RUGBY Theatre regular Emile Ruddock will perform at the star-studded Olivier Awards this weekend – ahead of his return to his hometown stage.
The 20-year-old is part of the cast of sell-out The Scottsboro Boys, which has been nominated for six awards, including Best New Musical.
The cast will perform in a routine from the show – one of the biggest nights of the year for British theatre – at the ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House in front of hundreds of star guests and a massive television audience.
The Scottsboro Boys was Emile’s first professional job and ran for three months at the Young Vic in London towards the end of last year, and it was recently confirmed it will transfer into the West End later this year.
“It was an incredible success, and was sold out for most of the run. It went so well that the producers managed to get a slot for another run in the West End in the autumn,” said Emile, who taught himself to tap dance watching clips of Fred Astaire on You Tube.
“I’m desperately hoping I’ll be asked to join the cast again, the producers are having to re-audition a few of the roles, because some of the guys are now starring in other shows.”
In the meantime Emile is preparing to return to the Rugby Theatre stage in June in musical Avenue Q, having previously appeared in Our House and 42nd Street.
Avenue Q is described as a coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirising the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood.
Director Alan Pavis said: “It would be great if Emile came to rehearsals next week clutching an Olivier award.”
– Turn to page 16 to read more about Rugby Theatre’s latest production, Sleuth.
