Features

My Top 5 Showtunes: Sion Lloyd

The actor tells us the musical numbers he couldn’t live without

Ben Hewis

London London's West End

03 September 2016

Sion Lloyd's theatre credits include Titanic (Charing Cross Theatre), Miss Atomic Bomb (St James Theatre), and the UK tour of The Bodyguard.

He has recently joined the 30th anniversary cast of The Phantom of the Opera as Monsier Firmin.

We caught up with Sion and asked him: "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?"

1. "Old Red Hills of Home" from Parade

A great melodic, dramatic ballad. You can feel the weight of history. From a great, tragic show that I would love to be part one day, I think this is some of Jason Robert Brown’s best work, a show on a larger, more epic scale than we are maybe used to from him.

2. "Alive" from Jekyll and Hyde

If you are a singer Jekyll and Hyde is a gold mine of great songs. Anthony Warlow’s vocals are incredible throughout the entire album, but none show his vocal dexterity and stamina more than this number, not only a great vocalist but also a lovely actor.

3. "Goodbye Old Girl" from Damn Yankees

I have fond memories of not only the song but the show, Damn Yankees was my graduation show while at the Guildford School of Acting and I was fortunate to be cast as Joe Hardy. This song is particularly touching as old Joe sells his soul to the devil but as a result has to say goodbye to the love of his life.

4. "Breeze Off The River" from The Full Monty

I was lucky enough to be part of the original London cast of The Full Monty, possibly the best show I have been part of and this is a stand out song. A touching number where Jerry is singing to his sleeping son and explaining how he is struggling with not only his direction in life but his place in society, just beautiful.

5. "Oh What Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma

I could not compile this list and leave out the great Rodgers & Hammerstein! During my youth theatre days Oklahoma was one of my favourite shows. It gave me the confidence to consider a career as an actor. That aside there is no disputing the impact this show has had on the history of musical theatre.