My Top 5 Showtunes: Ian Bartholomew

Ian Bartholomew's recent theatre credits include Mrs Henderson Presents and Shakespeare in Love both in the West End at the Noël Coward.

In his current role, he finds himself back at the Noel Coward Theatre as Chitterlow in Half a Sixpence.

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

1. "Singin’ in the Rain" from Singin’ in the Rain

The title tune from my favourite movie of all time. It has to be the Gene Kelly movie version though.

2. Anything from Guys and Dolls

In my humble opinion it’s by far the best of the big Broadway musicals, if not the best stage musical ever! It has the most sublime combination of characters, dialogue and drop-dead musical numbers. At a push, I would choose a very short piece which is really an intro to another song. "My Time of Day" is where Sky Masterson explains to Sister Sarah what it is that he loves most about New York, before he goes on to admit his love for her in "I’ve Never Been in Love Before".

3. "My Friends" from Sweeney Todd

Sondheim’s masterpiece. Sweeney sings a love song to his collection of cut-throat razors. Spine-chilling and genius.

4. "Earthbound" from Take Flight

A beautiful song from a little known show that premiered at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2007.

5. "I Remember" from Evening Primrose

I was in a production of Side by Side by Sondheim in nineteen-hundred-and-frozen-to-death. A stand-alone gem from the undoubted master craftsman of musical theatre.