ELAINE PAIGE, the “First Lady of British musical theatre”, is returning to the stage in a unique series of new weekend concerts later this year.

Catching up with the stage, screen and radio star before her October show at The Anvil, The Gazette talked to the Londoner about what these new ‘stripped back’ shows are actually all about. 

“I think after 50 years I’ve earned a break from performing musical songs don’t you?” Elaine quips [directly followed by a sharp hit of London laugh].

And the truth is Elaine has. 

Since her maiden role as Chinese urchin in The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd in 1964, Paige’s life has almost entirely been one submerged within the strict boundaries of the stage. Plying her craft across ten years of bit-part roles in Hair and Grease, the 68-year-old’s break came in the first of a series of collaborations with composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber with the lead in the production Evita. Cats, Chess and Sunset Boulevard followed – legacy cemented.

Two years ago, celebrating her 50th anniversary as a stage performer, Paige took to the circuit for a farewell tour.

But in saying goodbye, perhaps the adieu was more to the stage songs that created her, but wouldn’t define her.

The new shows are most certainly a detachment and back this up.

They will recreate the pre-eminent talent from Elaine’s epoch; Harry Nillson, Jim Webb, Burt Bacharach, Leonard Cohen – an idyllic register, unbound by time.

“This series of weekend concerts is going to be a small, intimate affair with just three musicians. The last tour had an almost 60 strong orchestra behind me so this is new. It’s a fascinating process recreating wonderful songs, but the key for me is to celebrate them. It’s an opportunity for me to do something different and stop being on this endless stream of repeating the same music.”

The list of artists offers a brief insight into one of the stage’s most candid, yet beguiling characters. But regardless of the absence of musical theatre from her impending UK dates, the spirit of the art she is renowned for isn’t far away. "

That’s why I like these songwriters – there is always a narrative behind the songs that is not far away from musical theatre. They tell stories,” Elaine continued.

“They are such great storytellers, so anything without lyrics I am really not interested.

“I don’t have time for music today – it’s all changed and although pop music is something that interests me per se, I wouldn’t call today’s music pop music.

“That woman who sings that “hello...hello” song...yes, that’s it Adele, it’s really not my thing. But I guess I sound like my mother did when I was growing up now. 

Elaine will be performing at The Anvil, Basingstoke on Friday October 14.

Tickets start at £30.50 and for more information visit anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on/elaine-paige.