Relight your fire

8:06am Thursday 3rd April 2008

It is just as well that Stephane Annelli looks good in white. The Laine Theatre Arts graduate has sported a lot of it over his 10-year career, from Tony Manero's suit in Saturday Night Fever to the skintight T-shirts of his latest role at New Wimbledon Theatre.

Opening in the West End next month but running for a week in Wimbledon first, Never Forget is the story of a Mancunian Take That tribute band.

Co-written by Shameless and Clocking Off writer Danny Brocklehurt, the show is already being dubbed "the Take That Mamma Mia" and, judging by audience reactions in Brighton where it is previewing, promises to be just as popular.

"I think the word most associated with Take That is camp," says Annelli (pictured far left).

"For a guy, it was never cool to be going through puberty admitting you liked them. But I loved the songs.

"My mum was an ice skater, my dad was a musical director, and I grew up wanting to be a performer, so I couldn't help it. They were our first boyband and iconic to the point where even my nan can pick up a paper and say: That's Gary Barlow'."

In case you are wondering, Annelli is straight and marrying his fiancée in December. Emma is also a West End actress, who has just finished a run in the ultimate girlie musical, Dirty Dancing. But does she like Take That?

"Yeah," says Annelli, "She loves them. And, funnily enough, her favourite is Jason Orange, the one my character plays. Our show is a celebration of the glory years, 1992 to 1996. We go through all the back catalogue - there are seven number ones alone!"

The energy in a big theatre like Wimbledon is not dissimilar to Wembley, says Annelli who, before breaking into the West End, was a backing dancer for Sophie Ellis Bextor, S Club 7 and Atomic Kitten.

The key to a big show, he explains, is to get audiences into a party mood. Talking of which, a little birdie tells me it is Annelli's 28th birthday today.

"I'm out now and very drunk," he jokes, before adding quickly, "Not really. We have a show tonight and, as a performer, you have to look after yourself."

Even on your birthday? "Of course!" he says. "It's all mint teas and cucumber facemasks!"

Never Forget, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, April 8 to 12, 7,30pm, Thur/Sat mat 2.30pm, £12.50-£33.50, call 0870 060 6646, visit newwimbledontheatre.co.uk

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