The rock classic that never died (From This Is Lancashire)

The rock classic that never died

2:18pm Friday 27th April 2007 in

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JOHN Byrne's award-winning six-part BBC TV series Tutti Frutti not only introduced the world to the talents of Richard Wilson, Emma Thomson and Robbie Coltrane, it seared itself into the imaginations of a generation where, 20 years later, it lives on.

Now a larger-than-life stage version of the rock'n'roll comedy, adapted by Byrne himself, is coming to Blackpool Grand Theatre for its only English tour date.

We spoke to John Byrne.

What was your reaction when the National Theatre of Scotland approached you with the idea of adapting Tutti Frutti for the stage?

My first reaction was one of surprise, followed by delight - I'd had foreboding that anything with the qualifying "National" in front of it would hav e hoary old worthies out of the archives, blow the cobwebs off and trot them creakily out onto the stage of some High School in Edinburgh. How wrong can you be?

The 1987 BBC TV production of Tutti Frutti was a huge success and has been something of a legend in the memories of those who were lucky enough to see it first time round. For those who didn't see it, what were they missing? What can audiences look forward to?

For those who missed the TV version, given that we had six hours and 10 minutes, the story had more room to masquerade as an "inconsequential ragbag", the narrative lines only coming together slowly before roller coasting towards its climax. What audiences can look forward to in the stage production is a more immediate group of narrative: things come quicker and faster and, with luck, they'll be on the edge of their seats from the off.

How does it feel, seeing and hearing the band back together?

They're better than ever! Their covers of all the great rock n' roll classics are on occasion superior to the original - great drummer in Bomba (John McGlynn) solid bass from Fud (Barry Hunter) underpinning the vocals from Danny (Tom Urie) who also excels as the keyboard player, together with Vincent (Tam Dean Burn whose Love Hurts will wrench your guts out) and Suzi (Dawn Steele) - a great voice and great looks.

We've been through generations of grunge, hip hop, rave, house, etc. Do you think the world is ready for a rock n' roll revival?

"Rock 'n' Roll will never die," sang Danny and the Juniors all those years ago - there's still nobody today who can hold a candle to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, Little Richard et al so, although the world has gone through something of a sea change in the intervening years, the authentic voice of rock 'n' roll, particularly when it's live, still sends a shiver down the spine . . . the real McCoy.

For this production, you've been set the challenge of condensing six hours of television into two hours of live theatre. What has been gained by transferring the characters to a live space?

There's nothing like live theatre plus live music - played and sung by the actors playing the characters. I can't think of anything more charged than that.

What has excited you most about working on Tutti Frutti again?

The whole process of reworking it (and re-writing it to a marked degree), then the rehearsals and being constantly challenged by the director Tony Cownie (the first time we've worked together) to produce even better "goods" than I thought possible. A real joy.

Finally, what's on the horizon for you once you finish Tutti Frutti?

Will they ever settle down, I wonder? The immediate horizon holds a painting and drawings show at Bourne Fine Art in Edinburgh in October, the fourth part of the Slab Boys Trilogy, a new version of The Seagull set on a large Hebridean island, on the early part of the year, a musical called Underwood Lane, and... who knows? Got lots of ideas in embryo in my head...

See Tutti Frutti at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, from Tuesday, May 1 to Saturday, May 5. For tickets call box office on 01253 290190 or visit the website below.