West Side Story changed the face of musical theatre forever, a theatrical masterpiece as passionate, as gripping and as powerful today as when it first took Broadway by storm.

And now it is coming to Wimbledon Theatre following an 18 month sell out run in the West End where it broke box office records.

The moving story of the star-crossed lovers is set on the streets of New York where two rival gangs battle for control of the same turf. Amidst the tension, a boy and girl from opposing sides fall in love and so begins their tragic fight for survival.

The story is now as well known as the play on which it is based, Romeo and Juliet. Except in the musical the Montagues and Capulets have become The Sharks and The Jets and the young romantics are Tony and Maria.

Taking the lead role of Tony in the production is Norman Bowman, who has starred in numerous musicals including Les Miserables and Masterclass, which also starred Jane Lapotaire.

And the versatile Norman has also turned his hand to film. Last year he played the role of Dean in the short film Don't Look Back, which will feature at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

But things could have been so different for Norman whose life was changed by a pantomime.

"Where I grew up, in Arbroath, there was absolutely nothing to do," he says.

"My best friend at the time was being dragged along to pantomime rehearsals and I went along. I started at the back as an extra and then joined the chorus.

"It was the first time in my life I found something I enjoyed doing and felt I belonged. It's hard to say whether I was born for acting, but I can't imagine doing anything else."

Although he played Tony as an amateur, Norman did not imagine he would later take on the role in a professional company.

"This was a role I always wanted to do professionally but every time it came up, I was committed to something else. It was getting to the point where I thought the role was going to pass me by."

And although he has played the role before Norman still finds it hard work.

"From the point of view of getting the character right, it's not that difficult because I'm not far removed from him. And everything is there in the script I didn't have to go away and do a lot of research on him.

"But physically it's a very tough show to have to go out and do eight shows a week takes a lot of endurance.

"With the amateur version, you rehearse once a week for six months, do six performances and that's it. The only reason you're doing it is 100 per cent love for it. I still give 100 per cent, but it's harder."

The Bernstein-Sondheim musical was first staged in 1957 and Norman says this version is as close to the original as you will get.

"I saw the West End version and I felt there was too much emphasis on the choreography. It was a very good show, but I felt the story was taking second place.

"The director on this production was in the original cast and has retained a lot of the costumes and choreography from then. But I think this is as close to the original as you are ever going to get."

Wimbledon marks the end of the show's run and Norman admits he could well shed a tear or two.

"It's always an emotional moment, regardless of whether you get on with someone or not, because you never know if you're going to meet any of the cast again. And I could be saying goodbye to Tony for the last time I doubt if I will get the opportunity to play him again."

Featuring some of the greatest songs ever written for a musical including Somewhere, Maria, One Hand One Heart, America, Tonight and Officer Krupke, this production features a cast of singers and dancers who match the score in vibrancy.

* West Side Story opens at Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday. For booking details see the listings.

November 16, 2001 16:00