“A raw and intimate look at the making of a West End leading man”
At Crazy Coqs, House Seats with Henry Patterson offers an intimate and honest evening of conversation and performance, as Henry Patterson sits down with West End performer Ian McIntosh to explore the journey behind a remarkable career.
Currently starring as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, McIntosh reflects on the experiences that have shaped him, both on and off the stage. What makes this format particularly compelling is its simplicity: a conversation interwoven with live performance, allowing the audience to understand and experience his talent firsthand. McIntosh spoke about being drawn to melody above all else, describing how the emotional pull of music has guided his connection to roles such as Valjean.
The evening is at its strongest when McIntosh shares his personal story. Coming from a working-class background, he spoke candidly about initially training to become an electrician at 16 before finding his way to drama school. His early experiences performing in school productions revealed a natural vocal talent, but his path was far from straightforward. In a moment of vulnerability, he discussed stepping away from musical theatre after being bullied, as well as the challenges he faced during training including being held back a year at drama school to develop his acting skills.
These reflections gave greater weight to the career milestones that followed. McIntosh recounted his breakthrough moment stepping into a leading role in Rock of Ages, having initially been an alternate, and the significance of receiving his first Olivier Award nomination. Throughout the evening, he performed songs from across his career, including selections from Cabaret, The Commitments and Les Misérables, each delivered with both technical strength and emotional sincerity.
Patterson proves to be an assured and thoughtful host, creating space for both humour and honesty. The result is a deeply personal evening that goes beyond performance, offering insight into the resilience, vulnerability and determination required to build a life in theatre.
See future events at Crazy Coqs here.