Love Is All Around in a wicked new production of The Witches Of Eastwick, which is set to cast a spell over Hanley audiences next week. Tamzin Hindmarch talks to former Wet Wet Wet frontman and star of the show, Marti Pellow

ON THE silver screen, it helped Jack Nicholson turn in one of his most devilish performances. On the stage, it's been lauded as one hell of a musical.

Director Nikolai Foster has been busy casting his eye over a touring production of The Witches Of Eastwick – and it arrives in Hanley next week.

Playing the lead as the new man in town, Darryl van Horne, is former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow.

"I've only done one musical before, which was Chicago," confides Marti during a rehearsal prior to Tuesday's opening night, "and I've spent five years looking for something equally special."

And he believes he's found it in his latest role – one which will see him on stage alongside Ria Jones, who played Mrs Overall in the national tour of Victoria Wood's Acorn Antiques.

"I went to see a production of The Witches Of Eastwick in Washington and I was excited by it. The show was accessible and uplifting," says Marti.

"To play Darryl is a real challenge and he has wholly engaged my imagination."

The 1960s setting of John Updike's original novel became the hit film starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer in 1987.

But the action is shifted back a decade for this production, featuring three desperate housewives in small town America.

While they might wish for the man of their dreams, they end up with far more than they bargained for when all hell breaks loose – literally.

"Darryl comes into the lives of these three women," says Marti, "and although he seduces each of them, part of the seduction is providing a sounding board for them and contributing to the process of their empowerment. Alex, for instance, has always believed that she is overweight. Her experience with Darryl helps her realise that she may be voluptuous but she's also beautiful."

Marti is not the first singer to have turned to acting, but for the 43-year-old Scottish vocalist, who sang Love Is All Around for the Four Weddings And A Funeral soundtrack, it was a fairly painless transition.

"I never expected to become involved in musicals," he admits, but adds that when the people from Chicago approached him, he couldn't resist.

"I thought about how it is possible that people can get away with murder. The whole subject resonated with me, and since I've known a lot of sleazy lawyers in my time, playing Billy Flynn was not too difficult."

The performer – real name Mark McLachlan – says his showbiz career may not have happened had it not been for one night in Clydebank.

"What would have happened if my elder brother hadn't taken me with him to see David Bowie? My father was a labourer and he had to dig in all weathers. If that was reality, I wanted the make believe."

The Witches Of Eastwick can be seen at The Regent Theatre from October 7 to October 11. Call 0870 060 6649.