Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express has returned to London this summer at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. This iconic production is unique as the world’s only musical performed entirely on roller skates. Luke Zammit, the show’s resident director and skate co-ordinator, and his team have helped the cast perfect their skating skills.
A client of Bronia Buchanan’s BBA Management, Luke’s connection with Starlight Express began when he first saw the show as a teenager. Here, he reflects on his journey with the production and the challenges and rewards of working on such an extraordinary show.
Luke’s Starlight Express Story
Starlight Express first premiered at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre in 1984. It became an international hit with productions in the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
Luke saw Starlight Express in London when he was 15. “It was one of the turning points of deciding that I wanted to go to college [to study performing arts],” Luke says.
Inspired by a ballet performance during an arts week at his school, Luke was already attending Liz Burville Performing Arts in Kent. The experience of seeing Starlight Express solidified his passion for performance, leading him to attend Bird College in Sidcup, a conservatoire for dance and musical theatre.
“Thank goodness that I saw a show like Starlight,” Luke reflects. “It’s that butterfly effect. Those are the things that suddenly make you who you are and have this insane career.”
Joining Starlight Express in Germany
In 1988, Starlight Express premiered at the purpose-built Starlighthalle in Bochum, Germany, where it has been a fixture ever since. The production earned a Guinness World Record in 2010 for “the most visitors to a musical in a single theatre.”
Luke joined the Bochum production in 2010 at age 25. Along with the challenge of moving to a new country, he had to learn how to skate.
“I think I went to one roller disco before,” Luke recalls. As a professionally trained dancer with gymnastics experience, however, he adapted quickly. “I took to it quite well just because I was so passionate about learning this new skill,” he says. “I really loved it.”
Luke’s skating teacher was the legendary Michal Fraley, who passed away in 2022. Fraley worked on nearly every professional production of Starlight Express, including those in London and Las Vegas. Luke describes Fraley as “the master, the Yoda of roller skating.”
By 2013, Luke had become a skate coach for the Bochum production. He says it was interesting to “work so closely with [Fraley], share an office, [and] get to know him personally.”
Being one of Fraley’s few assistants was a rare and profound experience for Luke. Fraley imparted the lesson that coaching goes beyond technical instruction to include emotional support for performers.
Returning To Starlight Express in the UK
Luke left the Bochum production in 2015. Now, nearly a decade later, he’s returned as the resident director and skate co-ordinator for the new UK production. Luke describes the experience as “surreal.”
“It’s all just a bit of a dream,” Luke says, acknowledging the pressure to honour Fraley’s legacy. “Now that we are this far along, it just feels like we’re doing his work justice. I don’t think I’ll ever fill [Fraley’s] boots, but it’s nice to know that we’ve gone in the right direction.”
In his role, Luke oversees a team of skating coaches, focusing on empowering them and teaching effective coaching methods. “It’s also an absolute honour to be in this position,” he says. “Sometimes you can’t believe that you are the person that got picked to do it.”
Working on the London production presents a “very different challenge” for Luke. He not only supports his team but also collaborates closely with other departments, including choreography, costume, and set design. He has become the “go-to person” for skate-specific advice.
“I would say the biggest challenge has been being able to juggle all those elements of knowledge and departments that are still trying to work it out as well,” Luke says.
The greatest reward for Luke has been seeing the cast transform from people who have never skated before into confident performers. It’s particularly gratifying to see those who sustained injuries during skate school recover and excel on stage.
Having experienced skating injuries himself — he broke his leg in Germany — Luke understands the importance of supporting injured performers by “making sure [they] have the right mindset.”
Working With Bronia Buchanan’s BBA Management
Luke joined BBA Management in his early 20s. He learnt about the agency from choreographer and director Gary Lloyd during their work on The Spirit of Christmas in Los Angeles.
When Luke met Bronia Buchanan, the agency’s founder, he felt an immediate connection, knowing she was someone who would “look after you without a doubt.”
“She has done all this time, and that’s why I’m still with her now,” Luke says. “As my life has transitioned, having children, having a family, after travelling around the world, she gets it.”
Luke values Bronia’s honest feedback. For example, when he received an offer to return to Starlight Express in Germany, Bronia advised against it due to his recent move and family commitments. “It was absolutely the right move,” Luke says. “It was the best thing I could have done.”
