Katherine MacAlister talks global travel and elephants with Phileas Fogg

"It's quite a romp," Andrew Pollard promises, as he prepares to take on Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, complete with acrobatics, aerial stunts and presumably a giant air balloon?

"There are lots of fights, sights and scrapes on our journey with some great comic moments so it's a really fast-paced show. And that's what the audience really responds to, and how we keep it fresh."

Until now, the show has been in London, but has recently been unleashed on tour, before finishing in Manchester for Christmas.

Following the success of last summer’s Peter Pan in Scarlet, director Theresa Heskins returns with this celebrated production of Jules Verne’s classic, in which the mysterious and fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg wagers his life’s fortune that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. In short, you an expect a highly comic caper.

And with so many families and children coming to see it, the musical appeals to everybody. Isn't that a hard audience though? "Yes it's a difficult genre but Around the World in 80 Days really embraces it and the key is it's inventiveness and the humour," Andrew explains.

With over 125 characters played by a talented cast of eight, this high-spirited escapade features six trains, five boats, four fights, three dances, two circus acts and an elephant.

Also featuring Phileas' loyal valet Passepartout, who voyages with his master from the misty alleys of Victorian London, across the subcontinent and on to the Wild West, in a race against the clock, Andrew says Mike Hugo is "just like Lee Evans and really makes everyone laugh. The kids adore him, plus he tells a great story."

Having worked together in Peter Pan in Scarlet which came to the Playhouse last summer, they are quite a team. "That was in quite a similar vein, a family adventure, the straight man and the comic side-kick. In fact I wish I could deliver more of the puns and get into more fights," Andrew sighs theatrically.

As for the stage tricks, Andrew promises the world, adding that while he can't give the game away, things don't happen quite as everyone expects. "There is so much theatrical inventiveness," he enthuses "and a big generic set,” he enthuses. “We’ve had standing ovations and the audience gets really swept along with it. It’s an epic show with lots of music and trickery. So come along, you’ll love it.”

And having stayed in Oxford last summer, Andrew can't wait to return. "We stayed in a hall of residence last time and by the time we left we'd all regressed back into students. We had an absolute ball, so this year I can show the cast all of Oxford's finest watering holes, although the show is so physical and demanding we might not have the energy," he laughs.

"So come along, you'll love it."

  • AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
  • Oxford Playhouse
  • Tuesday July 25 - Saturday July 29
  • 01865 305305
  • oxfordplayhouse.com

WIN!
TO WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, WHICH INCLUDES 4 X TICKETS (UP TO 2 ADULTS) PLUS ICE CREAM ON TUESDAY JULY 25 AT 7PM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

What animal does Around The World In 80 Days feature? Is it:

a) a chimpanzee

b) an elephant

c) a polar bear

Email your answer to macky@nqo.com with your name, address and contact number by Monday July 24 and make sure you are available on Tuesday July 25 at 7pm . Usual Newsquest rules apply. The Editor's decision is final