Interview: Chiara Sparkes and Dani Heron on ROLLERS FOREVER

BroadwayWorld caught up with Chiara Sparkes and Dani Heron to chat about opening new musical Rollers Forever, featuring the music of the Bay City Rollers, at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre. 

What is the premise of Rollers Forever?

Dani: It’s about the fans. So it’s two best mates who are still best mates years and years later and they’re sort of reminiscing about their teenage years. It’s kind of for the people who are going to see it- loads of fans that identify with the characters we’re playing.

Chiara: What’s really nice about it is what Dani said, it's coming from the fans' perspective rather than it just being a jukebox musical thats like the story of the band. The fans are such a big part of the Bay City Rollers and I think that’s whats really nice about it.

Dani: It's about friendship and finding your tribe and feeling like you're part of something. I didn’t realise how huge they were. Because they were a Scottish band, I think loads of fans feel they’ve been on this journey with them and they kind of have ownership of them.

Why do you think the Bay City Rollers are still so popular?

Dani: Bops. Tune after tune after tune. 

Chiara: So much about the music. If you’ve had like a boy band that was your generation, you’ve always got a connection to that because you grew up with them. 

Dani: We didn’t know all of the music; you obviously know some of the classic ones. But in rehearsals, when we’re learning the new music or going over the songs, every song is good. It’s fun.

Who was your boy band of choice?

Chiara: Probably One Direction was mine, but there were so many girl bands that we loved. Back in the day, it was Girls Aloud- pure loved them. 

Dani: Spice Girls was the one I was the one I was obsessed with. I’m trying to think who I was obsessed with when I was a proper teenager. I went through different little phases where I was like “I’m so indie” and it was always whatever the boys at school that I fancied were into. So I’d be like “yeah I’m really into the Arctic Monkeys” or “I love Franz Ferdinand”.

How are rehearsals going?

Chiara: Good! It’s been really fun, its a really nice team and we’re all just having a laugh which is good. We’re just embracing the cheesiness and the campness of it all because you can’t not with this kind of show.

Dani: It’s been so much fun but we’ve got a lot to get through and everyone’s working really hard.

What’s the response been like since they announced the cast?

Dani: There’s been so much PR for it and its one of the shows that my family have been most excited that I’ve been part of. Again, I think that comes down to my mum and my aunties feeling that nostalgia and it being something they can relate to. Also just because they know it's going to be a good night. Everyone’s excited about the show not necessarily who's in it. I think with it being Bay City Rollers and its about what they created and the fandom of that. In saying that, the cast are excellent and there’s loads of us who have worked together before and its created a really nice atmosphere in the room.

Chiara: I agree. I think it's going to be one of those fun ones that we reminisce about and go “oh that was a good time”. 

How many times have you two worked together now?

Dani: Well, when Chiara was ten at PACE Youth Theatre, I directed her in Mary Poppins. I cast her as Mary Poppins when she was really really little. 

Chiara: It was funny because I hadn’t seen Dani in years and then we did a workshop together and then after that workshop, we just kept meeting. 

Dani: We did Tally’s Blood together and we’ve done panto together. We also just did the Play Pie Pint summer panto as well, Chiara was assistant director. We’ve worked together loads and we are friends, just as well eh?

Rollers Forever is at the Pavilion Theatre from 19 - 30 August