Luke also appreciates how accessible Bronia and her team are: “I can just pick up the phone, have a conversation, and I automatically feel way better afterwards,” he notes. Luke relies on their support, which helps him navigate the often overwhelming entertainment industry. Their reassurance helps him stop “getting in [his] head and worrying.”
Career Highlights and Future Goals
Aside from Starlight Express, one of Luke’s career highlights was when he joined the cast of I Can’t Stop Loving You, a tribute to legendary singer-songwriter Ray Charles. Gary Lloyd hired Luke to join the U.S. tour of the show, which travelled to 81 cities across 22 states.
“It was insane,” Luke recalls. “I feel like that’s such a highlight, because to do that at such a young age… You were with all these people with the same dreams, on a coach, seeing all these amazing things around America.”
Looking ahead, Luke dreams of playing Frankie Valli in the hit musical Jersey Boys. “I’ve always been a massive fan of Jersey Boys, and I did really well in my last lot of rounds where I almost got to cover Frankie Valli,” he says.
The role’s challenging falsetto range particularly excites Luke: “It’s so different, it’s so wild and out there… that for me would be a real pinnacle of my career.”
Luke has also developed a passion for directing, inspired by the achievements of Starlight Express director Luke Sheppard and assistant director Toby Murray. This newfound interest has motivated Luke to explore directing opportunities himself.
Advice For Aspiring Performers
Since watching Starlight Express at age 15, Luke knew performing was his only passion. “That was what made me go, ‘Okay, all my eggs are in this one basket,’” he recalls. When asked what else he had to fall back on, he would reply: “I’ve not got anything else. It’s only this. This has to work. This is the only thing I’m interested in.”
“I think that mentality was the reason why I ended up being successful,” Luke says. Whilst this approach worked for Luke, however, he wouldn’t recommend that other aspiring performers follow suit. “I was one of the lucky ones. [I’m] very grateful for that, but I certainly wouldn’t suggest it.”
Instead, Luke encourages aspiring performers to explore a range of interests and skills. He believes that having diverse hobbies can provide unexpected advantages in your career. The more varied your skills and interests, the more likely you are to stand out in auditions and discover unique opportunities.
For example, if you’re passionate about jam skating (dance and gymnastics on roller skates), Luke suggests pursuing it purely for the love of it. He says: “The next thing you know, you’re in an audition and when they say, ‘Can you skate?’ [you say] ‘Yes, I’ve been jam skating for the last year.’ Boom, you’re at the top of the list already.”
Starlight Express: Something for Everyone
Reviews of the new Starlight Express production describe it as “incredibly entertaining” and “bigger, camper, and more OTT than ever.” Denise Crowley, the assistant musical director, calls the show “an absolute feast for all the senses.”
“It brings imagination to the fore and rejoices in childhood joy,” Denise adds. “When I watched the show, it was the closest I felt to that ‘Christmas morning magic’ feeling in a very long time!”
The show’s upbeat score blends various musical genres, including R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, and rap. Denise finds working with “such a variety of musical genres” enjoyable yet challenging.
“The quick nature of the show means that you don’t often have a lot of time to think into a new style, but it does feel incredibly rewarding,” Denise says. “It’s always a pleasure to perform such a variety of styles and particularly with the stellar line within the band!”
Becoming part of the Starlight Express team is “an absolute dream come true” for Denise, who is also a BBA Management client. She joined the agency in April 2024 and says she “was absolutely thrilled to join the family — a fabulous team of women who collectively create a true force of brilliance.”
Luke also praises the incredible music of Starlight Express, along with its fun storyline and dazzling pyrotechnics. He highlights the thrill of performers speeding around on skates and the “amazing characters and incredible performers who are completely endearing.”
Luke believes Starlight Express is “for anyone,” explaining: “It doesn’t matter what your background or knowledge is of theatre. Whether you are a veteran and you’ve seen all the shows in London and other countries [or] if you’re someone [who has] never seen a musical ever, I think it has an element of everything.”
About BBA Management
Bronia Buchanan founded BBA Management to provide exceptional representation for talented actors and creatives. The agency maintains a selective roster, ensuring clients always have direct access to a dedicated agent. Additionally, the agency’s shared client list enhances opportunities across genres, including musical theatre, stage drama, broadcast media, and commercials.
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