A magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition — Sunset Boulevard first made its way to the West End stage when it made its world premiere at London’s Adelphi Theatre on 12 July 1993.
Based on the classic Paramount film (of the same name) directed by Billy Wilder, the stage production explores the story of Norma Desmond, a legendary silent movie star, who faded from the silver screen with the rise of talking pictures, and is tortured by her longing to return to the big screen.
Her hopes are renewed when she meets a struggling Hollywood screenwriter, Joe Gillis, whom she eventually begins a passionate and volatile relationship that leads to a tragic conclusion.
Sunset Boulevard is currently on stage at the Sands Theatre for a limited run from now to 23 February, and we caught up with the cast to find out more about the show and what it is like working with the legendary Sarah Brightman.
Hi guys, welcome to Singapore! Could you share how you would describe Sunset Boulevard to someone who has yet to see the show?
Tim Draxl (portrays Joe Gillis): It is a dark and moody story about an ageing silent film star who’s living in the past and planning a comeback when she meets a young screenwriter who, unbeknownst to her, is desperate for work. The two embark on a relationship that highlights just how far each of them is willing to go in the pursuit of “success”.
It’s also set in 1950’s Hollywood which provides the perfect backdrop for lavish sets and costumes that recall all the glamour of the golden age of Hollywood.
Jarrod Draper (portrays Artie Green): It is a show that endeavours to pull back the curtain on the big machine that is Hollywood, and in doing so, takes a deep dive into the rise and falls of the human condition, through the eyes of many flawed and complex characters.
Robert Grubb (portrays Max von Mayerling): It’s a drama, presented in a film noir way, with complex people probably making unwise decisions in their life and falling in love with people they probably shouldn’t be falling in love with.
What is the preparation process like for each of your roles?
Ashleigh Rubenach (portrays Betty Schaefer): I grew up watching Golden Age classics with my grandmother so I felt like I already had a clear connection to the strong and intelligent women of this era!
Robert: I have played Max before but that was thirty years ago when I was quite younger. I think, just growing older has helped me to understand Max a lot more. I think the life I’ve led and the many, many productions I’ve been in have all given me a solid base to understand what makes Max tick.
Paul Hanlon (portrays Cecil B. Demille): As I play one of the only non-fictional characters in the piece, I have had the luxury of being able to do some research on how he presented himself and his relationship with his movie stars that he directed; which has in some way informed his relationship with Norma Desmond.
Jarrod: Preparation often varies from project to project. But for Sunset Boulevard, it was really about exploring and immersing oneself in the era. In doing so, it allowed me get a real flavour for where we are and the tone of the piece.
Tim: Nothing prepared me for this role! It’s a role I’ve always dreamt of playing because the film is one of my all-time favourites but when it was offered to me I hadn’t yet listened to the entire score. When I realised how much my character has to sing (he barely leaves the stage) I really didn’t know if I would be able to pull it off because I’d never had to sing that much.
The acting and scene work didn’t phase me but I had months of vocal training and seeing various specialists to get my voice into shape. I kind of felt like an elite athlete training for the Olympics.
Since the release of the movie in the 1950s to its eventual stage adaptation, how much of the themes of Sunset Boulevard, do you think, resonates with today’s society?
Paul: Even though Sunset Boulevard is set in the 1950’s I think a lot of the themes still resonate quite loudly today. The themes of fame, faded glory, of course love and heartbreak. Today we live in a world obsessed with social media, and with that comes an obsession with fame, with the number of ‘likes’ we get, how many ‘views’ we have.
We have a fear of losing our looks, of not becoming ‘Insta Worthy’. Take away the devices of Social Media and that is still the world of Hollywood 1950’s.
Ashleigh: Sunset Boulevard is still SO RELEVANT today. It’s all about fame and the Hollywood system – the way you are enticed in and then, eventually, spat back out. That addictive need to stay relevant, seen and adored is all too familiar in a 2025 world.
Jarrod: I think it’s actually quite concerning how relevant the themes of the show are in today’s society. And they’ve only been exacerbated by social media and technology of the 21st century. The concepts of fiction vs reality, gender constructs and the darkness of celebrity culture and fame are well and truly alive today.
Tim: So many! I mean love, romance and the nuances of any relationship are universal themes and this show is an incredible case study of relationships and how vastly different two people’s interpretations of a relationship can be. I also think the themes of celebrity, and our own ideas of what success looks like, especially with the pressures of social media nowadays and staying relevant.
One of the perks or maybe nervous aspects of performing in this production would probably be sharing the stage with the legendary Sarah Brightman. Could you share what your experience has been like working with her?
