Elaine Paige prepares for the final curtain in 50th anniversary celebration

Elaine Paige reflects on her 50 years on stage ahead of her farewell tour.

Never has Elaine Paige deliberated over the name of a tour quite so much as she did this latest one.

The insertion of the word she was at pains over would bring finality to one part of a career that’s exceeded all her expectations.

In the end, she opted to say farewell, and that’s why her current UK tour will now be her last.

“I made the decision to add the word, and that’s a very big decision to make,” admitted Elaine, 66.

“I laboured over it for some time, about whether I wanted to say ‘farewell’ out loud. Should I leave the door open for myself? But I feel it’s freed me up and I really do mean it, although I’ll still do one-off shows.”

Making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16, means she is celebrating 50 years in the business.

Such a landmark anniversary prompted her to look back at an amazing career that’s taken in theatre, television acting, broadcasting and several hit albums.

“It did make me reflect,” she continued. “To even say it is amazing. That’s a long time to do something, but it’s been 50 glorious years. It’s like another person when I look through the old photos and footage.

“It is another person, because it was a lifetime ago. I loved it all, and would do it all again and more tomorrow.”

So why call it a day on touring?

“It’s one of those things that creeps up on you. The travelling is tiring, going from A to B. I thought, ‘Why do I keep doing this?’

“I want to sleep in my own bed. I’m not getting any younger so it’s now time to pull back. The thing about what I do, my area of the industry, is it’s physically demanding. Singing, dancing, acting it’s all about energy and stamina.”

That’s why Britain’s Queen of Musical Theatre is also taking a step back from the West End.

“You do eight shows a week and it takes a lot of that energy and stamina.

“If I was going to do something, it would have to be suitable for me as I am now. I could not, for example, play Gypsy. It’s a huge leading role and I don’t think I could do it now.

“I would have to really want to do something and it wouldn’t be a leading role. But I can’t imagine not working.

“Life certainly wouldn’t be dull because there are lots of things I haven’t been able to do because of work.

“I have a passion for painting and doing courses on this, that and the other, so I would never sit about doing nothing. But I can’t imagine not having music in my life.”

The diminutive star she’s only 4ft 11in is in no doubt about the crucial point of her career…landing the role of Eva Peron in 1978.

“Evita was my defining moment. It gave me my career and without it I wouldn’t be talking here today. I was on the brink of ditching the business at that point. I struggled for 16-17 years before that, playing little parts.

“It was a long time with no money and I struggled. I was nearly 30 when I got Evita, so it was a long time of going without. I certainly paid my dues, but one of my mottos is perseverance furthers.

“If you believe in yourself and want something enough, you have to keep going. Things don’t happen overnight or drop in your lap. This was always my first love, but I had to ask myself if I didn’t have what it takes.

“And if not, what would I do, because I wasn’t academically gifted.”

After winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Performance of the Year in a Musical, she never looked back. And now, with her successful weekly Radio 2 show celebrating 10 years on the air, Elaine says she has no regrets in her long career.

“I’m not one for regrets. After all, what is there to regret? I’ve done so many diverse things and I hope something else comes along to inspire me. I’ve had the most fantastic life.

“It really couldn’t be better, so I’ll stick with Edith Piaf’s words on that one.”

Elaine’s Page By Page By Paige 50th Anniversary Farewell tour is at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Sunday, October 12, The Sage in Gateshead on Tuesday, October 14 and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday, October 15.