Article from the 'Kent On Sunday' newspaper from January 2006.
WE KNOW HER SO WELL
Barbara Dickson is no stranger to the county's theatres, with a career that spans three decades. Katy Goodship discovers why variety is definitely the spice of life for the Scottish star
Barbara Dickson has done it all - music, stage, television and films. But she refuses to say what her "career highlight" is, because when she does, it will signal her retirement.
She loves the intimacy of theatres and is gracing the stage at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford at the end of this month with a collection of her music from past and present.
"I have been to the Orchard before and it is a fabulous theatre," she says enthusiastically. "I do know Kent theatres rather well, and have been to Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells and Chatham many times."
In a career that spans three decades it is no surprise that she is familiar with most of the theatres in the UK. Although she forged a name for herself in the 1970s with her first UK hit single Answer Me, and appearances in The Two Ronnies, it was in the mid-nineties that she became known to a different audience.
Band of Gold won her critical acclaim for her performance as Anita Braithwaite. The ITV drama followed the lives of a group of Bradford prostitutes and went on to run for three seasons. The series launched the career of Samantha Morton who is now hot Hollywood property.
But theatre and live performances are what makes Barbara feel like she has achieved something.
She has won two Olivier Awards and broke into musicals starring in the lead role of Mrs Johnstone in the Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers in 1983. Following rave reviews from the critics she won her first of many Best Actress gongs from the Society of West End Theatres.
"The last thing I did for television was The Missing Postman which followed Band of Gold. I haven't done any acting on television or film since then," she said.
"I do stuff in the theatre and the most recent was Spend, Spend, Spend which won me my second Olivier Award. I really enjoy my theatre work." she says. "I think people think that when an artist gets older they are very keen to play out the past. I can not stand people thinking I am into nostalgia."
She is determined to continue her singing without revealing a career-defining moment.
"People want me to say that I Know Him So Well was the highlight. It wasn't the highlight of my career. It was a great experience to be at number one and has personal connotations but my thing is that any work I'm doing at the moment is a highlight.
"I enjoy doing my shows and making records and I do not feel like I need to play I Know Him So Well for the rest of my life."
The duet with Elaine Paige was taken from the musical Chess and clocked up sales of 900,000 copies.
Her one woman show will see her performing songs from her catalogue charting her early Scottish folk days through to more recent material.
She in currently recording an album of Beutles covers at a studio in Bath.
"It in very creative and very interesting," she says. "lt is a special project I have been commissioned to do by Universal.
"There is a big traditional influence in the arrangements."
The choice of songs has been difficult to decide but Barbara is now pleased with the final selection. "A lot of Beatles songs are ones that young men would have sung and they didn't translate very well with a lady
doing them. They didn't have the lyrical content. But we have chosen a wonderful selection and I am so excited!"
The 13-track album will be out in May, and follows the tour which ends in March. Barbara says audiences will be impressed by her collection which she performs on this tour.
"There is a great mix and with the new album coming out, it's perfect to show people what else I have to offer."
(With thanks to Sara Hardy)
