Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to write a quick note to say a big thank you for all of your concern.
Today, I should have been re-opening the Jesus Christ Superstar Tour in probably the biggest night of my career to date, in the USA arena tour. For reasons still unknown, it was cancelled very last minute a week ago.
I was obviously devastated . I have waited for almost a year for this amazing opportunity to start, turning down many other great opportunities and have also planned my life around this job. The feeling of shell shock when we were told the news is one I will never EVER forget.
I am also most upset for a brilliant cast of beautiful and talented people who also put there lives on hold. Changing wedding plans,turning down long contracts and West End shows because the promise of this wonderful opportunity was so exciting. Not forgetting all the crew and management and also the amazing Andrew Lloyd Webber who had dreamt of this arena tour happening for such a long time. It was a huge blow for us all.
BUT! We are all brilliant and resilient. We are often let down in this business, maybe not so publicly or in such big profile but most auditions and jobs end very quickly. Not that this is easy to deal with but we become strong about it as performers. We love what we do and are lucky enough to call this a job. Yes there are times when we feel beat up and used which consequently makes us question why we live this unstable sometimes ruthless life. And it is simply because we LOVE performing and what we do. For every ten weeks of stress and self questioning we live one special moment and hopefully inspire others to take risks and live wonderful lives in “show business”. That being said I do call for a revolution for stronger union rules and laws supporting actors contractual rights, but that’s a whole other blog.
I don’t want to seem like I am dwelling on this USA let down. I can never look back at anything to do with JCS with a negative eye. You all gave me such an awesome opportunity when you voted for me to play the role on Superstar. I have done things and been places I couldn’t have dreamt of. It really feels like I lived a movie when I look back. I am eternally grateful to everyone involved and everyone who supported me throughout, both in the UK, Australia and all over the world. I am a very lucky person. To stand on the stage in the arenas we performed at and live that ‘Gethsemane’ moment so many times is enough. It was a moment I had dreamt about.
So!!! Anyways.
I am sitting by the pool in a wonderfully posh hotel in New Orleans about to say goodbye to this amazing journey. And I just want to say thank you. To all of YOU. To Andrew and all at the Really Useful Group. To all involved at ITV . To Lee Morgan . To Lawrence Connor . To David Grindrod. To all my friends. and all the people I’ve worked with over the years who have all taught me different things. My life wouldn’t be the same without you all. Seems a bit over the top but it seems a good time to do this. I’m about to put this all to bed and move onto the next great opportunity. I hope we all have fun and enjoy our crazy lives together for a long time to come. You all continue to inspire me.

Love

Ben

Well hello everyone!!

Its been a while since I last blogged. I am sitting here in front of a nice cosy fire in my cottage in Cumbria, dwelling on the last 4 months in awe at what I’ve just been through!

It really has been a crazy year and a half, but the last few months have been most fantastic and I feel so lucky to have been the leading man in my very own life. Sometimes it does feel like a strange musical or movie! Ha!

After returning from the epic arena tour of Australia I had to get prepared to go back into The Rocky Horror Show. I had an absolute blast this year with Rocky Horror. I love playing Brad. He really holds a special place in my heart. I love being able to be goofy and funny. I also loved being in all the different cities around the UK that I got to visit, like Darlington, near my home town and then the most English of them all, Canterbury. What a lovely surprise it was. I had never thought to go there. I really loved it . The little waterways within the city and the gondola boats. I would recommend a nice little trip there to anyone.

Then, suddenly I blink and I’m 10 weeks on and we are ready to do Jesus Christ Superstar UK. AGAIN!! I mean how lucky am I?? This time around I enjoyed it even more than the last. I was healthy and felt fit to give 100% every night.

It was also so nice to be able to release my new album at the arenas, which I had been working on over the summer. I did signings in most of the UK arenas and it was brilliant to meet so many of you guys out on the road. It really warms my soul to know how much you all love the shows and appreciate all the hard work we all put in. Sorry If I covered most of you in fake blood from my wig!!

