Legendary musician and director Trevor Payne stops by on Close-Up Culture to talk about touring with his show, That’ll Be The Day.
Combining uproarious comedy sketches and impersonations with breathtaking vocals and dazzling musicianship, That’ll Be The Day is the ultimate feel-good experience that will have you singing and dancing, and leave you wanting just a little bit more!
Hi Trevor, lovely to be speaking with you! You are currently touring up and down the UK with your fantastic show That’ll Be The Day! How is it going?
Touring is very different to what it was when we started. We played mostly clubs and holiday camps back then and there was no Sat Nav! We travelled in one van with the equipment on the back. There were no Premiere Inns, so we had to find a B&B when we arrived in the town. Butlins holiday camps were regular venues and they were Smokey and raucous nights but the show always went well.
What can people expect from That’ll Be The Day?
You can expect to be taken on a rollercoaster ride through the golden days of pop from the beginnings of Rock ‘n’ Roll in the early 50’s through to the 80’s. Great songs, musicians, vocalists and lots of laughter along the way.
Do you have any performances that you would class as your favourite? Or potential venues that hold a special place in your heart?
The standout show, if I had to pick just one would have to be the 2016 London Palladium night.
We had played there 3 times before, but the show had by then got to a higher level and that night everything clicked. It was a night to remember at the most famous theatre in the world.
Pre match entertainment at Tottenham Hotspur was memorable and I got to meet the Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
You must have some fun anecdotes from being on the road for so long?
Most amusing anecdotes are from days gone by; we can’t afford any mishaps in theatre. We did breakdown after a show in Cardiff, and we were on the hard shoulder of the M4. It was cold so we got some costumes out and put them on over our clothes. The motorists passing by saw us dressed up as a dog, a Dr Who, 2 dressed in Drape Coats, and one as a policeman.
Another anecdote was when I appeared as Sir Cliff in the Max & Paddy series. I played a Cliff obsessed prisoner and then as Cliff again on the Amarillo video with Peter Kay. Great fun.
How has the show developed and changed over the years? Is it still the same core team from the start?
The team has evolved over the years for sure and the present cast is brilliant. A mix of long-term members, myself and Gary being the longest serving, Mark on drums over 30 years, guitarist Ollie 20 years and what’s more his mum was in the original cast. Nikki has been with us for 15 years and Jarrod for 20.
The core would be Gary and myself.
If you could have any guest star join you for a performance, who would you choose?
Everyone in the cast would have a different answer but personally it would be Mick Jagger.
A cliché question, I do apologise, but what is your go to karaoke song?
I’ve never done karaoke but if I had to, I’d do a Buddy Holly.
And if you could summarise life touring with That’ll Be The Day into one hit song, which song would you choose?
On The Road Again – Willy Nelson.
40 years ago, it would have been Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll!
Thank you so much Trevor, before we finish, where can people come see your performance next?
See remaining dates of the current show up to the end of May and the New show dates from the end of August at thatllbetheday.com