The following article appeared in "The Liverpool Daily Echo" on October 25, 2002. Barbara is interviewed by Joe Riley.
BARBARA LOVES TO COME HOME
Barbara Dickson has no doubt that Liverpool has been the most important influence on her life.This is the city which transformed her from provincial folk singer to international superstar. It is also where she later learned to act - and met her husband.
Sunday sees the entertainer who created the mother role of Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's musical "Blood Brothers" 20 years ago, return to the Empire. It's one of just five UK dates, which Barbara calls "not so much a tour as an experiment". She explains "I want to try something different. The whole of the first half is traditional music, as I want to close the gap that's developed between folk music and theatre. "
"Back in the 60s it was usual to find actors who were interested in these songs. I think it was slightly political as well. Folk was seen as the music of the people at a time when acting was no longer considered to be a posh occupation."
Ewan MacColl was among these early pioneers, which is why Barbara will open her latest show with one of his songs. Also included will be "The Garton Mother's Lullaby" from her very first 70s LP, two Beatles' songs, and "Easy Ter,s" from "Blood Brothers".
"Of course I'll have to do "The Caravan Song" and "Another Suitcase". But I don't do a lot of pop," she says.
Barbara feels she can take risks, as Liverpool is home from home. Her Scottish policeman father was transferred to Merseyside. Her mum, Ruth, is from Toxteth, and husband Oliver Cookson was a stage manager at the Playhouse. And she adds: "There are cousins in Liverpool 8, and my best friend from teenage days lives in Waterloo."
Now Barbara's family, completed by sons Colm, 16, Gabriel, 14, and Archie, 12, are also regular visitors. "I go to Marks and Spencers and everyone says hello," she says. "I think the whole of Liverpool saw the early run of "Blood Brothers"."
Barbara's solo show "The Seven Ages Of Woman" (which won an ECHO award) was another Liverpool triumph. But her most vivid memory is auditioning for Willy Russell's Beatles musical "John Paul George Ringo...& Bert"
"Alan Dossor, the Everyman director, was very sceptical about a folk singer doing Beatles numbers," she explains. "But Willy didn't want four blokes because there would be direct comparisons, so they got the piano from the bistro downstairs and put it on stage on a truck. It was so high, I had to sit on a bar stool to play it. I was nervous but the company were a fantastic support. They even came to see me do a gig at a club in Rock Ferry."
The rest, as they say, really is history.
(2002 - The Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Ltd.)