So it seems lots of you like the new album. I was nervous about doing Vol.2 but I am so glad I did. It’s lovely to sing those songs and each time try to capture the most magic possible within the recording. I feel like lots of you get where I’m coming from . Its weird sometimes as I feel like the concept of a cover album can be so cheesy or cheap. But I adore this kind of music and as long as you guys do I will keep recording the series……here’s to VOL.3,4,5,6!! Lol! You’ll all be sick of them by then!!!

Of course I finished JCS on the Tuesday night and was back in Brad’s shoes on the Wednesday. This was one of the weirdest few days of my life!! I didn’t know where or who I was! Lol! Ben, Brad, Jesus.. whattt!!! Anyway! I got through it and I am glad I did I had the most wonderful time for the last few weeks with all the Rocky gang. I adore them! It was very sad to finish it. Its such a weird business that we live in, “Showbiz”. We are always making a new family and friends and then for no reason, apart from the end of a contract, it just all finishes….. hopefully the friendships will remain but nevertheless I will miss all the people I work with.

For now I am relaxing in my cottage, eating nice food drinking lots of wine and snuggling in with log fires. Life is good. I am off to Spain next week, just to get some sun and when I get back I’m in the studio recording. Watch this space …….

I am really pleased to introduce my shop! See the page link above. And the reveal of my new 2014 Calendar!! It’s a back stage pass to my night at the O2 London this year. I thought it may be interesting for you guys to see what happens and what goes on backstage. I am going to sign all copies of the calendar. Please order it ASAP if you want it as there are a limited number available.

I am excited to tell you all what is next. Next year is going to be so exciting! I will tell you soon I promise!

I LOVE and ADORE you guys. Thank you for your endless support.

Love and Luck

Ben.

xxxxxxx

After hundreds of enquiries from young talented people via my website, at stage doors and in the street. I have teamed up with industry insider and my wonderful P.A Alysonne Collins to bring you this article to round up what you have to think about. its tougher than its ever been out the in the showbiz world I hope this helps and answers some of your questions.

Ben Forster & Alysonne Collins

A career in showbusiness! It’s the ultimate dream for so many but reality for a lucky few. How do they get there? Where do you begin? How do you know if you’re good enough? And what’s it really like trying to earn a living in the most competitive market place ever?

Most people start somewhere close to home. It might be a local dancing school……….or a drama club……………………or a school production. Lots of “normal” schools now have performing arts status, which means they receive extra government money to fund performing arts programmes. If you go to a local dance school, you might be able to take recognized dance exams which can help you gain entry into professional schools later on. A few 11-16 year olds take the plunge of going to a full-time professional school, but there is very little funding available for this age group and with fees averaging 3000 per term it’s not a cheap option. More private local schools have now expanded their classes from just dance to include acting and singing classes, but if you’re looking for specialised singing tuition you will probably need to find an ex-professional for solo coaching – and that can also be expensive.

So what if you’ve reached 14 or 15 and decided you really want to push for a career in the business? Firstly, you need to be very aware that this is the most over-crowded profession in the world. The brutal truth is that there are relatively few paid jobs in the business and each one is being chased by a big group of talented hopefuls. You will be lucky to get paid work at all……………………and becoming well-known and well-paid only happens for a handful of the people who train. Casting directors can afford to be very, very fussy as they know they have literally dozens to choose from for every role.

If you are still determined, you must be realistic. Being honest about your strengths and weaknesses can help you pinpoint where you are likely to get work and not waste time trying to be something you are not. If you can’t dance very well you don’t audition for Cats!! Nowadays, if you audition in musical theatre, you will be expected to be what is known in the business as a “triple threat” – in other words, someone who can sing, dance and act. This is a big ask, and while most people are strongest in one thing, you will need to be really versatile and competent across the board.

Some colleges offer BTEC courses in Performing Arts or Dance, at Levels 1-5. These can be a useful starting point, although many BTEC students then opt for additional training at one of the specialist professional schools. For those who are 18+, some universities offer a variety of performing/theatre arts courses. These are three year degree courses which vary widely in content, and some are more practical than others but you need to remember two things. Firstly, most of these are heavy on the theory side of things, and if you need to take out a student loan to cover the cost (and most people do), you will leave university with a large debt that has to be repaid.

