Hugh Maynard

Hugh Maynard is a British actor and singer of African-Caribbean descent. He is known for his roles in Miss Saigon and Sweeney Todd on the West End.

Hugh Maynard
Born27 March 1975
Birmingham, England
OccupationActor, singer
Musical career
GenresRock, Soul, Musical Theatre
Websitehugh-maynard.com

Early life and education

Hugh Maynard was born in the UK and grew up in Torquay, Devon.[1] His mother abandoned him, and then due to neglect by his father, he was taken into the care of Birmingham social services at just a few months old. He lived in various children's homes for a number of years.[2] At the age of seven, he appeared on the Birmingham-made TV show Tiswas. At the age of 8 years, he was permanently fostered and he moved with his new family to settle in Torbay Devon.[3]

Maynard participated in the Sea Cadets; he played trumpet for the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra; he entered various talent competitions and was compere for a local show Devon's Got Talent. While studying and preparing for drama school he worked in fast food outlets and as a lifeguard, and modelled sportswear.

Hugh Maynard initially went to Bath University to study sports science. It was here that he changed direction to drama and music. He attended the Academy of Live And Recorded Arts in London on a two year scholarship.[1] He also attended the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick, London on a scholarship.[4]

Career

Musical Theatre

Maynard made his West End debut by playing the principal role of Simon Zealotes in Jesus Christ Superstar, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Group.[1] From 1999 to 2000, Maynard landed lead roles in The Lion King and Notre Dame de Paris theatre productions, playing Simba and Clopin respectively. In 2002, he went on to star in We Will Rock You The Jackson 5 and in Follies playing young Ben. In 2004, Hugh Maynard first played John in Laurence Connor's revival of Boublil and the first UK tour of Schönberg's classic musical melodrama Miss Saigon,[5][6] In 2006, Maynard played Marvin Gaye in Dancing in the Streets. In 2009, he performed at the London Palladium, in Whoopi Goldberg's stage production of Sister Act. Ten years after his with performance in Miss Saigon, Maynard reprised his role of John in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Miss Saigon at The Prince Edward Theatre in London. He was nominated as "Best Featured Actor in a New Production of a Musical" in Broadway World Awards 2014.[7] and "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" in 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards,[8] for this performance. In 2016 Maynard performed in Travels with my Aunt at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester.[9][10][11] The same year, he became the first Black performer to play Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd on the West End.[12]

TV

In addition to his highly successful acting on stage, Hugh's TV credits include ITV Superstar 2012, Wycliffe, The Bill, Casualty and Royal Variety Performance.

Music

Maynard is a member of the rock group, Tenors of Rock (TOR). They have toured the UK, Europe and America and performed at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Their debut single, "Brothers in Arms", reached No.20 in the official UK rock chart. The group also took part in the 2013 series of the talent show, The X-Factor, reaching the judges home stage with Gary Barlow.[13]

Maynard has performed live at various venues, including the 2007 British Red Cross Gala Ball, a 2013 halftime show at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, TOR Live at Palms Resort in Las Vegas, and the 2012 Olympic Games at BT London Live.

In March 2015, Hugh Maynard released his solo debut Album, Hugh Maynard – Something Inside so Strong. The album is a collection of rock, soul and musical theatre numbers, including Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On", John Farnham's "You're The Voice", Seal's "Kiss from a Rose" and "Bui Doi" from Miss Saigon.[14]

Philanthropy

Hugh Maynard has been a guest speaker at a number of conferences organized by Lincolnshire Children's Services, sharing his experiences of living in residential and foster care. He has also performed at events and conferences for the Lincolnshire Sensory Impaired Service.

Maynard has also supported the Lincoln-based project Action for Children and Saint Francis School, a specialist provision in Lincoln for disabled children and Plan UK's campaigns of "End Child Marriage". He also promoted participation in the arts through involvement in West End Week[15] and has links to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Personal life

When Maynard is not busy with music and theatre work, he participates in cooking, athletics and photography.

