Drawing: Arthur Darvill in Once at the Phoenix Theatre

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

British musician and actor Arthur Darvill’s small screen notoriety includes the concerned vicar of Broadchurch, and Rory Williams, the eleventh Doctor’s companion in Dr Who for three seasons, until he disembarked from the Tardis, killed off by the Weeping Angels.

Arthur has composed music for three London productions, The Frontline (Globe), Been So Long (Young Vic) and The Lightning Child (Globe) and has trod on the city’s boards in Our Boys (Duchess), Doctor Faustus (Globe) and Been So Long (Young Vic) and Swimming With Sharks (Vaudeville) with Doctor Who co-star Matt Smith.

And he also collects taxidermy, which seems to be a common hobby for a few people I’ve sketched. After an eight month run as Guy, the Irish busking vacuum cleaner repairman, in the musical Once at the Bernard B Jacobs Theater on Broadway, Arthur continued the role in the London production in march this year for a limited engagement.

I caught up with him at the Phoenix Theatre stage door midweek with my drawing. He said “It looks better than me,” but signed it anyway with a ‘nice’ comment.

Drawing: Mel C

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Melanie Chisholm, or Sporty Spice to some, took on the prized role of Mrs Johnstone in the musical Blood Brothers at London’s Phoenix Theatre in 2009.

She was nominated for both an Evening Standard Theatre Award and an Olivier and is currently playing Mary Magdalene in the UK Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. She signed my sketch at the stage door in 2009. She was very friendly and stayed to chat with the gathered crowd, posing for photos and signing and seemed in no rush to leave.

Drawing: Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić in Once

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Once is the stage adaption of the 2006 film of the same name. It’s based on the book written by Enda Walsh, about an Irish busker and a Czech flower seller.

After a season at the New York Theatre Workshop, it transferred to Broadway and became a musical sensation, winning 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The song Falling Slowly won the Academy Award.

On April 9, 2013 it opened at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End. ‘The Guy’ and ‘The Girl’ leads – Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić signed for me at the stage door after a Saturday matinée performance on 18 May.