If you have the talent and the determination, a better option may be to try for one of the specialist professional schools. There are nineteen of them across the country, the list can be found on the Government website below. Again, their courses vary, with some specialising in dance, others in acting or musical theatre. Some schools offer a variety of different courses under one college “umbrella”. Here you are likely to get a more practical course which focuses on learning your craft – although all courses nowadays require you to do some theory work. The one great advantage of the professional schools is that they offer a limited amount of funded scholarships in the form of DaDA awards. If you get an award, you can do your course with financial help from the Government and you don’t have to pay the money back. Scholarships are awarded by the schools and are means tested – in other words, the less income your family has, the higher the amount of money you get. A total family income of less than 21,000 per year entitles you to full funding. And with average course fees now standing at about 14,000 a year, that’s a lot of money over the three year course!

Sounds good? Here’s the down side. Competition for DaDAs (Dance and Drama Awards) is cut-throat. There is a limited pot of money, and the schools can afford to be fussy………they audition thousands and thousands of hopefuls each year. You will need to be outstanding among the crowd. But the funding is there for a lucky few! It might be you!

Finally, be aware that some students manage to squeeze money for training from charities/trusts/local businesses, although very rarely the substantial amounts needed. And if you have chosen a particular professional school, it’s always worth asking if they have any kind of internal funding/scholarship scheme – many do. Look on the websites below for further funding information.

If you are completely determined to get into training, by whichever route, you will need to do some serious research. Below are some links which can help you to work your way through the maze of options out there.

For details about the Dance and Drama Awards and a full list of schools that offer them: www.education.gov.uk

For information relating to dance courses and training: www.cdet.org.uk

For information relating to drama course and training: www.dramauk.co.uk

For information relating to BTEC Performing Arts courses: www.edexcel.com/subjects/BTEC-Performing-Arts

Hi everybody!

SO sorry it’s been a while since the last blog update – but those of you who have been following this amazing journey I’ve been on will know that I’ve been to the other side of the world and back! I’m still stunned by the fantastic experience that was the Jesus Christ Superstar Australian tour and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.

Well, the tour opened in Perth and I got off to the best possible start by bumping right into a kangaroo on my early morning jog!! It doesn’t get any more Australian than that! Perth is a lovely city and we had the kind of sunny winter weather we can only dream about back home. The audiences were just fantastic, such an enthusiastic response and we had great reviews. Then off to Adelaide and unfortunately this was a low spot for me. I had been fighting a throat infection and not winning. On doctor’s orders I was forced to miss two performances……….almost an unknown experience for me and a huge disappointment. But Rory (my understudy) did a cracking job and with rest I was able to look forward to Sydney.

Wow! What a place! My hotel room had a stunning view and we were greeted with open arms. Wonderful audiences who really helped me through the challenge of playing the role five times in less than fifty five hours. . I need to take a moment here to say thank you to all the Australian fans who came to see Superstar. Your warmth and support was truly amazing and I don’t think any of us in the cast will ever forget it.

Next stop Brisbane and yet another wonderful warm Oz welcome. We also found time to go to the Australia zoo, and met everything from elephants to a very scary snake! I also got to spend more time with Mel C, and we were both sorry to say goodbye to Andrew O’Keefe who left the show here – we missed him! Have to say Leon was fabulous and gave us great shows. Melbourne proved the point yet again! While I was there, I went to the world premiere of King Kong, another unforgettable experience!! I don’ t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. The special effects were truly extraordinary, and I’d like to say a huge well done to Esther Hannaford. This girl has electric presence and a beautiful voice – check her out on YouTube. And you can’t leave Australia without a trip to Ramsey Street! Thanks to all those who offered me a VIP tour around the Neighbours studios. I really enjoyed seeing all the stuff we’ve seen on the tele brought to life.

We finished back in Brisbane with a wonderful last show and last night party. I was definitely in need of a bit of R and R by this point and I found just the place. Ten days in Noosa gave me a chance to really chill out and enjoy what Australia has to offer. Two magical days dolphin and whale-watching and another day swimming in Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island. The water there is supposed to have health and cosmetic properties………well. I’m not sure if I looked any better, but I certainly felt marvelous!

So there it is. Five crazy, irreplaceable weeks. I’ve got a laptop full of photos, but more importantly, a head full of very precious memories. Thank you Australia. And thank you to everyone of you who voted for me on Superstar and made all this possible.

