Michael D Xavier

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS, The Sherman Brothers’ classic song, sung by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the classic 1964 Disney film, was buzzing in my head as I met one of the actors in the Mary Poppins musical this week.

Michael D Xavier told me about his MX Masterclass acting school, and the bursaries for scholarships he is offering to disadvantaged children. The original musical, a Cameron Mackintosh production, ran from 2004-2008 in the Prince Edward Theatre before coming back by popular demand.

And I remember the legendary Andrews visiting visiting the show as a star guest back in 2005. She gave a speech recalling her own memories and praising the then cast for their new interpretation.

“Can you imagine the joy and memories that this has brought back to me?” Andrews said during her speech, turning to the cast to add: “Now the future lies in your hands. You have got to carry the torch from now on. Come to Broadway. Wow them all. I will be waiting.”

The show returned to the Prince Edward in 2019, running through the Covid years until its final performance in 2023. Since then it has been on tour around the world and also in this country.

Xavier, who plays the main antagonist George “Mr” Banks in the show, told me that in 14 years since founding MX Masterclass, the industry has changed profoundly.

“When I first started the classes there was a waiting list to get in, people were knocking the door down to get in. But since Brexit we have sadly lost the international students. Then there was the pandemic and luckily we managed to continue online, but at the time I had thought it may be the end of the business.

“After the lockdown happened there was the cost of living crisis making it really difficult for people to afford the cost of the course. The ideal dream is I win the lottery and get to run the school for free. That’s the dream but, of course, it’s a business and it has to function.”

Xavier spoke of the impact social media was having on the arts industry, particularly the use of TikTok. He said: “People think if they nail a song online they may be signed. But what we’re about at Masterclass is instilling that longevity idea, that you work hard now to get these basic skills and it will give them a long career for the rest of their lives. But if you don’t get these skills at this age, you might be an influencer thrust onto a West End stage because you’ve got a million followers; but you’ll very quickly learn that it’s not an easy industry and doing eight shows a week is not easy to sustain. It’s one thing doing videos in your bedroom but it’s developing a mindset to be able to cope.”

And he said he loved to support the next generation of actors. He told me: “One of my favourite things is being able to support kids who need these scholarships because they are the people that, because of their lives, value it the most and give it their all. There’s a different mentality when finance is difficult and a different investment these students give because they know how hard it is to succeed in the industry.”

He added: “I have given scholarships since day dot and I think of all the students that have come through our doors, now working in the industry.”

Children are taught under the supervision of West End and Broadway stars. Recent alumni include Emily Carer, star of Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, and singer Asha Banks.

MX Masterclass, close to Regent’s Park, runs four different 10-week courses. The free taster day and audition is on September 14
https://mxmasterclass.com/