MARTI Webb is a world-renowned singer. Her career, spanning several decades, has seen her play the lead role in some of the most popular musicals in history including Evita, Cats and Tell Me On A Sunday. Now the superstar is coming to Dartford to perform in a celebration of the best of the West End called the Magic of the Musicals. Leisuretime caught up with her to see how the preparations were going.

What is your favourite aspect of the Magic of the Musicals?

It has to be the lyrics. Without the words it would just be a tune. The lyrics are the most important thing, especially with a musical because nine times out of 10 it will actually tell you a story or further it on.

Why is Magic of the Musicals special to you?

Because I get to sing songs by characters I'd never be cast for! The most obvious one are the songs from Miss Saigon, I will never be Miss Saigon for obvious reasons!

Are they songs you particularly love?

Yes, and we pick songs which are prevalent at the moment. We try to keep the show up to date. We are including songs from Kiss Me Kate, The King & I and Carousel, which have been very successful recently. But we also keep the old favourites in from Evita and Cats and of, course, Take That Look Off Your Face from Tell Me On A Sunday. We always have people who ask "Why didn't you play this or that?" and the answer is "Because we would be here all night!" But we have a really tight repertoire this time with something for everyone.

Tell us about how The Magic of the Musicals started?

I started it. I've been with the show for most of the 10 years it has been running. It is always fun to do different versions of the show each time it is performed. Even now, starting off the brand-new tour, we will have changed some numbers because it's an on-going performance, which is so exciting.

Will the audience be coming to a completely new production?

Yes, completely new. We will be doing the Les Miserables and Evita sections because they go down so well but we also try and do a taster section for shows which have been on in America but not in Britain yet. We'll be doing a little bit of Tim Rice's Aida, by Elton John, because there are some great songs in it last time we did Circle of Life, from the Lion King, before it had opened and it went down a storm.

What's your favourite song or show?

I can't say I have one. It all depends on how you feel because they are all so different. To be honest, you can't compare songs side-by-side because there are so many different types. That's the beauty of Magic of the Musicals, it brings in all the different types of songs and music to show how big the spectrum is.

Leisuretime hears one of its favourite songs Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is in?

That's right, it's just about to open in the West End. It's a bit like Lion King though because people have already seen the film so they have an idea of the songs, which means we will have great fun with it!

Tell us about your co-star.

Robert Meadmore has been a friend for years. We worked together on a charity show several years ago and our friendship started there. We did the Magic of the Musicals together in Denmark and it has grown from there. Our voices go very well together and I think our genuine friendship comes across on stage.

What can the audience expect from Magic of the Musicals?

There's something for everybody in the show songs they will know, songs they will love and songs they would like to know better. Mainly they will be entertained, after all that's what we're here for!

- Marti Webb stars in the Magic of the Musicals with Robert Meadmore at the Orchard Theatre, Home Gardens, Dartford, on Tuesday, March 5. Tickets cost £16.50, call 01322 220000.