Martin Smith

[martinsmithfan]

Greetings everyone!

My name is Brady Love. I run a website dedicated to the memory of Martin Smith, the talented West End performer who died tragically in 1994:
inmemoryofmartinsmith.weebly.com

I'm sure I've got no need to say more on who he is on this board as he is remembered quite fondly in the West End :)

I was wondering, did anyone here ever see him in any of his shows, and would be willing to share comments/reviews on the website? I have a page for fan memories/reviews and I'd love to be able to add more to it :)

----Also *hate to bring this up here* I'm very keen to find as much footage/audio of him in his roles that I can (specifically Phantom), so if there's anything I'm missing (I've got the Evita audios and the Les Miserables/City Of Angels videos) please let me know, it'd be a huge help for the multi-media page on the website :)----

Thank you all so much for helping me out :)

~Brady

[keithp]

He was. A talented performer .Two memories - his wonderful performance in Edinburgh in the UK premiere of King of Hearts - a charming performance in a lovely show. And also in Edinburgh when was MD for Sally Ann Howes at an Aids fundraiser.

[TBFL]

Video footage of Martin in Phantom is like the holy grail for some people!! I wonder if any actually exists as he was only in the show for a short time. My mum was a huge fan of his in crossroads, so we queued for day seats to see him. I dont remember much about his performance, but i remember being surprised when he was asked to leave the show. A huge talent, much missed. The audio of him singing Sands of Time in Stiles/Drewe's Tutankhamun is beautiful.

[martinsmithfan]

As of now no audios or videos of him in the show. The only thing out there is 4 images.
Depressing, I'm don't know how much longer I can go without hearing him in the role lol

[ukpuppetboy]

Brady

I just registered so i could post to this - something i'd sworn not to do as most posts on here just simply make me angry. But.

I met Martin Smith when i was an obsessive child phantom fanboy! He was such a lovely human being with the nicest smile i could shed a tear now just thinking about it. Apparently his Phantom wasn't amazing though, but i will stand corrected. His recording of Without You (Children of Eden OLC) quite clearly WAS and then he went on to just blow my friggin mind in City of Angels.

If i can get hold of a Phantom recording i'll let you know.

And well done. He's a legend well deserving of your efforts.

[philitalia]

What a nice initiative.
Just visited the website and it looks really good. Unfortunately I can't help you with your request.
Good luck !!

[Scripps2]

"And well done. He's a legend well deserving of your efforts."

Agreed.

I saw him in Peg and the Handful of Keys CD is one of my favourite male vocalist albums.

As a gay teenager, I thought he was gorgeous in Crossroads. I can remember reading an interview with him in a newspaper at the time when he spoke of how he was once in the Royal Variety Performance and, seeing himself dancing on the TV screening of it, decided he was overweight and needed to firm up. He certainly had done so by the time he got the role in Crossroads.

[ukpuppetboy]

I too just got a chance to look at your site. Really nice work.

Currently listening to World Without You which I always loved, and very excited to watch the video of Funny which used to send chills down my spine. That and his Double Talk were the best bits of a great show for me.. Oh and "You Can Always Count on Me"..

[ukpuppetboy]

Hi Bardy

Just had a lovely email back from Cameron Mackintosh's office in London and that pretty much confirms what you already knew so sorry I couldn't help. I may have one other avenue available but as far as the producers say:

"Unfortunately we do not have any footage of him during his run.

Any photographs taken during this period would have been by Clive Barda and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd do not hold the copyright for them, nor duplicates. In order to potentially obtain something you would need to contact ArenaPal. ArenaPal are a specialist theatre photo library and I believe they hold at least two shots of Martin Smith as the Phantom, and may also hold further images of him that would be of interest to you and Brady Love. Should you wish to contact them, their details are below.

ArenaPAL - 0207 403 8542"

Good luck.

[ukpuppetboy]

*Brady

(sorry)

[martinsmithfan]

Thanks for emailing them, also remember that an audio will do just fine, as I actually know for sure they have plenty of soundboards of Phantom, and some with Martin Smith.
Thanks, and good luck :)