Why did you decide to make a show about Formby?

I have been a fan of George Formby since my childhood when George’s films were shown on mornings during the school holidays. I have also spent around 15 years playing the ukulele, attempting to play like him (no one can quite match his technique!).

But I had never thought of making a show about George until about three years ago when I was on tour with Formby’s director, co-devisor and producer Ed Hughes in Lucy Prebble’s play Enron. I toured around a uke to entertain myself, and occasionally the other actors, in the dressing room.

It was while playing them Formby songs that Ed suggested we create a show together. I wasn’t sure at first as one of the reasons I think it had never occurred to me to do something about him is that I didn’t think that I looked a lot like him, although having studied and played him for a couple of years now, I do think there are similarities!

Ed and I lived nearby each other in east London and met in a room above a pub once a week working on the show and soon realised it was a really fascinating and rewarding story to tell.

Tell us about the show – is it a biopic?

The show tells George Formby’s whole life story starting with his birth into a theatrical family, his famous father, also called George Formby, was a brilliant star of the music halls. It goes on to tell of his apprenticeship as a jockey, recording success and subsequent film stardom and of his enormous efforts entertaining the troops during the war years. Possibly foremost though it tells of George’s relationship with his formidable wife Beryl, who although she certainly had her detractors, was a huge force in shaping his career and propelling him to become Britain’s number one film star during the war years. Of course it also includes many of his wonderful and funny songs.

Can you talk about the challenges about playing a real life person?

The first practical challenge in playing George is attempting to play the ukulele like him. I think it can be underestimated exactly how good he was at playing, although he used only a handful of chords I personally don’t think his right hand technique has ever been equalled.

Director Ed Hughes spent many long afternoons watching me bash my head against a brick wall trying and failing to play a particular sequence!

His technique was matched though, I think, by his impeccable delivery of the songs, some of which are quite outrageous and which still make people laugh today.

George Formby, even long after his death, is still such an instantly recognisable character that you have to work hard to try and recreate his sound, and physicality. The reason he was such a big star is that he was unique, so as an actor you have to put something of yourself into the character to make it something more than an impersonation, and to give the impression of a real person. In terms of writing the show there was a responsibility to research down to the finest detail. Obviously you have to make choices when there are conflicting opinions or recollections of a particular event.

But I hope we have done him some justice and that people come away wanting to know more about him .

Any tips for playing the ukulele?

For playing in the Formby style, probably the best bit of advice is to start slowly. He was renowned for his speed but it takes a long time to build up to anything near the rate at which he played. His right hand techniques which include the split-stroke, the triple and the fan stroke are all fascinating to learn and one good place to find out about them is on YouTube where several young members of the George Formby Society have posted excellent tutorials.

You did a lot of work with Matthew Bourne – what’s the difference in discipline between being a dancer and an actor?

In Matthew Bourne’s company New Adventures, the emphasis in the shows was always on the telling of the story so in that respect it is quite similar to acting in a play. Obviously in Matthew’s productions the story is being told through movement rather than spoken word but the approach to characterisation is essentially the same.

What are you looking forward to most about taking this show on tour?

One of the fascinating things about touring this show is that in every town or city you will meet someone with a personal story involving themselves or a parent or grand parent who met George Formby or loved the man and his music. Also the ukulele is tremendously popular at the moment and I get to meet all the similarly ukulele obsessed people in the uke groups that have sprung up all over the country!

Who do you think will enjoy this show?

The great thing about this show is that the audience is a real cross section and people of my generation enjoy it as much as older people who have a nearer recollection of Formby.

There have also been people who come to watch that weren’t necessarily George Formby fans but came out having loved the show.

What’s after Formby for you?

I will be appearing at comedy clubs performing as myself and as various characters in the near future. I also run a group of experimental Morris dancers called The Bo Diddlers and we will be appearing at various festivals and events.

●Formby is at The New Theatre Cardiff from September 19. Visit newtheatrecardiff.co.uk or call box office on 029 2087 8889 for full details