David Bedella

David Bedella interview: ‘I wish I could relive the Jerry Springer opera years’

Will Longman
Will Longman

David Bedella has revealed the theatre production he would most like to experience again would be the controversial Jerry Springer: The Opera, in which he played the character of The Devil.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Spotlight podcast from LondonTheatre.co.uk, Bedella, who is currently appearing in new musical & Juliet, Bedella said: "I wish I could relive the Jerry years, and I wish my eyes were more open at the time."

"I was continuing on from many years of just enjoying my work without realising it's going to become something you're forever identified with, much like Mark Hamil," the actor said. "He didn't know he would be Luke Skywalker forever. I tend to be The Devil forever".

Bedella is preparing for the opening of & Juliet, a brand-new Shakespeare-inspired musical set to the tracks of Max Martin - someone the actor admits to not knowing prior to his involvement in the show.

"You know songs by Backstreet Boys, but you don't stop to think who wrote these songs, you just assume it's the Backstreet Boys. But it was him behind so many of those big hits."

Now he's better acquainted with the Swedish songwriter's work, Bedella admits: "My number one favourite song [of Martin's] in the show is a mash-up of "Problem [by Ariana Grande] and "Can't Feel My Face" [by The Weeknd].

"I think these songs are brilliant, the lyrics are so clever and so fun. The way they've managed to mix it to tell Romeo's side and Juliet's side is just brilliant."

Bedella is the first just in a new podcast series of interviews by LondonTheatre.co.uk which delves into the lives and careers of West End actors. You can listen to his episode on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts).

& Juliet is set to open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 20th November, and is currently in previews.

& Juliet tickets are available now.

Photo credit: Johan Persson
Music credit: Acid Trumpet Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under
Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
 

Originally published on

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