Interview – Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood
We are delighted to have had the opportunity to interview Paulus The Cabaret Geek who is bringing their show Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood to Cast Doncaster on Thursday 25th September as part of their nationwide tour.
Q. Tell us more about yourself, including how you got your stage name Paulus the Cabaret Geek, and your Victoria Wood tribute show Looking For Me Friend?
A. I’m an entertainer and educator, working specifically in the genre of cabaret for over 30 years. Online I’m The Cabaret ‘Geek’ because there is so much more still to explore and learn about this theatrical genre, in spite of it having a rich history of over 125 years. Looking For Me Friend is a musical homage to the late, great Victoria Wood – focussing specifically on the large body of music and songs she has left the world. There are over 400 registered with PRS, with not a single co-writer involved.
Q. What are you looking forward to most about bringing the show on tour and to Doncaster?
A. Travelling the UK and getting to meet fellow fans of Victoria is a joy of a job, and the further North you go, the more they tend to go wild for our show. I’m looking forward to meeting the good folk of Doncaster and seeing who knows the reply to ‘RED CABBAGE HOW MUCH?!’
Q. What is the best thing about being accompanied by a live pianist (Michael Roulston) and do you get on well off stage as well as on?
A. There are many great pianists on the circuit, but a great accompanist is rarer, and that is what Michael is. He’s been playing some of these songs for me for 27 years now, and we are indeed real friends, bonded by our love – and quoting – of Victoria Wood.
Q. What’s up next for you after the tour?
A. The Sequel! WHAT WOOD VICTORIA DO?’ is due to debut in Edinburgh at the fringe in 2026, with Sarah-Louise Young returning to direct once more. I’m on the 5th draft of the script at the moment. There’s so many more great songs to share, I’m having trouble choosing!!!
Q. Nine years after she sadly past away, why do you think Victoria Wood has continued to be such a comedy icon?
A. We haven’t changed the lyrics to any of the songs, and its striking how relevant certain tunes are even though she wrote them in the 70s. I meet loads of people in their 20s, who have found her through the AT THE CHIPPY TikTok trend of 2021, and once in a while a 10 year old will come along with their parents and they’re beaming their faces off at the end.
Q. If you could travel back in time to duet with Victoria Wood on any of her songs, which would you choose and why?
A. Crush. It’s about a kid on the school bus in love with an older boy. Its always been my favourite, and the first time in my show I get a sit-down. Hopefully Vic will share the piano stool.
Q. And finally, according to your website your favourite Victoria Wood sketch is “Is It On The Trolley” but if you could order anything off Victoria Wood’s trolley what would it be and why?
A. I’ll take a nice big helping of ‘Count Your Blessings’ and a side-order of ‘Keep Your Gob Shut and Turn Up The Wireless’ please. One of those is a song title. The other a serving suggestion.
For further information and to book for Looking For Me Friend: The Music Of Victoria Wood at Cast Doncaster on Thursday 25th September visit castindoncaster.com/whats-on/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood/. For further information on Paulus The Cabaret Geek, including all their forthcoming tour dates, visit https://thecabaretgeek.com/.
