BWW Interviews: Matthew Seadon-Young, The New Star Of URINETOWN!

Hello Matt! Welcome to BWW:UK - and welcome back to you and the cast of Urinetown!

It's great! We're getting some great audiences, and having a lot of fun.

How different is the show to when it was at the St James?

There are some little changes to accommodate the West End space, but that's going really well. Mostly it's small changes - the audience are really on top of you at the St James, so there's a need for more subtlety, more focus. I think with the audience being further away they can see a bit more and appreciate the clarity of the staging.

The plan was always for a transfer at some point, and I think opening off-West End was tactical - we got such great reviews so the show got a chance to make a name for itself and build up a bit of hype. It's not something that's just popped out of nowhere, it has a solid background and a buzz around it.

Were you familiar with the show before you were cast in it?

Actually, I remember sitting in the library at drama school and seeing it on the computer database, and clicking through to listen! I was swept away by the music - you've got pastiche and satire, and I thought then that Run Freedom Run was a stand-out. So I knew the score, but not the story, and then when I got the script I was even more pleasantly surprised. I'm an actor, so sometimes I don't really fully appreciate the quality of the script until we get into the rehearsal room - and it's always amazing to get it on its feet.

What's it like working with Jenna Russell?

She's a force of nature, and an absolute pro. She's lovely, funny, and definitely someone to look up to. Seeing her in Sunday in the Park with George, she blew me away.

And you're stepping into the shoes - or the vest - of Richard Fleeshman...

Yeah, I think maybe he stretched that out a bit for me, but I'm doing my best! [laughs] He's been incredible, actually, really supportive. Also he always smelt really good, and the t-shirt smells of him a bit, so it's comforting. [laughs more]

Like when you've got to transport a cat and you leave them a jumper that smells like you in their basket to keep them calm?

Exactly like that!

Matthew Seadon-Young stars in Urinetown, running at the Apollo Theatre.

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