PW: What I've found refreshing about working with you is your complete lack of cynicism. The script as it was first passed to me was nearly three times this length and you'd clearly poured heart and soul into it. Throughout our focusing of it I don't think you ever once became frustrated with the process.
MD: Because it's always been a labour of love and when you love your work what is there to be negative about?
PW: Can you explain a little about what you mean by a labour of love?
MD: Well I never set myself the task of writing a musical. Instead it came to me due to two life changing events, the death of my beloved father and a terrible motor bike accident that left me clinging to life. Because I'd always worked in rock music, in bands and later as a performer in rock musicals I suppose it was natural that I began to rationalise my emotions through that medium, especially lying for months in hospital.
PW: That confinement must have exacerbated your feelings about your father death.
MD: It really did and the role fathers play in our lives was one of the elements you encouraged me to focus on.
PW: In a way our central character, Jimmy has two fathers.
MD: Yes, there's his real dad who dies on the day of his birth and therefore becomes a legend it's impossible to compete with, especially since he's not around to offer guidance. Then there's the charismatic but corrupting Miles Mason, who offers Jimmy an easy escape from the pressure to be his father's son. But no matter how estranged we become from our real fathers they're always part of us... either in a spiritual sense or simply through DNA. I think we only become complete in our own right once we make peace with our fathers. That's what Jimmy has to do.
PW: Weightier themes then we usually find in musicals.
MD: Well that's because I never set out to obey all the established rules of musical theatre. I let the piece take me where ever it took me then handed it to you to make sense of.
PW: Another major theme of course is the power of photography, although you’re always keen to say it's the power of photographer.
MD: That's right, the camera itself and the process of capturing an image is merely a tool, it's the intent of the photographer that can make photography such a powerful force for good or bad. Or equally photography can be as benign as the everyday recording of people places and things that mean something to you. But then how benign us it? When you suffer bereavement what was once a snap shot of a casual moment becomes the most vivid way we have of remembering the past. It defines the past.
PW: The corrupt PR guru Miles, recognises that too doesn't he? As he says, those who control the iconic photographs of the last hundred years really dictate how we remember recent history.
MD: That's why he commissions Jimmy to take iconic photographs of the here and now. If he controls the images he controls the narrative.
PW: It becomes clear very early on that Miles is the devil. I love Jimmy’s temptation on the London eye mirroring Christ and the demon on the mountain top. Do you believe in the devil?
MD: A malevolent personification of evil you mean? No, I don’t think so but every one of us is susceptible to temptation, to the attraction of taking the easy way out. Jimmy has to choose between the lonely path through which his photo journalism can be a force for good and an easier life as a paparazzi taking no responsibility for his subjects and exploiting the pain it can cause.
PW: The two women in Jimmy’s life represent that pull.
MD: Exactly. The exploitation of his first love, Pandora leads him to a dark place whilst the influence of the new woman in his life, Tara, gives him the strength to do the right thing and confront his anger towards his father.
PW: Who would you say were your influences as a writer?
MD: No one person especially, I write what I feel.
PW: I knew you were going to say that.
MD: It’s your job to turn it into coherent theatre. You and our wonderful cast and creative team. I'm just having great fun.
EXPOSURE the Musical runs at St James Theatre until August 27th.
An exquisite chamber production of the juggernaut size Broadway musical TITANIC is now playing at the the Charing Cross Theatre.