EXCLUSIVE
HE has joked around with Billy Connolly, had a cup of tea with Joanna Lumley, and Tony Roper made him howl with laughter.
Michael MacDonald, King’s Theatre stage doorkeeper and friend-of-the-stars, could fill a book with his stories of meeting celebrities over the decades.
“I might do that one day,” he says, with a laugh. “People keep telling me to.”
Michael was a janitor at the City Halls in Glasgow when he was ‘sent up the road’ to the King’s to cover a shift because someone was off sick.
“That was 21 years ago and I’m still here,” he says. “I think they forgot about me.
“It’s fine by me, as I love this job.”
As stage doorkeeper, Michael has a long list of responsibilities, including opening up the theatre, handling lost property enquiries (“there are tons during the panto, you wouldn’t believe it,” he shakes his head), ensuring tannoy and radio equipment is charged and monitoring the fire panel.
The best bit of his job, however, is providing a great Glasgow welcome to the array of stars who arrive at the theatre to tread the boards.
“It’s great fun, and I’ve got to meet some real heroes of mine over the years,” smiles Michael, 74, who is from Knightswood.
“My favourite is Billy Connolly.
“He was absolutely fabulous. I’ve been a fan of since I was a wee boy, he’s a legend. He was very nice, too, and chatted away the first time he came. He’s been a few times since, most recently just a couple of years ago.”
“Johnny Beattie was a true gent, and he could tell a story,” smiles Michael.
“I loved meeting Joanna Lumley, too - she was fantastic, so elegant and classy. And Tony Roper was hilarious - he had us all in fits of laughter with the stories he told.”
Former Brookside star and musical theatre performer Claire Sweeney is also a favourite.
“We just chat about football,” smiles Michael. “She’s a big fan.”
US actor Zach Braff, most famous for the hugely successful TV drama Scrubs, was in Glasgow several years ago with a show he wrote himself.
“I think he’s probably the biggest, most globally famous star I have talked to - there were hundreds of fans outside the theatre when he arrived.” says Michael.
“I told him my granddaughter was a big fan of Scrubs and he took time to chat to her when she came to the theatre, it was really kind of him.
None of the theatre’s famous visitors have ever been reluctant to chat, says Michael.
READ MORE: The Glasgow waitress who was serenaded by Tony Bennett
“Celebrities are normal people,” he adds, with a laugh. “They’re often in town for a few nights, and they’ll come out of their dressing rooms to have a chat and relax before the show starts.
“I can’t recall anyone who just wanted to sit in the dressing room and ignore everyone else.”
He grins: “You wouldn’t get away with that in Glasgow anyway.”
Which famous faces have you spotted in Glasgow? Have you met any celebrities in the city?
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