Alistair McGowan stars in Pygmalion at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre

Pygmalion has the perfect role for a lover of language

Impressionist Alistair McGowan talks to Catherine Vonledebur about sharing a love of language with his character as he takes to the stage in Pygmalion.

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Catherine Vonledebur

05:00, 2 MAY 2014

Charlotte Page (Mrs Pearce), Rachel Barry (Eliza) Alistair McGowan (Higgins) and Paul Brightwell (Pickering) in Pygmalion (Image: Manuel Harlan)

Alistair McGowan was a little surprised that in some parts of the country audiences responded to Professor Henry Higgins in the same way as they would a pantomime villain – with hisses and boos.

But the Evesham-born impressionist and actor jokingly advises against that behaviour as the play runs at Malvern Festival Theatres this week and then at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre from May 12.

“Henry Higgins is a man of words who knows how to use language. Although he’s clever he is quite a cruel man.

“Audiences have boo-ed like in a pantomime. It’s a wonderful part to play. he has a great turn of phrase.”

The 49-year-old first stepped into the role at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End for the final three weeks when Rupert Everett departed to film BBC2’s Parade’s End.

Three years later he was asked to reprise the role in a centenary touring production of Pygmalion with Rula Lenska, who plays Mrs Higgins, Jamie Foreman as Alfred Doolitte and Rachel Barry as Eliza Doolittle.

“I played the role for three weeks in the West End when Rupert Everett could not continue. I learnt it as quickly as I could. I loved it and the producers loved it,” he explains.

“But when you replace someone three weeks before it finishes it makes it quite tricky, you cannot be too different.

“This time was different as we all started together and made decisions together. It’s really enjoyable working with a legend like Rula Lenska and Rachel has charmed us all as Eliza.”

Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1912, Pygmalion tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl whom Professor of Phonetics Henry Higgins tries to pass off as a duchess for a bet.

“I do not know that many of Bernard Shaw’s plays. I think they are very difficult to do and do defeat a lot of directors,” says Alistair.

“Pygmalion is the easiest to understand. It has a very good story and has a lot of wit and comedy. Some people have tried to fiddle around with the end, but this is the original script.

“Henry and Eliza have feelings for each other at the end but I would not call it a romance.”

Like his character, Alistair is a man fascinated by language and accents.

“There’s a lot of me and my father in this part. He was a primary school teacher and was fascinated by language. He had quite a patronising way and was quite short tempered. That’s all there.

“I have always been fascinated by language myself and what it gives us.

“People who use language well are the ones who make it to the top. Politicians know how to get a response by saying different words. We are still aware of the power of language. Look at Plebgate.

“If I’d lived 100 years ago I would have loved to have had Higgins’ life.”

Alistair, who married singer Charlotte Page in a low-key ceremony last year, is enjoying working with his new wife, who plays the Professor’s housekeeper, Mrs Pearce.

The couple first met when he was appearing alongside her in a production of The Mikado.

A keen environmentalist and a World Wildlife Fund ambassador, Alistair has also helped a campaign to save and restore The Regal, an art deco cinema in his home town of Evesham.

He has made a career from impersonations, stand-up comedy and acting over the last 25 years. His first TV job was on Spitting Image and he has been a mainstay of Radio 4 comedy for more than 20 years.

Along with his former comedy partner Ronni Ancona, they have mimicked 100 characters in the BAFTA-winning The Big Impression on BBC1, from Posh and Becks to Richard and Judy.

In recent years Alistair has proved himself an excellent actor, receiving critical acclaim for several West End appearances and an Olivier Award nomination for his role as the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors.

In 2011 he achieved a lifelong ambition of becoming a tennis commentator for BBC Sport at Wimbledon.

Pygmalion finishes just as Wimbledon starts.

“My favourite two weeks of the year,” he says. “You can watch a player who’ve you’ve never seen and within minutes you’re hooked. That’s what I love about tennis. There’s one man I will be cheering on. Andy Murray is fabulous.”

When not tuning into sports, he still enjoys a spot of TV comedy.

“My favourite of the modern crop? Not Going Out and Miranda. I like my comedy to have a joke,” he says. “Stewart Lee’s Comical Vehicle (BBC 2) is one of the best, cleverest and wittiest things I have ever seen.”

* Pygmalion is at Malvern Festival Theatres until Saturday and then at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, from May 12 until May 17. Tickets start at £16.25. Ring 024 7655 3055 or go to

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