Belle's Domain
Starlight Express
1994 Bochum illustration Electra, the Engine of the Future

Rich, hot, powerful, flashy, shiny, shiny, shiiiiiiiny.......

*ahem* excuse me.

Shhhhiiiiiiiinnnnnyyyyyyyyyy....

spinny spinny spinny.

Spinny shiny things make Belle a happy girl.


In other words, Electra is my favourite Engine, due to his charisma, confidence, highly sensual dancing and blatant bisexuality. He is a complex character, carefully balanced between being overly camp or overly macho. He is supremely arrogant, he toys with the other trains, amusing himself by playing with their little racing game, knowing himself to be far superior, of course. His five components do his bidding without his needing to even utter a command, such is their complete devotion to him.

When the show was written in 1984, Electric engines were being introduced across Britain, with tracks being prepared for electrification (laying electrified rails or overhead wires). Electric trains were very much the future, new in most areas. 20 years on we're all much more accustomed to Electrics and they no longer have the sense of wonder they once did. Nevertheless, a speeding Express thundering through a station at night, showering sparks and electric flashes as it goes, is a magnificent sight.

Electra's costume represents his Electrical influences, Electric blue, silver and red. The Observer Magazine article a very early photo of previews Electra where his Unitard was white, not blue, but otherwise identical to the Original london, and the costume seems unbalanced. His wild wig is reminiscent of the frayed ends of a stripped wire. The skintight unitard is smooth and streamlined, while his shoulders and other packs are bright and eye-catching. Originally in the 80s he was the epitome of Modernity - however these days he is wonderfully retro, an absolute symbol of the 80s. This does rather conflict with his character of the Engine of the Future! His london costume was updated in 1994/95 with the introduction of an flashing red LED panel in his chest box, programmed to scroll across almost like a heart monitor.

Electra's wig has undergone many incarnations, from huge and wild, to neat and short, to being non-existant! John Partridge had his shaven head painted with a nice clear "AC/DC". On Broadway Ken Ard had a rather unimpressive mohawk - until you learn it was his real hair! In the Bochum production the mohawk is attached to his skull-cap and is removed before each race for Electra to properly wear his race helmet. In london, however, his helmet was specially designed to slip around the hair. How effective this would have been in a crash, I don't know, but it saved Electra the indignity of appearing onstage bald! (but then they had John Partridge... go figure.)

Mykal Rand


Electra in the Media

That Crazy Electra... Observer Magazine previews. Cover art for single release of AC/DC - Jeffrey Daniels Electra and components, 1991 - Mykal Rand
image from london 1991 flyer image from london 1991 flyer Chris Copeland and Marissa Dunlop, 2000
2004-5 UK tour flyer - featuring Chris Copeland (london) 2005 UK tour flyer - Mykal Rand

Electra Backstage

Early london Early london Early london
Early london Early london Early london
Early london Early london Koffi Missah, Early london
Koffi Missah, Early london Tom Jobe, Early london Tom Jobe, Early london
Koffi Missah, Early london Koffi Missah, Early london Tom Jobe, Early london

Maynard Williams, Early london Early london John Partridge
Richard Mylan Richard Mylan Spencer Stafford
Chris Lennon Chris Copeland Chris Copeland
Chris Copeland Chris Copeland Chris Copeland
Chris Copeland Chris Copeland Chris Copeland
Barry McNiell Barry McNiell Richard Woodford
Richard Woodford Richard Woodford Richard Woodford
Chris Copeland Chris Copeland Chris Copeland
Chris Copeland
Dolan José Dolan José
Open Day 2002 Open Day 2002 Open Day 2002
Fan Day 2003 Fan Day 2003 Fan Day 2003
Open Day 2003 Open Day 2005 Electra's such a gentleman.
Electric shiny things! Leon Maurice Jones, 2006 Leon Maurice Jones, 2006

Link to Tower Records Gallery
During the summer of 2001, there was a promotional appearance of Dinah and Electra at Tower Records, piccadilly circus. Woody was out as Electra understudy.

Eric Clausell, 1988 Bochum

David Michael Johnson, Japan/Australia tour 1987 Mykal Rand, Japan tour 1990

C. E Wallace jr, Bochum 1990 programme
Mykal Rand, Bochum 1993 programme
Anthony T. Perry, Las Vegas 1993

UK tour 2005 - Mykal Rand UK tour 2006 - Mykal Rand UK tour 2007 - Mykal Rand
ONSTAGE Electra


London
Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast
Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast
Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast
Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast
Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast Jeffrey Daniel, Original london cast
John Partridge, London 1992 John Partridge, London 1992 John Partridge, London 1992
John Partridge, London 1992 John Partridge, London 1992 John Partridge, London 1992
John Partridge, London 1992 Richard Mylan, London 1994 Richard Mylan, London 1994
Richard Mylan, London 1995 Chris Lennon, London 1996 Spencer Stafford, London 1997
Grant Anthony, London 1998 Grant Anthony, London 1998 Chris Copeland, London 1999
Chris Copeland, London 1999 Chris Copeland, London 2000 Chris Copeland, London 2001

Japan/Australia tours
Japan/Australia tour 1987/88 Japan/Australia tour 1987/88 Japan/Australia tour 1987/88
Japan/Australia tour 1987/88 Japan/Australia tour 1987/88 Japan/Australia tour 1987/88
Japan/Australia tour 1987 Japan/Australia tour 1987 Japan tour 1990
Japan tour 1990 Japan tour 1990 Japan tour 1990

US productions
Broadway 1987 Broadway 1987 Broadway 1987
Broadway 1987 Broadway 1987 US tour 1989
US tour 1989 US tour 1989 US tour 1989
Las Vegas 1993 Las Vegas 1993 Las Vegas 1993
Las Vegas 1993 Las Vegas 1993 Las Vegas 1993
Las Vegas 1993
US Tour 2003 US Tour 2003 US Tour 2003

UK tour
Uk tour 2004 - Mykal Rand Uk tour 2004 - Mykal Rand Uk tour 2004 - Mykal Rand
Uk tour 2004 - Mykal Rand
UK tour 2006 - Mykal Rand UK tour 2006 - Mykal Rand UK tour 2006 - Mykal Rand
UK tour 2007 - Mykal Rand UK tour 2007 - Mykal Rand UK tour 2007 - Mykal Rand

Bochum
Bochum 1988 Bochum 1988 Bochum 1988
Bochum 1988 Bochum 1988 Bochum 1989
Bochum 1989 Bochum 1989 Bochum 1991
Bochum 1989 Bochum 1992 Bochum 1994
Bochum 1994 Bochum 1994 Bochum 1997
Bochum 1997 Bochum 1997 Bochum 1997
Bochum 1998
Bochum 1998 Bochum 1998 Bochum 1998
Bochum 2000 Bochum 2000 Bochum 2000
Bochum 2000 Bochum 2001 Bochum 2001
Bochum 2002 Bochum 2002 Bochum 2002
Bochum 2004 Bochum 2004 Bochum 2004
Bochum 2005 Bochum 2005 Bochum 2005
Bochum 2005 Bochum 2005 Bochum 2005
Bochum 2006 Bochum 2006 Bochum 2006
Bochum 2006 Bochum 2006 Bochum 2006
Bochum 2006 Bochum 2006 Bochum 2006


FANS of Electra

Open Day 2001 Open Day 2002 Open Day 2005