Adam Garcia

Take us back to when you were young, where did your love of Tap come from?

The short answer would be that I did dance because I enjoyed it, and because it was something to do. My cousin went to a local dance school, and because my mum often worked until later on, it became something that my cousin and I could go to together after school. I was very lucky because the class was led by one of the best tap dancers in Australia, Glenn Dumbrell, and his sister Kerrie, and they were just great teachers. I didn’t watch many dancers, and wasn’t really aware of people like Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, or Fred Astaire. Tap just happened to find me, and kept me with it until I got good at it, and then I enjoyed it even more!

I read that you love to learn and teaching has also been something you’ve done a lot of over the years. Are you a better teacher or student?

I’d like to think I’m a better teacher, but I don’t know. I really do enjoy teaching, but they’re two sides of the same coin. One helps the other. As I said, I had amazing teachers and hopefully I’m passing on their knowledge when I teach. Tap dancing in particular has a knowledge which can only really be passed on.

So many people will have gotten their first glimpse of you in Coyote Ugly, though prior to this in 1998 you released ‘Night Fever’ which was number 15 in the charts - how did that come about and why didn’t you release anything else. I love the music video!

Yes, I did release a single and I was on Top of the Pops, which was amazing! The single was released to promote Saturday Night Fever at the Palladium, and then for the next year I was busy doing the show. After that, I did have offers for pop recording contracts, but it never really occurred to me to do them. At that time I really wanted to pursue acting, and didn’t want to be distracted from that.

On the subject of Coyote Ugly, it’s crazy that it will be 25 years next year. Did you know how big the movie was going to be when you were making it, and will there be any type of reunion to mark the milestone?

Yes, 25 years of Coyote Ugly, good gracious! How old does that make me?! I don’t know if there will be a reunion. We had a small reunion for the 21st anniversary, as of course Coyote Ugly could then ‘drink’, in America at least! We did some interviews for it, but they were all done remotely as it was lockdown. We still keep in touch every now and again, maybe I’ll suggest a reunion and see what happens!

You played Fiyero with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth in Wicked, how was working with those iconic ladies and are you looking forward to watching the movie adaptation later this year?

I did play Fiyero with Idina and Kristin, but only ever in workshops in New York and before the show had even officially started. I then performed in London with Idina, but not Kristin. I’d love to work with them both again. Both of them bring such a high level that you have to reach in order to even appear on the stage with them. I’ve got to work with some amazing people and Idina is one of them, and I’d certainly like to work with Kristin again in a bigger capacity.

The film is going to be amazing. I have friends who have worked on it but they won’t tell me a thing about it. So I know as much as everyone else, and I’m terribly excited!

It was formally confirmed earlier this year that the Masked Dancer won’t be returning which is sad. I wanted to ask, given that there is so much secrecy around the masked programmes, does not seeing the competition make it easier or more difficult and when you finally got to see the others were you envious of costumes/ characters?

Yes, it is sad that the Masked Dancer won’t be returning. It’s a really great show and I had such a fun time on it. Obviously, the secrecy is huge and that can be difficult, but actually I found performing on it quite liberating. As a dancer you’re used to putting on a show with your face and of course with this you didn’t have to. You get to project what’s really going on for you, and you don’t have to hide anything.

In terms of physically, the mask itself was difficult to dance with, and I was a little envious of other people who got more streamlined packaging, so to speak!

You were filming in Australia last year for a new movie, My Eyes. What can you tell us about it and when is it likely to be released?

That’s right. It was lovely to go home to Australia to film, as I hadn’t been home since before the pandemic, and it’s a really beautiful story. It’s a family drama in which a couple and their young daughter unfortunately discover that the daughter has a very rare eye condition which is going to make her more or less blind. During the treatment and discovery of this illness, the family faces some tough decisions and facts are revealed that create real difficulties between them. It’s all about how they move forward through this. I’m really excited for it, it’s a very touching film with a really great script.

Let’s talk about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, For anyone unfamiliar tell us about your character? And does the stage show differ much from the movie?

This is the stage production of the movie, which was originally done in 2002 with Michael Ball and a host of other people. The musical itself adheres much more to the movie than it does to the book. There’s the beautiful music written by the Sherman brothers for the movie, but they also wrote additional songs for the musical, and it feels appropriate after the unfortunate passing of Richard Sherman just a couple of weeks ago that this show is on now. The music is so catchy, even if you don’t know the movie or the musical, you’ll know the music.

