In the Starlight Express dressing room... (From Echo)

In the Starlight Express dressing room...

4:22pm Thursday 21st September 2006

• Print
• Email
• Share

After finishing acting school Tom Kanavan probably didn't think he'd ever be back in a classroom again.

That was until he took on the role of Greaseball in Starlight Express and was packed off to skating school.

"I spent six weeks there and all I did for six days a week from 10am to 6pm was learn to skate," says Tom.

Rollerskating is just one of the skills he has had to acquire as a cast member in the touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical.

The other is a steady hand, in order to apply the striking make-up which transforms him from fresh-faced Tom into chisled-jawed and heavy-set Greaseball.

In most shows the costumes bring a character to life, but in Starlight Express the make-up is as important as the outfit.

Every character had their look individually designed. Actors were then taught how to apply their make-up before they star in the show.

Having been part of the cast for the past two tours and having just accepted his third national tour with the show, Tom has become an old hand with the blusher brush.

However, even the most painted of ladies would struggle with putting his make-up on.

"When you're shown how to do it the make-up artist does half your face and you do the other," says Tom.

"The first few times it looked like some people had had a slight stroke because the side they did had dipped slightly."

Having perfected his application, it now takes Tom around an hour to turn into Greaseball, the hunky diesel locomotive who fancies himself more than anyone else.

"It's really hard when people describe your character and say he's arrogant because that doesn't sound very nice," says Tom with a smile.

"He thinks everyone loves him, but no one loves him as much a he loves himself."

The make-up and costume all go towards creating this burly character with Tom expanding upwards and outwards.

The Echo went along to the Cliffs Pavilion to watch the transformation from start to curtain call.

Step one

With a steady hand Tom draws boxes round his jaw line to square off his face, within these boxes he will later draw bolts.

As skating, singing and acting under the theatre lights makes for a sweaty combination, all the make-up used by Tom is waterproof.

"It's all make-up that anyone in the theatre uses. We even go for the High Street brand with a bit of Rimmel extra super lash mascara," laughs Tom.

Step two

Tom accentuates his eyes, eyebrows and lips, giving him a heavy set look.

As Tom's character is meant to be a locomotive engine all the make-up is dark to give the impression of metal.

Tom's features soon become bold and when he's not smiling in to the mirrors he looks rather menacing.

Using a trick all Starlight actors know too well, Tom dips an eyeliner pencil into his black face make-up and dabs it on to create the outer rim of the bolts.

He then steadily draws a line through each small circle and carefully fills them in with silver make-up so they sparkle like newly polished rivets.

Step three

With a powdering of blusher, Tom's make-up is complete, but the transformation is only half way there.

Next he begins to climb into his costume, which is padded to define his muscles.

First he steps into a catsuit, over the top of which goes a silver leotard and trousers, which have built in kneepads for safety.

After pulling on his trousers Tom slips into his £800 skates and laces them extra tight before clipping the bottoms of his trousers securely round them.

"They're like the Rolex of skating boots," says Tom.

While at skating school Tom was fitted for these boots and if anything goes wrong during a performance there's a skate workshop waiting in the wings.

Tom's wig, made from human hair, is pinned into place next before a now much taller Tom stands up to put his jacket on.

With its large shoulder pads, plus the extra height both his skates and quiffed wig have given him, Tom cuts a rather impressive stance.

He says: "It's amazing what make-up does, I look quite good afterwards."

In his full outfit a 14 stones 7lbs Tom now tips the scales at 16 stones.

Curtain call Before Tom goes on stage he must clean his wheels.

Even the smallest stone can catch the wheels and bring the skaters to a dead stop.

Tom adds: "Nine times out of ten people will fall over not because of their skating but if the stage isn't flat or perfectly clean, anything will trip you up and you will fall flat."

• Print
• Email
• Share