Jon Robyns: “’Open Book’ is an album of songs taken from book musicals that have all moved me in some way”

Since his professional debut in 2004 in the UK Tour production of MISS SAIGON, Jon Robyns has developed an intense career in musical theatre, starring in shows such as RENT (Germany), AVENUE Q (West End) and LES MISÉRABLES (West End and 25th Anniversary International Tour).

From June 24th to September 17th Jon Robyns is appearing as Hollis Bessemer in the European premiere of ROAD SHOW, the new musical from Stephen Sondheim at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.

Set in the early part of the twentieth-century, ROAD SHOW tells the true story of brothers Addison and Wildon Mizner. From panning for gold in Alaska to building the city of Boca Raton in Florida, they were two of the most colourful and outrageous fortune seekers in American history. This production is directed and designed by the Tony Award Winner John Doyle and features David Bedella, Michael Jibson, Jon and Gillian Bevan.

Apart from that, Jon Robyns has just released his debut album ‘Open Book’ which is available on CD and Digital Download from Curtain Records. Jon tells us about this brand new album and about his work in the new Sondheim musical.

HOW WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOUR DEBUT ALBUM ‘OPEN BOOK’? Open Book is an album of songs taken from book musicals that have all moved or affected me in some way. It is a mixture of classic, contemporary and brand new songs from both the UK and America.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF DOING IT? AND, ONCE YOU HAD IT, HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE SONGS THAT TAKE PART OF THE ALBUM? Curtain Records originally approached me with the idea of producing an album in 2008. We kept talking about it for several years but other projects kept getting in the way. Then, at the start of this year we finally had enough time to sit down and actually make it happen. The title ‘Open Book’ gave us our linking theme for what should appear on the album. Book Musicals are shows with spoken scenes and songs. This for me is a powerful and accessible method of storytelling. So, the songs are some of my favourite examples from that genre of theatre.

YOU HAVE RECORDED DUETS WITH GINA BECK AND MARK EVANS. WHAT WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT OF THEM?
Gina and Mark are firstly good friends of mine and I always like working with people I love and trust. As well as this, they are exemplary West End leading performers. When I thought of featuring duets on the album, the songs I wanted to do fit Mark and Gina perfectly and I couldn’t be prouder of the results.

APART FROM SONGS FROM POPULAR MUSICAL SHOWS, YOU HAVE ALSO RECORDED A SONG OF TIM PROTTEY JONES. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST OF HIS WORK AS A COMPOSER?
Tim has his own voice and style that shines through his writing. His first album ‘More with Every Line’ captured my ear immediately. I approached him about featuring some of his material on the album with no expectations and he has been gracious and supportive through the whole process. I look forward to one day performing in his shows in the West End.

LAST WEEK ‘ROAD SHOW’ OPENED AT THE MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY. HOW HAVE THESE FIRST PERFORMANCES BEEN? HOW HAS THE AUDIENCE REACTION BEEN SO FAR? Their reactions thus far have been overwhelmingly positive. The play is performed in traverse which makes for an inclusive experience for the whole audience. They have to move their feet so as not be hit by furniture flying past them, get covered in money that is thrown. It means that they are included in the storytelling from the very start.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TAKING PART OF THIS SHOW? AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST OF IT? To perform any Sondheim is a special experience that should be savoured by all actors. He is the defining theatrical genius of a generation and it enters you into a legacy that cannot be underestimated. To be the first to present a brand new Sondheim show is a career defining moment. I am grateful and humbled that I have been entrusted with the opportunity to tell this story with this group of people.

THIS PRODUCTION IS DIRECTED BY JOHN DOYLE. HOW HAS THE REHEARSAL PROCESS BEEN UNDER HIS DIRECTION? The rehearsals for ROAD SHOW have been the hardest and most rewarding of my career to date. John Doyle is one of those directors who operate on a higher level of understanding than most. This makes for an incredibly vibrant, challenging and open rehearsal room. I was going home with headaches in an attempt to grasp the concepts that this piece deals with. I feel the hard work in the room has paid off massively on stage. It makes it clean for the audience whilst remaining detailed and complex.

LAST WEEKEND STEPHEN SONDHEIM VISITED THE MENIER. DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET HIM? HOW WAS HIS REACTION TO THIS LONDON PRODUCTION OF HIS SHOW? I did get to talk to him for some time about the show. He was very pleased with what we’ve done. It’s a strange experience talking to someone of that standing and I came away thinking “I have a strange life”.

AFTER WORKING FOR YEARS IN BIG VENUES WITH PRODUCTIONS AS ‘MISS SAIGON’, ‘AVENUE Q’ OR ‘LES MISÉRABLES’, HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU PLAYING A ROLE IN SUCH A SMALL VENUE AT THE MENIER? HOW DO YOU FEEL THE INTIMACY WITH THE AUDIENCE?
It certainly is a noticeable difference for me. I was a bit cautious at first as my instincts from playing such huge venues are completely wrong for this type of space. The text is extremely witty and quick with lots of subtleties, which works perfectly for the type of televisual acting that is required at the Menier. So it wasn’t hard for me to make the necessary adjustments.

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU PERFORMING ENJOLRAS IN THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF ‘LES MISÉRABLES’? That too was a remarkable experience. The chance to re-invent something so well known and put our own stamp on it was one I could ill afford to miss. We performed the production to a Parisian audience for the first time. Made a brand new cast recording, which was one of my ultimate career goals achieved. And were involved with the genuinely historic O2 25th Anniversary concert. Took the production back to the Barbican, where the show was created. These are things I shall never forget.

COULD YOU COMMENT ON YOUR FUTURE PROJECTS? Right now, ROAD SHOW and the Album are taking up a lot of my time and focus but there are a few things down the road that I’m looking forward to. Promoting the album is the next really fun thing. There will be a live concert of Open Book in the near future so watch this space.

Jon Robyns (Hollis Bessemer), Michael Jibson (Addison Mizner) and the cast of ROAD SHOW