Michael is having the time of his life

His chiselled features were more likely to be found in the scrum than on the stage once he’d left college.

“I was semi-pro,” he says. “I played at the Exeter Chiefs academy. I was playing for the Irish Exiles as well at the time. But I just completely changed path. I was fortunate enough to be taken on the Lord of the Flies project with Matthew Bourne and that changed everything. Matthew was a massive influence on me. I learned so much and decided to change course.

“Initially, I never even thought about dancing. I did break dancing classes because I thought the tricks were cool but that was as close as I got. So becoming a dancer and leading the cast is remarkable, really. All my life, I thought I was going to go and play rugby. It’s funny how something like that chance meeting with Matthew Bourne can literally change your life.”

Sir Matthew is, of course, widely hailed as the UK’s most popular and successful choreographer and director. For over 30 years he has been creating and directing dance for musicals, theatre, film as well as his own highly successful, award-winning companies.

He is the creator of the world’s longest running ballet production and has been recognised by numerous international awards. He was knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2016 for services to dance, and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award – one of the most coveted honours in the world of dance – in recognition of his outstanding services to the art of ballet. He is also the reason why O’Reilly will feature as Johnny Castle at the Grand.

“It’s great. All the time, every day, I’m pinching myself. Not only am I lucky to do this for a living and get paid but I get a role like Johnny. I was playing rugby five years ago. Now I’m playing the lead role. Lucky me.”

Dirty Dancing is set in the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing. On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, she shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters.

rhythms

Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle the resort dance instructor. Her life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off, and two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage features hit songs including ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and the heart-stopping ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’.

Many favourite originals help to blend the movie soundtrack seamlessly into the stage show, including ‘Cry To Me’ by the larger-than-life rhythm & blues singer Solomon Burke, the No.1 hit single ‘Hey! Baby’ by Bruce Channel and ‘These Arms of Mine’, Otis Redding’s first solo record. Other artists featured include Gene Chandler, The Chantels, The Drifters, Marvin Gaye, Lesley Gore, Mickey & Sylvia, The Surfaris and Django Reinhardt.

O’Reilly was keen to be a part of the show when he heard it was being cast.

“I remember getting the audition to go in for ensemble because I really wanted to be part of the show. We were going through the rounds and I was chatting with my agent. Over the course of the week, the agent said I was in the running to play Johnny. I had no intention of playing Johnny. I didn’t think I’d even get a look in. So when I got the call and they made the offer, there wasn’t anything to think about.

“I’d just graduated college in July. Normally you work your way up and understudy and so on. I was really fortunate that I was what they were looking for.”