Niki Evans: “I am so honoured to be playing this wonderful role of Mrs Johnstone”

Niki Evans began a 6 month run at the Phoenix Theatre London last Autumn, and prior to this a sell out season in Blood Brothers at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Her debut single ‘Love Me No More’ was released last September.  Mum of two Niki Evans, from Birmingham, won the hearts of millions as one of the most popular female artists to appear in the hit TV show with her extraordinary renditions of such songs as “Fields of Gold”, “Songbird”, and “All That Jazz”.

BLOOD BROTHERS has been running in London’s West End since July 1988.  In the USA, it has had a record-breaking Broadway run, a hugely successful coast-to-coast tour, and was nominated for seven Tony Awards. Telling the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be re-united by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret, the memorable score includes “A Bright New Day”, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

The celebrated role of Mrs Johnstone has been played by such well-known actresses including Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson, Petula Clark, Lyn Paul, Siobhan McCarthy, and four of the Nolan sisters - Linda, Bernie, Denise and Maureen.

The musical is directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright; and the book, music and lyrics are by Willy Russell for which he received an Olivier Award.

Niki Evans tells us more details about this iconic musical that keeps on moving audiences.

YOU HAVE MADE YOUR WEST END DEBUT IN ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’, ONE OF THE MOST MYTHICAL SHOWS IN LONDON AFTER 21 YEARS. HOW IT IS BEING YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THIS SHOW?
The show is a heart warming story, which most of it stands the test of time and a lot of what in it happens everyday in houses today and so I enjoy it so much and to just look at the people who has played Mrs Johnstone. I am so honoured to be playing this wonderful role.

YOUR PERFORMANCE IN ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’ AS MRS JOHNSTONE HAS ACHIEVED RAVE REVIEWS. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING ABOUT PERFORMING THIS CHARACTER?
OH thank you it’s real life and I have two sons myself so I do draw on my home life to play the role. And the different reactions of the Audiences because we have a wide age range that walk thought the door.

BEFORE JOINING THE WEST END COMPANY OF ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’ YOU WERE FOR TWO WEEKS AT THE TOURING COMPANY IN BIRMINGHAM. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE?
Doing a musical is HARD work, eight shows a week and you try and give the same performance night after night so not let any audience walk away thinking your not giving it your all every night. The tour was amazing, to do a show like BLOOD BROTHERS in your home town I was proud of them and I hope I made them proud of me Birmingham Rocks!

FATE PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’. DO YOU BELIEVE IN DESTINY?
I don’t know I’ve had a lot of bad luck recently so I’m abit scared of Destiny!

THE ROLE OF MRS JOHNSTONE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY ARTISTS AS BARBARA DICKSON, KIKI DEE, PETULA CLARK, LYN PAUL OR SIOBHAN MCCARTHY… DO YOU ADMIRE SPECIALLY ANY OF THEM?
Yes, I love Barbra Dickson she has the most beautiful voice, all the Mrs Johnstone’s before me all had wonderful voices.

THE AUDIENCE FOLLOWS YOUR CHARACTER THROUGH THE YEARS, SINCE SHE IS A YOUNG WOMAN IN LOVE UNTIL THE VERY END WHEN HER HEART IS BROKEN BY THE DEATH OF HER TWO SONS.YOU´RE ONE OF THE YOUNGEST ACTRESS WHO HAS PLAYED THIS ROLE. HOW DO YOU FACE THE CHALLENGE OF RECREATING THE EVOLUTION OF THIS WOMAN ON STAGE?
Well I met my husband at 16 and married at 19 and had my boys in my early 20’s so I play it as I would at home apart from the end which makes me cry every night “I couldn’t live without my family” as long as Mrs Johnstone is real and you play it strong and true, keep it real people will follow you.

RECENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN THE CAST. DO YOU THINK THAT NEW CAST MAKES A DIFFERENT SHOW?
The different cast are very different from the old, and yes it’s a very different, you will have to come and see it for yourselves!

DID YOU HAVE SEEN THE SHOW BEFORE JOINING THE COMPANY? WHAT WAS YOUR OPINION ABOUT IT?
I saw Lyn Paul who was an awesome Mrs Johnstone, I was absolutely absorbed by the show, I was shocked at how funny it was and the ending broke my heart. I’ve seen a few shows and BLOOD BROTHERS is the best by a clear mile.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT KEEPS THE SHOW SO ALIVE AND APPEALING TO THE AUDIENCE EVERY NIGHT AFTER 21 YEARS IN THE WEST END?
The story of BLOOD BROTHERS happens in every house with kids growing up and mothers who is sharing money out and never having enough and people out of work it’s a working class life, but how they find a laugh around every corner and how much love comes from thoughts families, people can relate to it, it’s a timeless story and Willie Russell is a fantastic writer he understands what he is writing about.

Niki Evans as Mrs. Johnstone in BLOOD BROTHERS

ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN SINGING WITH BANDS OR AS A SOLO SINGER SINCE AND EARLY AGE, YOU ACHIEVED FAME FOR YOU APPEARANCE IN THE TELEVISION SHOW THE X FACTOR. IN WHICH WAY THIS EXPERIENCE HAS MARKED YOUR CAREER?
Without the X Factor Bill Kenwright wouldn’t have heard me and offered me the part so I’m very grateful to a little known man called Simon Cowell!

YOU WILL RELEASE YOUR FIRST SOLO ALBUM LATER THIS YEAR. COULD YOU COMMENT US ABOUT HOW THIS ALBUM WILL BE?
My album will be my x factor experience and what happened after so there will be BLOOD BROTHERS songs on it also.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMBINE IN THE FUTURE YOUR CAREER IN MUSICAL THEATRE WITH YOU CAREER AS A SINGER?
I had three weeks and Bill asked me to return to BLOOD BROTHERS so I went back to the end of September 2009 so the tour will be October 2009. I’m lucky that I can do both I love to sing and I’d like to get into TV, Radio. Now I’ve started to do other things it makes you want to try other things. I’m also auditioning for other shows watch this space!