Faye’s steps to success
Last updated 11:19, Thursday, 27 March 2008
It’s been seven years since the Steps bubble burst and pop’s famous five went their separate ways.
While the tabloids have kept us up to date with the exploits of most former members, there’s been little gossip on Faye Tozer.
That’s because, while her former bandmates dabble in solo pop careers, presenting and reality TV, Faye has been quietly carving out a career for herself in the theatre.
Following roles in Lloyd Webber solo show Tell Me On A Sunday and Me and My Girl, she’s now playing “tragic songbird” Eva Cassidy in Over the Rainbow.
The show, which plays at Carlisle’s Sands Centre tonight and tomorrow, follows Eva’s life from the age of 10 to her death from cancer aged just 33 in 1996.
Four years after her death, Eva’s interpretations of songs such as Fields of Gold and Over the Rainbow were played on Radio 2 to massive public acclaim, and eventually reached the top of the UK charts.
Faye, who describes herself as “a grafter”, set about the challenge of portraying the singer as meticulously as she would tackle a Steps dance routine.
When she heard about the auditions she was acting in a production of Dial M For Murder and was desperate to flex her vocal chords in another musical.
She says: “I had been a fan of Eva for years anyway, since I was given the first Songbird album 10 years ago.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever portrayed a real person and when I found out I had the job I had two months to prepare.”
Faye immersed herself in Eva’s music, watching her live DVD and looking through her artwork to get inside the character.
Rather than doing a straight-out impression of Eva, Faye says her portrayal is more of an interpretation. She sings in her own voice, but has learned all of Cassidy’s stylistic inflections and has her phrasing down to a tee.
Faye adds: “She died so young and the tragedy is she was just about to be recognised as a major artist. So many people had hopes and dreams for her.
“Some people think she might be so popular because of the sympathy vote but I think she stood up for what she wanted and that’s why she didn’t have a recording career – she didn’t want to compromise.
“She enjoyed herself, did great gigs, met wonderful people and played in some excellent places.
“I don’t know if she would have enjoyed major success anyway. I don’t think she would have enjoyed being famous.”
Faye, of course, would know all about that. She was 21 when Steps shot to the top of the pop ladder with 5,6,7,8 , inspired by the line-dancing craze, in 1997.
Famously, the band was assembled from responses to an ad in The Stage and the single was supposed to be a one-off.
The group hit a chord with the public and the band went on to have hits with tracks such as One For Sorrow, Better Best Forgotten and their signature song, a cover of the Bee Gees’ Tragedy.
The sudden rush of attention took some getting used to.
Faye reveals: “It took me a long time to understand it and get used to it. It happened quite quickly for us and I got really paranoid, didn’t really understand what was going on.
“For a long time I wouldn’t go out unless I had someone I knew with me but I got used to it and now I can understand and deal with it. I’m not thick skinned and I’ve had to learn to be quite hard and take criticism good and bad.
“It was an amazing time, but when you look back you just feel tired. We grafted so hard and took every opportunity, but we were all ambitious and ready and willing to do it. In Steps you were in a bubble, hanging around with your management and drivers – you don’t get to see real people unless they want an autograph or a photograph.”
Since Steps split in 2001, Faye has only returned to the charts once, hitting the top 10 with a duet with English tenor Russell Watson.
She then started moving into the theatre which, she says, changed her professional outlook.
She admits: “I think I’m more open minded and less shy than I was. When you’re working in theatre you’re with a different cast every six months.”
The promise of seeing their Steps idol sing again has lured some former fans into the theatre.
Faye says: “We’ve had quite a few Steps fans. A lot of them have grown up and followed me into theatre.
“One of them saw me in Over the Rainbow and said it’s like I’m all grown up, which was interesting.
“When you run around doing happy, silly shows people assume it’s an extension of the pop group.
“This is the first really serious role I have had, it deals with a delicate subject and it’s nice people recognise that. Steps is where I came from and how people know me. If people know my name and it gets youngsters into the theatre then that’s great.”
Faye’s now much happier with her current status – people know who she is but she’s no longer inside that celebrity bubble and free to do her own thing.
She says: “I’ve been asked to do I’m A Celebrity but I can’t eat bugs and I don’t fancy people throwing spiders at me. It’s fascinating watching it, but I’m not a celebrity type of person.
“Plus, I like my make-up and my hair straighteners too much. It’s not something for me.
“Now I can have a real conversation with people and be normal.
“It’s nice to have a name and pull in the crowds or get a foot in the door, but now I’m loving normality.”
Tickets £15.50-£17.50. Visit www.thesandscentre.co.uk or call 01228 625222.
