”
Alfie says: “The superstition I have is to change my routine every single night.”
“You’re killing me,” groans Michael.
“No, if I put my socks on one spot on the floor and have a good show then the next night I’ll move them to a different spot,” continues Alfie gleefully.
So are they both competitive on stage? “No, not at all,” says Alfie.
“Well, he can sing louder and longer than me,” quips Michael, “but we’ll be doing this when we’re old men.”
He chuckles: “I’ll be pushing him on stage in a bath chair.”
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe: Back Together, distributed by CinemaLive, is being screened in cinemas on March 28 and 29. Tickets are on sale now. Visit ballandboeincinemas.com for more information.
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