Does Eurovision’s Josh Dubovie Have A Musical Future?
Published on Thursday 3rd June, 10.43am, Written by Carrie Dunn
In honour of Germany, this weekend’s new Eurovision champions, and Josh Dubovie’s valiant last-place effort, let us pay tribute to the contestants who have gone before, and who have waved the musical theatre flag for the UK:
Eurovision entrant Josh Dubovie may have a future in musical theatre
Frances Ruffelle: London’s original Eponine in Les Miserables, her Lonely Symphony came tenth in the 1994 song contest in Dublin. Since then, she’s also starred in Chicago, and recorded several solo albums, with a new one out this year.
Michael Ball: Everyone’s favourite leading man, Michael Ball was a castmate of Ruffelle’s in the original Les Miserables. His One Step Out Of Time was the UK’s entry in 1992, finishing second – so close, but not close enough. We can’t imagine that there’s anyone who doesn’t know who Michael Ball is, but he’s also starred in The Phantom Of The Opera and most recently has been touring as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, a part he originated in the West End.
Sonia: Don’t you mock our Sonia. She was a fine Sandy in Grease the first time this production was in the West End, when it was housed at the Dominion (where We Will Rock You is on now). She followed Ball into Eurovision as the UK’s 1993 entry with Better The Devil You Know (not the Kylie one – a different song entirely). She too finished second. Sigh.
Samantha Janus: Oh, she might have changed her name and gone into EastEnders now, but in 1991 she was the UK’s Eurovision entry, singing A Message To Your Heart and finishing tenth. And she too has previously been a West End Sandy in Grease, as well as a Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls opposite the late, great Patrick Swayze.
Sally-Ann Triplett: Kudos to this particular West End star – she is one of only four UK singers to have two Eurovision credits to her name. Her song contest career began in 1980, when she was lead singer of Prima Donna and finished third, and she followed that up in 1982 as one-half of Bardo, who finished seventh. You’ve probably seen her in the West End in shows such as Mamma Mia!, Grease, Chicago or Cats.
Of course, the question must be when Josh Dubovie will make it into theatre – he clearly wants to, having played Enjolras in an amateur production of Les Miserables, and of course the ABBA medley he performed as part of a group number on Your Country Needs You must surely imply a future role as Sky in Mamma Mia!…or maybe not.
