Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical

The difference in this tale is the fact that the good and evil lie within just one man, Dr Jekyll.

As part of his scientific investigations to solve the mystery of the human personality, the clever doctor conducts a risky experiment on himself. The results are literally terrifying, as he unwittingly creates an evil alter ego for himself in the form of the murderous Mr Hyde.

When Mr Hyde begins a killing spree, the kind-hearted Dr Jekyll must muster all of his strength to overcome the wicked side to his personality.

The question is, will good overcome evil in the end?

This production has yet to take to the stage in London's West End, so this touring show is the first time it has been performed on British soil.

A challenging role for actor Paul Nicholas, he makes a welcome return to The Mayflower after starring in the pantomime over Christmas.

Paul Nicholas is becoming a firm favourite at The Mayflower. What's On's Hayley Dunlop spoke to him about his double-role in Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical, which runs at the Southampton theatre from April 18

I'm trying to buy a CD on eBay at the moment," confesses actor Paul Nicholas. "The funny thing is, I sing on the CD I'm bidding on, as it's a soundtrack of the musical Blondel that I appeared in back in the 1980s. It looks like I might have to pay over £20 for it!"

Paul Nicholas is no stranger to Southampton. Having performed at The Mayflower's pantomime earlier this year, and starred in Fiddler on the Roof back in 2003, the likeable actor is fond of the Southampton venue.

"The Mayflower is a really well-run theatre. It's a great size and seems to be well supported by local theatregoers."

However, the proximity of Southampton to his home in London means that he particularly enjoys performing on the south coast.

"It's great to be able to drive to the show, park my car, and then drive back to London each night. It takes a couple of hours to get home, but the adrenalin rush following a performance means that I need those two hours to unwind before I go to bed anyway."

Born Paul Beuselinck, Paul Nicholas grew up rubbing shoulders with celebrities thanks to his flamboyant showbiz lawyer father, Oscar Beuselinck.

Paul started off as a musician, performing as Paul Dean, and had a string of disco hits in the mid to late 1970s, with songs such as Reggae Like It Used To Be.

The stage beckoned and he starred in a host of musical hits, including Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats. Paul also had small-screen success with the classic sitcom Just Good Friends in the 1980s, in which he played cheeky Jack-the-Lad Vince Pinner.

Paul's latest project is playing the dual roles of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the stage version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story.

"The biggest challenge for me is to be convincing as both characters as I have to switch between the two in view of the audience."

It was the quality of the music that first attracted Paul to this relatively recent stage adaptation.

"The music in the show is very strong," says Paul. "Combined with the powerful storyline and subject matter, it makes for a compelling piece of musical theatre for audiences."

A veteran of stage musicals, Paul has learned how to gauge an audience.

"I've done a lot of shows over the years, and performing the same show night after night means that you can eventually judge how much a crowd has enjoyed a show. So far, the audience reactions for Jekyll & Hyde have been as good as, if not better than, any reaction I have ever received, which is fantastic."

The show made its debut in the USA, before a highly successful run on Broadway and a European tour. The show's current tour is the first time that it has been performed on British soil.

"It is our intention to take the show to the West End," Paul confirms.

"Of course this depends on whether a theatre becomes available at the right time, but it would be fantastic if it all came together."

So what's next for Paul? After the stint at The Mayflower, the tour will only have a few weeks left.

"Definitely some time off for me, I think! I've been on the road with Jekyll & Hyde since last August, then I went straight into panto, then straight back to. Ideally I would like to continue with Jekyll & Hyde if it goes to the West End, make my mark, and eventually hand over the role to someone else. I just hope my next project will be within the confines of the M25!"

Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical is on at The Mayflower from Monday April 18 to Saturday April 23. Tickets from £15. Call 023 8071 1811 for ticket information.