I play Caractacus Potts, who is an inventor. He is passionate about creating things, that’s his drive. Like an artist, he just has to create, and that does mean that the family don’t have a lot of money, but he tries his best. The story is about him finally creating something, this time not even to make money but for his children to enjoy, and it turns out to be a magic car!

The cast is great, soap icons Charlie Brooks and Liam Fox, how are they to work with?

Yes, the whole cast is great. Ellie Nunn as Truly Scrumptious, is truly scrumptious! Charlie Brooks and Liam Fox are soap icons but they’ve done a fair amount of theatre too. I think Liam did quite a bit before his stint on television and Charlie recently did The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which is a beautiful play. They’re fantastic. They’re very humble, warm, wonderful company members and that’s the joy of theatre – you are a company. I really enjoy working with both of them.

You have been touring all over and the run and you are continuing the run literally till the end of the year. How has the experience been so far and are you looking forward to coming to Belfast?

Yes, we are touring all across the UK. I am going up until the end of the year, finishing in Blackpool, but the show will continue into 2025. It’s been fantastic. I have to say, I have had the most fun doing this show on stage. It’s silly, and touching, and the music is beautiful. It’s a real family show with a company that feels like a family too, we are a troupe of travelling players. I’ve never done a tour in the UK before, and it really is a fun ride. I do miss my own family but I get to see them every weekend and when we’re near London I stay at home.

I’m very much looking forward to coming to Belfast. My family is actually going to come to Belfast because it’s during the school holidays, and I’m really excited for us to venture around, so if you’ve got any tips, let me know!

I mentioned you are signed on until the end of the year, any big plans afoot for 2025?

I have two movies coming out next year. The first is My Eyes which we’ve already mentioned, and the other is called The Performance, which I shot in Bratislava in 2022 and is currently doing the festival circuit. It’s the last of Arthur Miller’s short stories, and it’s a tap-dancing movie set pre-World War Two. It’s a really great film so I’m excited for that to come out.

And finally in a few words why should people come and see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Belfast’s Grand Opera House. They should come for the music, the amazing choreography by Karen Bruce, and the job our director Thom Southerland has done in making it so theatrical. By that, I mean that it is presented without screens or video, which can be fantastic, but this is an old musical with an old story. Of course, there’s also the magical flying car!

You may have nostalgia for the movie which this plays homage to, and if you’ve not seen it, it’s still joyful. We have such an amazing range of people coming to see the show and they all find something to enjoy and come away from the theatre with a smile on their face.

Interview with Daniel May

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flies into Belfast on 23rd July, for tickets visit goh.co.uk

My name is Gary Duffy and I am 32 years of age from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

I am a singer and songwriter with the most enormous passion for music. I am also an actor represented by Shelley Lowry Talent Management.

After making my mark on the music industry with my debut single “Did you ever really love me?” In March 2020 I have now released nine tracks in total with my tenth coming soon. My new single “Chillin with Raye” is OUT NOW!. The song is inspired by the people who have doubted me, told me I wasn’t good enough and would never accomplish anything. I have always believed in myself and have never given up. Recently I got cast in recording artist Raye’s new music video. I flew to London to work with Raye and the experience was invaluable. This is a new sound for me and was heavily inspired by Raye herself.

I had my first headline show in August 2022 in Limelight Belfast which was a huge achievement. I performed at Black Studios first ever Music Industry Networking event at Lavery’s Belfast and it was a huge success. I performed as the opening headliner at Custom House Square at Belfast Pride 2023.

All ten of my original tracks were recorded and produced at Black Studios with Jessica Hammond. Working with Jessica has helped me grow as an artist.

I hope you can listen to my new track and to consider playlisting the track into rotation. I would love it If you’re radio station would consider “Chillin with Raye” as your “Track Of The Week”. I would love to come into your station to talk about the single and how it was working with Raye if there is an opportunity.

You can link through to all my social platforms through www.linktr.ee/Garybuhhh Or if you want to get in touch email gary200345@hotmail.co.uk.

Gary Duffy