The gentleman of pop, Will Young, has bridged that hazardous move between the worlds of music and theatre with alacrity. Not content with selling millions of records, he did it the hard way, by proving he could act his way out of a paper bag, and winning an Olivier award in the process. “What drew me to theatre was the different way of storytelling and the different methods of playing a character. Because pop is who you are, while theatre means you can act in character,” he says diplomatically.

“But it is a relief to step away from being me in everyday life. It means I can hiss at the audience and portray extreme emotions, you get to be angry, sad, funny, it’s brilliant and an emotional workout and I come off stage exhilarated and energised.”

He’s talking of course about his award-winning role of Emcee in Rufus Norris’s production of Cabaret, which has now left the West End and is currently touring the UK. “It was my suggestion because we all agreed our West End stint had been cut short and that Cabaret had the potential to go further. And it was a great decision because we’ve had some really good reactions and it’s nice to take Cabaret to places that haven’t seen it, like Oxford.”

And yet he wasn’t a big fan of musical theatre until now. “I didn’t think there were many great musicals around or understand what the medium was about,” he admits, “but I’m ashamed of myself now because there is so much credence in it and it’s full of people who are brilliantly talented at acting, singing and dancing, and I can only do 2.5 of those. The depth of talent here is unbelievable and I have the utmost respect now.”

So, humbling? “Yes, not in a ‘poor them’ way, but with huge admiration.” Cathartic then? “I don’t see it as letting it all out. It’s not like ‘I got a parking ticket today so I can really let rip tonight’ but it’s great playing such a spirited part, and they don’t get more extreme than this guy, because no one knows what he’s going to do next and that’s when it works best.”

The same can be said for Will Young, who has dabbled in everything from the film Mrs Henderson Presents with Judy Dench, to the play The Vortex by Noël Coward and TV show Skins. Did he feel he had to undertake straight acting before musicals to be taken seriously? “Yes, maybe but even in Cabaret it’s the acting that counts — the singing is kind of a given.”

Or maybe he’s enjoying not having to be Will Young then? “No, I love myself, I think I’m brilliant!” he laughs. “But I do enjoy being part of a company, particularly on tour, because travelling together is very unifying, all talking about digs and the man in Row 4 who fell asleep, which is different from being a pop singer where I’m more front and centre.

“Pop is a bit like horse racing where someone says ‘go’ and you’re off. You have to train the horse, pick the jockey and choose the colours as well, but in theatre I just do what I’m told and then go home and I like that.”

Does that mean it’s quite lonely as a solo artist? “No, because I’ve had the same great team for eight years now, and we’re like our own little company — all friends but very professional and all on the same page — but as with any head, the buck stops with you which is an added responsibility. But even at the beginning I threw myself at everything to see what would stick, and Pop Idol did.”

Pop Idol, the game-changer, came in 2002 and since then Will Young has sold more than nine million records, his debut single Anything Is Possible is still the fastest-selling in the UK, and his recent album Echoes went in at No 1, which after 10 years in the business, is a rarity.

Growing up in the full glare of the media has also made him the man he is now. “Fame is a funny thing that trundles along and is fairly pointless really so I don’t give it much attention. But I don’t have to be hyper-vigilant. I’m not Madonna, or Lady Gaga or One Direction! I have a bit of a profile and I can deal with it when it comes up.

“There are some hysterical moments, though. I was phoned yesterday by the manager of the hotel where I’m staying who said he now knew who I was and he loved my song You’re Beautiful. I told him James Blunt sang it, and he said ‘well what are you famous for then?’ And you find yourself having to justify being famous, you are just fodder for the fire,” he laughs. “But while before I would have cringed, now I just find it hysterically funny,” he says before telling me about going to a restaurant with an old friend for dinner recently where they put his album on when he arrived.

“Before, I’d be embarrassed, but now I can see the funny side. So I can walk down the High Street in Oxford any time I want to, but if I go to Topshop on Oxford Street I might get more attention.”

Ah yes, Oxford, home of his misspent youth. “Yes,” the 34-year-old says proudly, “I was awfully behaved there.” Growing up 25 minutes away, Oxford was Will’s hunting ground, studying at D’Overbroeck's College in Banbury Road and working at the Grand Cafe. Was he a good waiter then? “Sh**,” he laughs, “they called me Goldenboy because I was brilliant at chatting, but not great at delivering, which is me in a nutshell really.”

 

Cabaret
New Theatre, Oxford
Tuesday (November 5) until Saturday November 9, 7pm
Call 0844 8713020