‘There are some days where you fly out of bed and others where you get very emotional’

Ex Hawks’ star Shane Crawford has revealed he has “good days and bad days” following the death of his brother, Justin, in July.

Shane Crawford with his brother Justin, who died suddenly in July 2022.

Shane Crawford knows well the machinations of teamwork.

He played 305 games for Hawthorn, including the Hawks’ 2008 flag-winning team.

Crawford is also a Brownlow medallist.

Fast forward to 2022, following careers in media, broadcasting, as an author, and a side hustle raising $2m for breast cancer causes, and Crawford, 48, has joined another squad.

He will play the Pharaoh in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat — his first-ever musical theatre role.

The show opens at the Regent Theatre on November 11.

“There are so many similarities to footy,” Crawford says during a break in rehearsals at a Southbank studio. “Everyone is working toward the same goal, which is to be a good team. But here, it’s about putting on a good performance.”

Shane Crawford, Euan Fistrovic-Doidge and Paulini star in Joseph and the Amazing Techniclour Dreamcoat. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

While his prowess on Melbourne’s big stage, the MCG, is a proven fact, Crawford is stunned by the agility of so-called “swings” - performers who are prepared to play multiple parts in the show, sometimes with only a moment’s notice.

“There are some who take on seven or eight different roles, and they can adapt. In footy, you can play a few different roles, no worries, but not seven or eight,” Crawford says.

“That just blows my mind.”

The musical, based on the story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, follows the journey of a dreamer. After Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, his ability to interpret dreams grants him favour with the Pharaoh, a ruler with rock star flair.

Indeed, celebrities have often been cast in leading roles in Joseph on the West End, including Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, and the late Boyzone singer star, Stephen Gately. Donovan, who played Joseph in 1991, returned to the London production this year to play Pharaoh.

Asked if Joseph was tailor made for pop stars, Lloyd Webber says: “Not specifically. It’s a matter of who’s about, really.

“Jason Donovan was my idea, and he was fantastic, a bulls eye. It was perfect timing on both sides — right place, right time — and he was ready to take on the challenge.”

Euan Fistrovic Doidge as Joseph and Paulini as the narrator rehearsing for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Picture: Chris Pavlich Photography

When Lloyd Webber spoke to the Herald Sun, Pharaoh had not been cast for the new Australian production. “The original idea of Pharaoh was Elvis. But it doesn’t have to be that at all. I have nothing to do with (casting), but my advice with casting Pharaoh would be to go all-out.”

The show’s producers, Tim Lawson, Michael Harrison Entertainment and The Really Useful Company, asked Crawford to audition for the Pharaoh role in May and June.

Pharaoh performs three songs in the show. Crawford tried out for the role, via Skype, for a panel based in London and New York.

He performed Song of the King with a musical director, then humbly told the team: “Thank you very much. That’s me. That’s all I’ve got. You can work with me and train me, and I’ll put everything into it, but I don’t have any more than that.”

A week later, Crawford was told he had the role.

But in July, as he committed to the musical, his younger brother Justin died suddenly.

A former Sydney and Hawthorn AFL footballer, Justin was 45.

“You have good days and bad days,” Crawford says. “There are some days where you fly out of bed, and others where you get very emotional, and give yourself a kick in the backside.

“I’m not superhuman,” he says. “But being part of a new challenge has definitely helped me jump back into life.”

With Joseph, Crawford is starting from scratch.

“It definitely keeps you on your toes. The first day, I ripped the Band Aid off, and sang in front of everybody,” Crawford says. “It was a shock. But I just thought, ‘Get into it!’

“There are a huge breakout days where you really fly forward, then times where you feel you’ve gone backwards. I’m being challenged all the time, but that’s why I took this on.

“I very much feel like a first year AFL footballer trying to improve myself in every possible area. But sometimes,” Crawford sighs, “it doesn’t flow so well.”

He says the biggest challenge is learning to trust himself.

Shane Crawford with his brother Justin as young children.

“You rehearse all day, then you go away. You take it home, rehearse it in your own little space, come back the next day, and it will go in a different direction like, ‘We’re going to change this, or move that, or this could be better.’ I’ve never worked like that before. It amazes me.

“But everyone here has the skill and ability to chop and change. They tell me, once we get on stage and start rehearsing at the theatre, things will change again. And I’m just thinking to myself quietly, ‘Oh no.’”

Crawford is working with a singing coach at the VCA, and credits producer and director Peter Faiman for teaching him how to perform on camera. Faiman, who worked on Crocodile Dundee, was a mentor during Crawford’s Footy Show days.

He says: “(Faiman) taught me to launch in and be myself. He told me, ‘Trust yourself and be yourself. But also let things breathe a bit.’”

Crawford’s role is minor compared to the show’s leads Joseph, played by Euan Fistrovic Doidge, and The Narrator, played by Paulini Curuenavuli.

But Curuenavuli reveals Crawford’s humorous take on Pharaoh is a winner.

“You can tell it’s coming from an honest place,” she says.

“He’s not from the musical theatre world, but watching the transition, you can see the rawness of it all. I knew he would be good, but Shane has gone above and beyond what I expected.

“His comedic take on Pharaoh blends nicely into who he is. He really shines.”

However, not everyone sees it that way.

In August, Crawford’s foray into theatre, was criticised by some in the arts sector.

Crawford is trying to “jump back into life” with his musical theatre stint, following his brother’s tragic death in July this year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Melbourne-based composer Samantha Andrew told The Age: “It sends such a disheartening message to performers who have dedicated their lives to this industry, battled through all the heartbreaking steps to even get into an audition room, and then you see these roles going to someone who played AFL once.

“Hawthorn isn’t signing Lucy Durack, it’s offensive to the industry in that it’s essentially saying, ‘Oh no, you don’t need the training to do this; anyone can do it.’”

Comedian Tanya Hennessy said on Instagram: “Let’s cast performers in these roles who work, train, sacrifice and give their lives to the arts. Can I join a professional AFL team with no training or experience?”

Crawford is not fazed by the criticism. “That’s life,” he says. “Everyone can have their opinion, and I agree (with some of the comments). But I’ve done a lot of work for a long time ... to at least get myself opportunities.

“It doesn’t scare me off, At the end of the day, if an opportunity is presented, you have to think: ‘Can I do the role that’s required? Can I fulfil what’s needed?’

He smiles brightly: “I’m thinking, Yeah, I can do this!’”

Crawford hopes his showbiz detour inspires others to consider a life on the stage.

“I hope it breaks down the barriers for AFL footballers who want to go on and do something different. Life is all about having a go,” Crawford says. “Who knows? Paddy Dangerfield might be the next one to get on the stage.

“I hope footballers aren’t going to be scared off by doing something different, especially if they’ve got a passion for it.”

He added: “I’ve always been someone who’s tried things. This is daunting and nerve racking. Footy wasn’t. The Grand Final wasn’t because I knew if I matched my work ethic with all the training I’d done, it would be OK. Things would work out.

“Whereas, here,” Crawford says, looking around the rehearsal space, “I’m working so hard. I’m scared, I’m intimidated, but it’s exhilarating, and I feel so alive.”