Who did David Essex play in the original 1978 stage production of 'Evita'?

David Essex (born 1947) played Che Guevara in the original 1978 West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Evita'. The musical is based on the life of Eva Perón (1919-1952), the wife of Argentine President Juan Perón. The show won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical and opened on Broadway a year later, where it became the first British musical to receive the 'Tony Award for Best Musical'.

The story is narrated by Che, who is typically played by a 21-35 year old tenor. It begins on 26th July 1952, the day Eva Perón dies, before going back in time to 1934, when Eva is only 15 years old. Che relates how Eva makes her way up the social ladder, becoming a model, radio star, actress, and finally the First Lady of Argentina.

Elaine Paige (born 1948) starred opposite Essex as the lead female character, Eva Perón. They sang a couple of duets during the show, including 'High Flying, Adored'. The most notable song in the show, however, is 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina', sung by Eva alone.

David Essex is an English singer, songwriter, and actor who, as of 2021, has attained 19 Top 40 singles in the UK and 16 Top 40 albums. He has also had an extensive career as an actor. As well as 'Evita', he has performed on stage in 'The War of the Worlds' (1978), and on screen in 'EastEnders' (2010). In 1999, Essex was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).