But in this business we never stand still! I’ve now rejoined the lovely cast of the Rocky Horror Show tour. It will be great to be with the gang again and I’m loving working with the stunning Dani Harmer who will be Janet to my Brad. I’ll be on stage for the week in Darlington, starting July 23rd, and then we are taking it all over the country. Check out dates and venues on

www.rockyhorror.co.uk, and then come and see the show and join in the fun!! Don’t forget your suspenders!!

I can’t sign off without saying the biggest thank you to Kimberley Walsh for inviting me to sing with her at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Rays Of Sunshine concert. What a place to sing! An amazing afternoon on stage with great talent!! Watch out too for some more interesting news about autumn/winter 2013/14. My lips are sealed at the moment. But one thing I can say for sure – the Superstar team will be back on the road in October for the second UK tour. Dates and venues at www.jesuschristsuperstar.com. Hopefully we’ll see you at an arena near you!

Love and luck to you all,

Hi,

So i asked some of my followers on Twitter and Facebook to leave some thoughts and reviews of my new album. I was so please with the massive response!!

To all those who left a review Thank you guys!

This is for your reading.. if you haven’t yet got your copy this may give you a better idea of what you’ll get.

Paul James

Few artistes would be as brave as Ben Forster to make an album where the voice is absolutely paramount. No technical enhancements, no band or orchestral effects, no boosted microphone that makes a solo performer sound like a chorus. Just his voice, a guitar and nothing else. For some this could have been a recipe for disaster. For Ben it is a total triumph.

This is a back to basics album, which is fresh, seductive, and shows off the purity of Ben’s voice. The vocal range is amazing and you can hear every single lyric. Some tracks, such as ‘Somewhere Only We know’ and ‘Trouble’ are haunting and so sensitively sung, The bonus track ‘She’s Out Of My Life’ is one of the best versions of that song I have ever heard. It has become a cliché these days, but Ben really has made these songs “his own”.

The whole album is moving, emotional, sensual, and extremely soothing to listen to. In some ways it is deceptively simple, because it would be so easy to forget the years of experience behind it and the honing of raw, natural talent. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make singing appear so effortless.

What is so exciting about this album is that it is Ben’s first. Since this was made, we all saw through the Superstar programme how much he grew and developed. Album number two should be even more incredible!

PAUL JAMES
Author & Journalist

Bonnie Britain

Love this Album so much each song is heart felt and sang with raw emotion. sand out song for me is Trouble, but each song is stupendously wonderful. Bens soulful voice pulls at my heart every time i play it. This album will be staying on my ipod for a long time to come. Ben has made each of the songs his own and unique, they are all such a nice tribute to the originals. In some cases better than them, as i can really feel the lyrics. Can not recommend this Album highly enough.
If you fancy a good cry or just want to hear a beautiful soulful voice sing his heart out - this ones for you.

Philippe Flück

Hi Ben! The CD made it’s way to Switzerland. Thank you for your kind words. So much emotions while listen to it. It’s simply beautiful and sensitive.

Marianne Lait

Hi Ben
Received my signed CD a few days ago and have listened to it over and over and over. Fast Car & Trouble are my favourites but they are all beautiful songs sung to perfection. What a fantastic album that shows your voice off perfectly with none of the enhanchments of backing singers and musicians just your voice and the guitar. The public made a perfect choice in voting for you to play Jesus in the new Jesus Christ Superstar Show. How about about your next album doing some of the songs that you preformed on “Superstar” that would just be just perfect as they were also beautiful especially “Run”. Hope you enjoy the whole process of your new adventure and wish you every success with the show.
I would recommend this CD to anyone that enjoyed listening to you on the show, you really will not be disappointed. Buy it NOW!!!
Take care, Marianne

Angela Tebay

Beautifully simple album. I love the fact you can make out every word Ben sings, not true of many of the originals, songs have so much more meaning when you know what’s been sung about!! I really need to take the cd out of my car just so I don’t fall asleep at the wheel! Well done Ben on a fabulous album.

Sophie ‘hatter’ Dewes

I have never heard music soooo soothing in all my life. trouble is by far my favourite