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The two stars of Godspell have a reputation for
being lads.
They admit to being "naughty", such as mooning to BBC staff before
doing a live radio interview.
Wilkes said they share a sense of humour and they
want to make theatre fun.
Cool theatre
"We're trying to make theatre cool again. We're
trying to bring the youth back into theatre - get rid of all the
old stuffiness," he said.
Sydney-born MacPherson is best known as Joel from
Neighbours. He moved into musicals after
doing pantomime in the UK.
He said Godspell is a show he loves.
"Fifteen hundred people laughing or shedding a
tear and giving a standing ovation at the end - is so real. It's
not something you find happening very often," said MacPherson.
Robbie's pal
Disillusioned with pop, Jonathan Wilkes was born
in Stoke-on-Trent and has been a close friend of Robbie Williams
since his school days.
He a show on BBC Choice and shortly afterwards
went on to sign a five-album record deal with Virgin and had a top
20 hit with Just Another Day.
"Since doing theatre, I'm loving this business
again," said Wilkes.
"I got so disillusioned with the pop business.
I've been a live performer all my life."
Problems with the entertainment
industry were brought home to Wilkes when he was booked to sing
on the TV lottery show.
Pop disillusion
"They said, 'You've got to mime'. There's something
wrong there. I'm a singer, I love to perform."
Jonathan Wilkes is passionate about live performance.
Six years ago he won the Cameron Mackintosh Young
Entertainer of the Year award in Blackpool.
Jonathan Wilkes loves a dance |
He went on to star in his own show at Blackpool
Pleasure Beach which ran for three years.
Learning curve
He said that during that period he learnt a lot
from old-timers such as Roy 'Chubby' Brown, Frank Carson and The
Grumbleweeds.
"These are the true entertainers. These people
go on stage every night and have to sing or say the same gags every
night and they make it sound as if they're telling it for the first
time. They're true pros. You can't get better than that," he said.
Wilkes is not keen on the Pop Idol acts.
"They're manufactured like robots. There's no soul."
What does have soul is Godspell.
New for 2002
MacPherson said, "The production team has taken
a show that was contemporary in 1972 and have made it contemporary
for 2002."
There is even a pastiche of the Richard and Judy
Show. MacPherson and Wilkes even swaps roles as Jesus and Judas.
"One night Jesus is from Stoke, the next night
he's from Sydney" joked Wilkes.
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Since doing theatre, I'm loving this
business again. I got so disillusioned
with the pop business. 
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