Interview: 'This Show Will Flip Your Heart Upside Down' Oliver Tompsett on Dream Partnerships and Learning the Drums in New Musical IN DREAMS

Currently starring in the premiere of new musical In Dreams at Leeds Playhouse as Ramsey, Oliver Tompsett talks to us about new roles, learning for a job, and the audience reaction to this story of a band reunited, set to the music of Roy Orbison.

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Congratulations on In Dreams, Oliver! How has the experience been so far?

To create a new role in a new story is always a pleasure but to be under the guidance of Luke our director and David our writer is a privilege I will never take for granted. The show is funny and moving with characters that everyone can relate to.

Can you tell us a little about the show, and your character, Ramsey?

Ramsey was the drummer from the semi successful band Heartbreak Radio but is now driving an Uber teaching drums but has never stopped loving the lead singer of Heartbreak Radio, Kenna. He is wild at heart and wears his heart on his sleeve

 Ramsey is a passionate drummer. Do you play the drums or have you had to learn on the job?

I have learnt for the job. I borrowed a drum kit from my nephew who plays drums. I’m getting better slowly!

You are playing opposite Broadway star Lena Hall; how have you found that relationship developing?

Lena is as crazy as I am so we have a lot of banter (banter is a very British term apparently which I still don’t think she knows the meaning of) like myself  she cares about every little detail of the story telling so we have found a great partnership on and off stage.

The music for the piece is all Roy Orbison songs, is there a sense of nerves knowing that these songs are familiar and beloved, or is it freeing just to put your own stamp on them?

I think because I wasn’t too familiar of a lot of his songs, the show for me feels like they were written for our story which is the key to the jukebox format.

Do you have a favourite song in the piece?

"Wild Hearts Run Out Of Time".

The show is running at Leeds Playhouse – for you as a performer and an ensemble, how important and special is it to be  not only be opening a new piece of  theatre, but at a regional venue?

Playing to an audience that have no idea what they are in for keeps us on our toes but by the end, the audiences in Leeds have been very responsive!

In Dreams reunites David West Read and Luke Sheppard, who also brought us & Juliet, which of course you starred in! What’s it like to work on something with a creative team you’re already familiar with – does it change the energy in the room, or the way you approach the process?

I was relaxed that I had worked with both of them before and trusted them to make something brilliant, but equally worried that what if their trust in me was based on another show and part... but as it’s turned out I think it’s a dream partnership that bring the best out of me regardless of the show or role!

What would you say to audiences who might be on the fence to convince them to buy a ticket?

If you like to laugh and want to be moved by a story then In Dreams will have you belly laughing and then flip your heart upside down and most definitely leave you with a stronger outlook on life and love.

In Dreams runs at Leeds Playhouse until 5 August, then have its North American premiere from September 26 to November 12 in Toronto

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