Studio album

2015| Hugh Maynard – Something Inside So Strong Track Listing:

  1. Something Inside So Strong
  2. Let’s Get It On
  3. Bring Him Home
  4. You’re The Voice
  5. Kiss from a Rose
  6. I Who Have Nothing
  7. When a Man Loves a Woman
  8. Get Here
  9. Creep
  10. Back at One
  11. Bui Doi
  12. Love Is On the Way

Filmography

Film
YearTitleNetworkRole
1997Frenchmans CreekCarltonServant
2015The Heat Is Back On, The Remaking of Miss SaigonUniversalJohn
2016Miss Saigon LiveUniversalJohn

Television
YearTitleNetworkRole
1992Box PopsBBCPresenter
1999Royal Variety PerformanceVarietyLion King
2007Magic of the Musicals: Variety Children’s Charity LondonHimself
2008Happy ShowGlobal TVHimself
2010Royal Variety PerformanceVarietySister Act
2012ITV SuperstarITVHimself
2014Royal Variety PerformanceVarietyMiss Saigon

Stage
YearTitleVenueRole
1997Jesus Christ SuperstarLyceum TheatreApostle James/US Judas
1999The Lion KingLyceum TheatreSimba
2000Notre Dame De ParisDominion TheatreClopin
2001Jesus Christ SuperstarUK TourSimon Zealotes
2002FolliesRoyal Festival HallYoung Ben
2002We Will Rock YouThe Jackson 5
2004Miss SaigonUK TourJohn[16]
2006Dancing in the StreetAldwych Theatre/UK TourMarvin Gaye
2009Sister ActLondon Palladium TheatreEnsemble/US Eddie & Cutis
2014Miss SaigonPrince Edward TheatreJohn
2016Travels with My AuntChichester Minerva TheatreWordsworth
2016 Sweeney Todd Derby Theatre Sweeney Todd

Workshop
YearTitleRole
2005Avenue QNicky, Trekkie Monster & Gary Coleman

Awards
  • 2014 – Broadway World UK/West End Awards – "Best Featured Actor in a New Production of a Musical" nomination[7] – John in Miss Saigon
  • 2015 – 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards – "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" nomination[8] – John in Miss Saigon

References
  1. Limited, London Theatre Direct (28 October 2014). "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard Talks Training, Auditions, And Upcoming Album". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  2. "Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard Speaks Out On Child Protection". TheatrePeople, 22 May 2014
  3. Roz Laws (4 October 2014). "Birmingham theatre star draws strength from the toughest of childhoods". Birmingham Mail.
  4. London Theatre Direct Limited. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard Talks Training, Auditions, And Upcoming Album". londontheatredirect.com.
  5. "Westcountry West End star Hugh Maynard talks Miss Saigon". West Morning News, 25 March 2015
  6. Robert Ignatius Letellier (4 January 2015). Operetta: A Sourcebook, Volume II. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 997–. ISBN 978-1-4438-8508-9.
  7. "West End star needs your vote to win award". sleafordstandard.co.uk.
  8. "Shortlists announced for 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, voting opens". WhatsOnStage.com. 5 December 2014.
  9. "Travels with my Aunt is a club class ticket to feel-good enjoyment – review". The Telegraph, Dominic Cavendish, Theatre Critic, 27 April 2016
  10. "Travels With My Aunt review – calypsos and cannabis in Graham Greene musical". The Guardian, Michael Billington, 27 April 2016
  11. "A Musical Worth Travelling For: Travels With My Aunt At Chichester Festival Theatre". HuffPost, 05/04/2016 Polly Allen
  12. "Interview with Sweeney Todd, aka actor Hugh Maynard | Derby Theatre". www.derbytheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  13. "Hugh Maynard Miss Saigon X-Factor Life Story Interview". Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.
  14. Neil Cheesman. "Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard launches his debut solo album". London Theatre 1 for London Theatre.
  15. Carrie Dunn (26 August 2014). "BWW Interviews: MISS SAIGON's Hugh Maynard!". BroadwayWorld.com.
  16. "Miss Saigon: Prince Edward Theatre". TheatrePeople, Glenn Rice 22 May 2014
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