Sugababes chart-topper Jade Ewen's joy at musical role

By Herald Express  |  Posted: January 31, 2014

treading boards: Jade Ewen

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AS ONE third of the girl band the Sugababes, Jade Ewan enjoyed massive chart success.

Now the trio have gone their separate ways, Jade has gone back to her roots and is treading the boards in the Tonight's The Night, the smash hit musical comedy inspired by the songs of Rod Stewart.

The all-singing, all-dancing feel-good show premiered in the West End in 2003 and went on to play sold-out theatres across the UK.

It's now touring the UK and stops off at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, next week.

With a book by multi award-winning writer and comedian Ben Elton (We Will Rock You), Tonight's The Night features a live band and includes more than 20 classic Rod Stewart hits like Tonight's the Night, Hot Legs, Baby Jane, Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, Maggie May, This Old Heart of Mine, I Don't Wanna Talk About It, Ooh La La, Some Guys Have All the Luck, Forever Young, Sailing and many more.

As the Herald Express caught up with Jade, she was rehearsing for opening night. She took time out of technical rehearsals to talk about the show.

"I'm really excited about being in the musical," she said.

"Everyone is so nice and I love the songs. We've been rehearsing in the studio with just a pianist and now we have a full band and it all sounds great.

"If you are a Rod Stewart fan, you'll love it as it's jam packed with his songs but, instead of being a story about his life, we've incorporated the songs into a story with Ben Elton writing.

"I'm hoping to meet Rod when the show goes to London, hopefully, he'll come along."

The singer and actress is playing the role of Dee Dee.

"She's fiery and aggressive and can be a bit of an intimidating character, but really she's gentle and soft on the inside.

"You see her vulnerable side when she falls for a character called Rocky. Rocky doesn't love her, and that's when you see her personality. I sing The First Cut is the Deepest. That's my favourite one, as you change your mind about her when you hear that song."

Jade has always loved to perform and won a full scholarship to the highly acclaimed Sylvia Young Theatre School, which she attended for five years.

While at the famous school, she won the role of Nala in the West End production in the Lion King.

"It was a dream to go to that school," she said.

"My favourite film is Fame so it was like going to a real life Fame school. I had the best time. We still had to do our maths, English and science, but we were dancing all day Thursday and Fridays.

"I was so sad to leave, but I'm still in touch and so many ex students are still in the entertainment business now."

Jade shot to fame when she entered the Eurovision Song Contest representing the UK in 2009.

She was selected by the public to perform the Andrew Lloyd Webber penned track It's My Time and achieved fifth place.

"I didn't know how huge as it was, as in England we don't take it as seriously as other countries. You literally become a superstar for a short time," she said.

"I remember getting to Russia and having to have a police escort and people were holding my CD, as it was given out with the Russian version of OK magazine.

"I couldn't believe so many people knew who I was. It was crazy but so much fun.

"I'm pleased at coming fifth, but would have loved to have won.

"Now looking back I think I can give myself a pat on the back."

Off the back of her appearance on the contest, she was the stand out performer to join the Sugababes after Keisha left the band.

She had two UK top 10 singles with the group. They had massive chart success selling millions of records.Their success continued despite various line up changes.

She's enjoying life out of the band but hasn't ruled out a come back.

"I don't know whether we'd do the Big Reunion, but in years to come we could reunite as there is no bad feeling between us," said Jade.

"We could easily get back together but at the moment we're all doing our own things. Now I can go on tour and do the wonderful things I wasn't able to do when I was in the band.

"It was such amazing opportunity and I learnt so much. When you first get into a group you usually build your profile, I didn't get that because I was thrown into the deep end. It was kind of a sink or swim moment, but I hope I rose to the challenge.

"I'm grateful for that as I've had experience with touring and interviews and had scrutiny and drama and am still going strong."

She also wishes the original line of the Sugababes well.

Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan have recently reunited to form the group MKS.

"I grew up listening to their music and was used to seeing that line up. I wish them well and hope they are successful, as it isn't an easy business," she said.

"They should just get back to the music and enjoy it."

After the Sugababes, Jade faced a fear of swimming and took part in the ITV diving contest Splash, which recently returned to our television screens.

"I can't relax while watching it," she said.

"I felt like I was reliving it all over again. I didn't know how to swim before I did the show, so it was terrifying.

"When I watched it I was squirming. The feeling of standing on the metre board and looking at the audience and thinking don't let me drown.

"I cried more or less every night and ended up having nightmares about drowning, so I wouldn't do it again."

As well as performing, Jade is passionate about being a patron of the charity Young Carers.

"My dad is fully blind and partially deaf and my mum is partially sighted and brother sister and I are still carers to our parents," she said.

"When I was younger I just got on with it, but we didn't get much emotional support outside our family unit. I think it's important to know there are others in the same boat."

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