My Top 5 Showtunes: Alexis Gerred

Alexis Gerred's theatre credits include Dreamboats and Petticoats in the West End and Our House on tour. He is currently nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance in the West End revival of Green Day's American Idiot.

Gerred will join Amelia Lily and Newton Faulkner on the UK tour of American Idiot which kicks off at the Curve, Leicester next week.

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

1. "We Are The Champions" from We Will Rock You

AG: My family are huge fans of Queen, always have been. In fact, my Dad was in the "Radio GaGa" music video and a signed white suit of all the band members hangs proudly at his work.

It was huge part of my upbringing. I had no aspirations to sing or act until I saw We Will Rock You, but my personal childhood soundtrack being acted on stage? Mind blowing. There was no doubt that I wanted to attempt a career in musical theatre and "We Are The Champions" is a huge anthem not just for the show, the band but the whole British music industry.

2. "Letterbomb" from American Idiot

AG: It'd be wrong for me not to include a tune from a show I care so much about. I'm extremely proud to be apart of the London and touring cast, and I think all of the songs could fit in this list, easily. However, as much as I could listen to the songs "Holiday" or "St. Jimmy" all day long I have my jaw dropped to the floor whenever I hear my fellow cast mate Amelia Lily belt out this one. It's a huge song that needs huge pipes and gets me rocking every time.

3. "Heaven On Their Minds" from Jesus Christ Superstar

AG: It's iconic, right? A huge tenor song that hits you hard with powerful vocals. One of the first songs I attempted at college, it was like a fat man trying to beat the 100 metres world record without any training. It needs experience and maturity to be able to sing/act a song like this. Judas is a role I'd love to play one day and hope I eventually get the chance.

4. "Clean" from Rooms: A Rock Romance

AG: I was lucky enough to be in the original London production and this is a song that I always looked forward to. It tackles the struggle of alcoholism and the journey through it.

In rehearsal, I always had the vision of the images around the origin and evolving of man. Something underdeveloped, simple and helpless evolving through slow stages into something complete, complex and confident. It's a great song not just to sing but act through too.

5. "In My Defence" from Time

AG: The show was a bit before my time, although I enjoy the entire score. But it all relates back to my families healthy-ish obsession with Queen and Freddie Mercury. He did an incredible version of this song, one that always sticks in my memory and not just because of his blistering vocals but the melody and lyrics which feel so accomplished and complete. A perfect song in my opinion.