Boogie Nights role gives Gary a chance to take centre stage

Sep 4 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A BUDDING Blantyre actor has landed himself the lead role in a production at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow.

Talented Gary Bennet will take to the stage between November 18-22, playing Roddy in Boogie Nights.

Boogie Nights is a 70s musical set in London and tells the story of Roddy, a jack-the-lad cockney geezer whose life of women, booze and boogie is about to be turned upside down.

Gary said: “My character has a lot of interaction with the audience throughout the show which is both exciting and daunting at the same time.

“It is a Glasgow audience, after all, and I have no doubts they'll be well up for it so I will have to be on my toes.

“I am really excited about this role and this show, as it gives me another opportunity to perform in the King's Theatre. I really hope people come to see it.”

The 25-year-old South Lanarkshire Council worker has also landed himself a second lead role in a Scottish independent feature film.

The former Blantyre High School pupil explained: “It's a dark, psychological thriller based in Glasgow and is probably not a film for the faint-hearted.

“This will be my first film.

“I was quite surprised I got the part as I didn't actually attend the original auditions. I just used my good old Blantyre brass neck, e-mailed the director, managed to get an audition and was lucky enough to get the part in the end.

“It hasn't gone into production yet so I am just waiting for the green light but I literally can't wait to get started as this is the kind of stuff I've dreamed of doing.”

However, Gary’s singing career was not always straight-forward.

In 2004 he was diagnosed with a polyp or vocal fold nodule on his vocal chords, which put an end to touring, recording, singing and even, for a while, talking. He had voice therapy for six months but that proved unsuccessful and he had to have surgery in 2005. The operation involved a very delicate procedure but fortunately it was successful.

Tickets for Boogie Nights can be purchased online at www.pantheontheatre.co.uk/tickets or by calling 0870 060 6648.