Les Dennis has revealed that he’s been practising for a new role as the “ruler of the Queen’s navy” in a comic opera.
He told the Guardian, “It’s good to take people by surprise, and take myself equally by surprise. So on that opening night I will be excited, nervous, and know that people will be going ‘Ah, let’s see’.”
He’s having vocal coaching and singing lessons as he’ll be starring in Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore in October.
Les will be joining the posh English National Opera who perform at the London Coliseum.
He'll play Sir Joseph Porter, who is described as a comic baritone. Sir Joseph appears in several songs, including a solo called When I Was A Lad.
Les admitted to feeling scared about his operatic debut, saying: “I am always nervous. I always have that impostor syndrome.”
As if one role at the Coliseum isn’t enough, Les will also be treading the boards there in the Summer, too.
He will be starring in a revival of Hairspray. He’ll be playing Wilbur Turnblad, dance-mad Tracy’s dad, opposite Michael Ball, who will reprise his part as Tracy’s mum in the lively 1960s musical.
But the former Corrie star is no stranger to singing on stage. Les has been in musicals before, playing Amos in Chicago, Bill in Me And My Girl, as well as a professor in Legally Blonde the Musical, and Uncle Fester in The Addams Family.
Being part of a elite group like the English National Opera shouldn’t worry him either.
Two years ago, he performed with the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company in a couple of serious plays. Les, 67, remembers: “On the first day of rehearsals I thought: well, everybody is going to have been to drama school, and I’ve come from the working men’s clubs and the cabaret and summer season circuit. Am I going to get found out?
But luckily, everyone was friendly and Les is confident that those operatic divas will be just as nice.
“I found at the RSC all these trained actors were lovely, and welcomed me. And I am hoping I will find the same in the opera world,” he added.
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