Post by Tanith Messenger on Jan 29, 2011 13:53:22 GMT
Former Didcot schoolboy now a West End star -and you can see him in Oxford next week.
By Rhianne Pope.
FOUR years ago, Antony Hansen was starring as a teenager on BBC’s Any Dream Will Do, fighting for the chance to star as Joseph in the West End.
And now the 21-year-old from Didcot has a string of West End hits under his belt and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phone number in his pocket.
Next week he will return to Oxford to star in Direct from the West End at the New Theatre, which will feature songs from musicals such as Les Miserables and Wicked.
Mr Hansen said: “The last few years have been absolutely manic, I just haven’t stopped.
“Since the show finished, I have recorded two albums, studied at the Mountview school in London, and played Marius in Les Miserables for four months.
“I also got the chance to be in the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables at the O2 in London, which was amazing.
“I remember sitting watching the VHS of the 10th anniversary when I was about seven, and saying I wanted to be in that one day. It was a dream come true.”
The former pupil at St Birinus School, Didcot, also starred in the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, playing Joseph’s brother, Pharoah, and two months as the lead character.
He is now about to join Wicked, the award-winning Wizard of Oz musical. He is understudy to Lee Mead, who won the 2007 reality show.
Despite all his success, Mr Hansen said it was always nice to come back to Oxfordshire.
He said: “I’ve been living in London the past year, but there’s nothing like coming back home.
“And it’s nice catching up with all my old friends. It’s strange because they’re all at uni now, and I’ve been working for three years.
“But we managed to have a good catch up in the pub over Christmas.”
He has also stayed in touch with friends made during his time on the reality show.
He said: “We’ve all been quite lucky, all of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s reality babies. I’m friends with a lot of the Nancies and Marias from the other shows too.
“And although a lot of people didn’t think we would make it, most of us have.
“I’m just so thankful I went for that first interview. My life has changed so much, but definitely for the better.”
Direct From The West End is at the New Theatre on February 6
© Newsquest Media Group A Gannett Company 2011
© www.oxfordmail.co.uk
By Rhianne Pope.
FOUR years ago, Antony Hansen was starring as a teenager on BBC’s Any Dream Will Do, fighting for the chance to star as Joseph in the West End.
And now the 21-year-old from Didcot has a string of West End hits under his belt and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phone number in his pocket.
Next week he will return to Oxford to star in Direct from the West End at the New Theatre, which will feature songs from musicals such as Les Miserables and Wicked.
Mr Hansen said: “The last few years have been absolutely manic, I just haven’t stopped.
“Since the show finished, I have recorded two albums, studied at the Mountview school in London, and played Marius in Les Miserables for four months.
“I also got the chance to be in the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables at the O2 in London, which was amazing.
“I remember sitting watching the VHS of the 10th anniversary when I was about seven, and saying I wanted to be in that one day. It was a dream come true.”
The former pupil at St Birinus School, Didcot, also starred in the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, playing Joseph’s brother, Pharoah, and two months as the lead character.
He is now about to join Wicked, the award-winning Wizard of Oz musical. He is understudy to Lee Mead, who won the 2007 reality show.
Despite all his success, Mr Hansen said it was always nice to come back to Oxfordshire.
He said: “I’ve been living in London the past year, but there’s nothing like coming back home.
“And it’s nice catching up with all my old friends. It’s strange because they’re all at uni now, and I’ve been working for three years.
“But we managed to have a good catch up in the pub over Christmas.”
He has also stayed in touch with friends made during his time on the reality show.
He said: “We’ve all been quite lucky, all of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s reality babies. I’m friends with a lot of the Nancies and Marias from the other shows too.
“And although a lot of people didn’t think we would make it, most of us have.
“I’m just so thankful I went for that first interview. My life has changed so much, but definitely for the better.”
Direct From The West End is at the New Theatre on February 6
© Newsquest Media Group A Gannett Company 2011
© www.oxfordmail.co.uk