Ashleigh: Working with a superstar like Sarah is definitely a career highlight. She’s so kind, humble and funny that sometimes I’ll forget that she’s musical royalty… and then I’ll remember and have another ‘pinch me’ moment! The wealth of experience and gravitas that Sarah brings to the role of Norma is really something to behold — it’s a once in a lifetime experience no one should miss.
Robert: I like Sarah a lot. My goodness, she works hard at her craft. She is in the theatre before everyone else, she walks the set and goes through her songs even before others arrive. You have to respect that. And she is focused during the show. And I like that, so am I.
But, there are lighter moments a we share a giggle about something or other. And in those moments when we have met for dinner after a show or whatever, we tell each other great funny and outstanding stories from our past adventures. She is a delight. A peach.
Paul: It has been absolutely wonderful to perform alongside Sarah Brightman! She is truly a legend and I have admired her for many years!
When I was much younger I used to constantly play my VHS tape (yep, I’m THAT old!) of Sarah performing in Song And Dance, another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical which I loved, and of course I would listen to the original recording of Phantom Of The Opera. So to now be sharing the stage with Sarah is truly an honor that I will never forget!
Jarrod: Sarah is wonderful. She’s a very personable woman. I love the way she makes Norma Desmond her own. The fragility. The broken. The yearning. It’s a very interesting take on the character that makes for a layered performance.
Beyond that, it truly is an out of body experience to know you’re sharing the stage with the original Christine Daaé. She is theatre royalty, so when you really clock into that thought, it all feels very surreal.
Tim: I absolutely adore her and working with her has been one of the most special experiences of my career. I was so excited at the idea of getting to share the stage with such a legend. I mean I used to listen to the Phantom soundtrack cassette on repeat. And I’d be singing along to her parts!
But, the first day we met and I saw how humble and sweet she was (and also a wicked sense of humour) I knew we were going to have fun together and it has been a blast. She’s so wonderfully supportive and encouraging and we’ve had lots of laughs together.
Singing to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber is no easy feat. How did you feel when you first performed to the score?
Robert: Andrew Lloyd Webber is difficult to sing, yes! But it’s so good when you master it. And I believe the orchestrations of his work are excellent. Especially this one — I’m still finding things in the music. I may be sitting just off stage, waiting for my entrance, and I’m listening to the music, and almost every time I hear some instrument do something, and I say to myself, “Oh that’s interesting, why did he do that.”
But, it all comes together to make something wonderful. Brilliant stuff. I’m so glad I’ve developed enough over my career to deliver a quite decent product. It’s an honor to sing these songs. Not everyone can do it.
Paul: I will never forget when we did our first sing through of the entire show with the cast and the orchestra. It was absolutely electric! I think Sunset is one of Andrew Lloyd Webbers finest scores. It is intricate, grand, wonderfully soaring music and to be able to sing it every night is truly a treat!
Jarrod: You said it perfectly; it’s no easy feat at all. It was a mixture of nerves, relief and excitement. It’s an extremely intricate piece, so to hear it all come together and know your hard work paid off, was magical.
Tim: I started work on the score as soon as I got the phone call for the role. I knew with the amount of dialogue and music I had to learn for the role of Joe Gillis I had no time to waste.
Every day for three months, wherever I drove, when I was at the gym, I had the score on repeat. So it was no surprise when SUNSET BOULEVARD was my most played album on my Spotify Wrapped that year. But I wanted to learn it before rehearsals began so I had the freedom to play around and fully explore the character.
I remember the first time we sang through the score with the orchestra. The whole cast was in tears it was that exciting and so beautiful.
Ashleigh: It’s so thrilling. Hearing our incredible orchestra play the score for the first time is a feeling I’ll cherish for a very long time.
Lastly, why do you think the Singapore audience should catch Sunset Boulevard?
Jarrod: The show really is a masterpiece. It’s a once in a lifetime theatrical experience for a myriad of reasons. Sarah Brightman. The score. The voices. The design. The house. The costumes. It’s a real feast. Plus it’s the first time the show has been here so you can say you were one of the first to see it in Singapore!
Robert: Audiences will travel a road through the evening, and come out with a feeling of, not only being entertained, but having a little understanding about people’s lives, and how it all relates to their own experiences.
I hope they leave being enriched in some way and nourished by the performances they have seen from a talented cast and good people.
Tim: You don’t want to miss a legend like Sarah Brightman playing such an iconic role. It’s an amazing cast of ridiculously talented performers, the sets are stunning and the score, I personally think is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest work.
