My Top 5 Showtunes: Gary Trainor

Gary Trainor's theatre credits include School of Rock (New London), Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Aldwych) and I Can’t Sing (London Palladium).

He is soon to star in Rothschild & Sons, which runs at the Park Theatre from 29 January to 17 February, with previews from now.

1. "My Friends" from Sweeney Todd

I have loved this song since I was 16. I was lucky enough to do a production with the Welsh National Youth Opera in an old abattoir in a rural Welsh town. A young Craig Yates played the title role and every time I heard him sing this song it gave me tingles. Ever since it’s been a dream of mine to play the part when I’m older, I’d say I’d need a few years more to do it justice but I love singing it in auditions.

2. "No Good Deed" from Wicked

Wicked is my ultimate guilty pleasure, I have it on my phone and can regularly be seen mouthing along to it on the 87 bus into town. If only I were green… and a woman, I’d love to take on that song but as it is I’ll happily continue listening to Idina Menzel smash it. I have also seen Rachel Tucker make it completely her own and I loved her run as Elphaba. Great that she’s a fellow Norn Irish actor as well!

3. "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from Les Miserables

Possibly the first MT song male performers want to learn and perform when they are young and was definitely mine. I once won a competition back home in Antrim singing this song and it’s always had a soft spot in my heart.

4. "One Fine Day" from Beautiful

I was so very lucky to be in the original West End cast of Beautiful and the part that hit me the most is when Carole takes up the song ''One Fine Day" at the end of act one. She has just heard her husband wants to have an affair and the pain conveyed is so raw. Katie Brayben and then Cassidy Janson used to have me on the verge of tears, I would secretly stand at the side of the stage and watch those last few bars from the wing and just be transported into the anguish of the character.

5. "What A Fool I've Been" from The Hired Man

No video available!

I sang this song for my drama school showcase. It is one of my favourite examples of narrative through song, the music is in complete contrast to how the character is singing, describing his inner turmoil at realising he has been cuckolded. Such a powerful song that I love to sing.