Spamalot – Interview with Steven Pacey
Marion McMullen of the Coventry Telegraph interviewed Steven about his role in Spamalot and connection to Warwickshire at the end of last week (click on the link):
“Leamington’s Steven Pacey is New King of Spamalot”
Steven Pacey as King Arthur
Photo: Coventry Telegraph, uncredited
Marion McMullen
Coventry Telegraph
Mar 23 2012
Verbatim Transcript“Leamington’s Steven Pacey is New King of Spamalot”
ALL hail the new king of Spamalot. He has the golden crown, legendary sword Excalibur and even a trusty steed … well, Todd Carty equipped with a couple of coconut shells.
Tim Curry, Phill Jupitus, Matthew Kelly, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Marcus Brigstocke have all plonked the backsides on the Spamalot royal throne and now it’s the turn of Leamington’s Steven Pacey.
The former Blake’s 7 actor once had the universe at his fingertips in the BBC 1 sci-fi series, but he is now the ruler of all he surveys as King Arthur in Monty Python’s medieval spoof.
He is touring the country with the hit show which sees Bonnie Langford as the Lady Of The Lake and Todd Carty back as the king’s loyal servant Patsy.
So how is Steven coping with knights of the round table, killer rabbits and beautiful show girls?
“It’s been a bit of a test not to laugh on stage,” he admits with a grin. “The boys in the cast can be a bit naughty and there is a bit of ad-libbing going on. The Knights Of Ni certainly keep me on my toes. I have been known to be a victim of corpsing.”
Steven says he laughed out loud when he first read the script for Spamalot and couldn’t wait to put on the crown.
“There’s just waves of laughter from the audience during the show. It’s wonderful to hear. I remember seeing Monty Python sketches when I was growing up and thinking the naked man playing the piano was very rude and naughty. How times have changed.
“We sometimes even get audiences saying the more famous punchlines along with us, but you don’t have to be a Monty Python fan to enjoy the show. It’s just classic comedy.”
Spamalot has had audiences all around the world roaring with laughter and there have been productions in America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and across Europe.
Eric Idle, who says he lovingly ripped off Monty Python And The Holy Grail for Spamalot, even makes a special screen appearance and Steven says songs like Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life are always a hit.
The Olivier Award-nominated actor has appeared on TV in dramas such as Wallander, Taggart, Doctors, Foyle’s War and Spooks and has recorded more than 300 radio plays and 200 audio books.
He also played Graham Norton’s other half in the West End in stage hit La Cage Aux Folles and says: “He was wonderful, so professional. Of course, he trained as a actor and he was great to work with. Shows like La Cage Aux Folles and Spamalot are just a joy to do.”
Steven’s family originally came from Yorkshire and his father was a builder. He jokes that his parents were working their way down the country in search of good weather when they reached Leamington and he was born.
“We left when I was a babe in arms and ended up in Brighton, but I now know Coventry and Warwickshire a lot better because my twin daughters Jessica and Laura both went to Warwick University.
“They studied history and classics and now work in publishing so they haven’t followed me into acting, thank goodness.”
He laughs: “As they say, don’t put your daughter on the stage Mrs Worthington. All the poison I dripped in their ears about acting must have paid off. They are doing well without my help, but will come and see Spamalot at some point on the tour.”
Spamalot opens at the New Alexandra Theatre on Monday for a week-long run. Box office 0844 871 3011.
