From all-time low to seeing life story on stage in Liverpool theatre musical

Michael Cullen went from sleeping exhausting in Liverpool to lift £ 1 million making charity walks in all climates in solely their swimming trunks. His story is now celebrated in a musical on stage.

Simply when Clark Kent turns into Superman when he transforms into his well-known pink underpants, Michael Cullen transforms into Speedo Mick when he pulls his tight blue logs.

“I get somewhat indication of how Superman feels when he places on his panties,” he laughs.

“I really feel completely different when I’m in my speeds. One thing occurs. There’s a change. I get somewhat extra intrepid.”

Speedo Mick doesn’t have the socks and the Superman layer, solely a few boots for strolling and, whether it is chilly, a shawl of the Everton FC and a woman hat.

He has crossed the British islands, the naked chest for the charity that comes, rains, shines or snow. His most excessive problem was to stroll between, and above, the best mountains in England, Scotland in Wales in mid -winter.

“Much less 18 on the prime of Ben Nevis. I walked in direction of the highest and survived. I by no means bought hypothermia,” he married.

“So, one thing occurs after I put on my speles. I’ve a very completely different temper. I’m so decided to spend the day with out placing my garments.”

Within the images, Speedo Mick typically attracts a tough information bodybuilder for cameras. However that bravery is a part of the character.

Sitting in a rehearsal room the place the actors put together for a musical that may inform their story, Cullen, 60, is totally dressed, gently spoken and delicate.

First he threw from the Speedos to swim the Channel of La Mancha in 2014, though he had by no means had a proper swimming lesson till he reserved the help ship.

“It was miraculous that I discovered myself as a result of I used to be coaching with males who have been born in a few speeds,” he jokes. “They have been swimmers quicker than me, higher swimmers than me, their method was significantly better than mine.

“However I had one thing they by no means had, and that was a willpower …” “I get somewhat emotional … a willpower and a will to finish a few of that magnitude.”

That willpower comes from “the identical place from which my negativity comes,” believes Cullen.

He suffered “a lot agitation” throughout his childhood in Liverpool, utilizing and abusing drinks and medicines from his adolescence, and homeless.

“I misplaced myself in every part, to be sincere,” he says. “It was a tragic life. It was horrible and was tortuous, and I used to be doing it. However I could not cease.”

He lastly bought clear in 2001 and determined to show negativity into his life into one thing constructive.

“I used to carry me for a very long time, however now I drives me ahead. That’s my engine. I suffered for a very long time, and now I do not need to try this anymore.”

After difficult expectations and shoulder harm to swim the channel, Cullen “needed the world to know that this had occurred.”

So he ordered a few blue trunks with the identify of his beloved soccer staff within the again, and “went to all matches after that with ‘Everton’ emblazoned on my bum.”

“The followers have been very beneficiant,” he says. “It might have been began at any time. However everybody applauded and handed cash, and put it in my bucket, and put it in my panties. There weren’t many different locations that you possibly can put it!”

His scarcely dressed presence started to extend smiles and funds within the video games away from house.

“I had a entrance row as for seeing all generosity, all kindness and all of the love that folks might give,” says Cullen.

“There’s lots of negativity on this planet, and I used to be solely seeing all this positivity. I used to be making an enormous distinction to me, in addition to for everybody else.”

In search of new challenges, more cash and bigger reactions, Cullen launched into a collection of more and more formidable charity, Everton video games in Wembley and Lyon, then 1,00zero miles from John O’Groats to Land’s Finish.

In 2021, he toured 5 months and a couple of,00zero miles between London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin and Belfast; Earlier than climbing Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike.

Nevertheless, the spectators didn’t at all times welcome a center -aged man with scarce swimming trunks.

“There have been additionally some actually adverse issues,” he provides.

“I spit, pushed to the ground, I painted on me, they threw me with a number of pubs after making an attempt to go to get some meals.

“Which was enjoyable as a result of I hadn’t taken a drink for 16 years they usually nonetheless threw me from the pubs.”

Speedo Mick’s 2023 stroll took the quantity collected for charity organizations that help psychological well being, deprived younger individuals and lack of housing after £ 1m.

However that was his final major departure. “I knew I solely had a sure time period to proceed doing it in my speeds. You’ll be able to’t do it whenever you’re 80 years previous.”

And regardless of his related style in underwear, Speedo Mick is just not Superman.

The exhausting challenges affected, having “a large dangerous impact on my psychological well being and my private relationships,” admits Cullen.

Every mission has been adopted by “a terrific comedada,” he says. “After the final one, I reached 1,00zero mph to the bottom and ended up in a clinic as a result of I had a terrific breakdown.

“Trying again now, I wasn’t managing. He feels as if I paid a large worth doing all that. It was an excessive amount of for me. It was an excessive amount of.”

The present of phases, which opens on the Royal Court docket Theater in Liverpool on Tuesday, has given Cullen a brand new method.

On the floor, it’s a “whole hero” that “assumed many huge duties that affirm life and accomplished them and raised some huge cash,” says Boff Whalley, beforehand from the Chumbawamba rock group, who has written the music.

“However the actual story is the rationale why I needed to try this, what price was that price.

“He says: ‘He’s such as you, he has issues and has fought with addictions and psychological well being issues, and this was his means of discovering a path by way of them.'”

The John Fay author agrees. “He’s a really inspiring and charismatic man. He can enter a room and easily make individuals smile. And the resistance of the sort, and the issues he has achieved, could seem superhuman.

“However crucial a part of him is that he’s extraordinarily human. He has his personal fragility. It is like everybody else on this planet.”

Liverpool actor Paul Duckworth is enjoying the principle position, and says Speedo Mick is “a neighborhood legend.”

“All of us have our complexities and our vulnerabilities. It’s a very reflective and really delicate kind.”

Along with making an attempt to seize Cullen’s character, Duckworth should obtain Speedo Mick’s look.

“There are only some moments [in the show] Once you put on a shirt, as a result of most of your achievements have been made in your speeds, “says the actor with a contact of restlessness.” There isn’t a place to cover.

“It was a terrific shock after I put them the opposite day. Michael was the one one who noticed me in them. In Mick’s phrases,” it’s a must to personal the Knickers. It’s a must to personal the speech, good friend. ‘I’m making an attempt to get that mentality. “

This system is the story of an eccentric character, with an enormous coronary heart however fallible, though Cullen had reservations on placing it on stage.

“I used to be somewhat anxious for the truth that I’m turning into weak once more, as a result of I’m telling everybody about my private life,” he says. “They’ll see a very completely different aspect right here.”

Nevertheless, he hopes this system will start conversations about dependancy, psychological well being, overcoming challenges and restoration.

“However the best message that I hope individuals take from him is that it’s tremendous to be, all of you, no matter occurred in your life, it’s tremendous to be you and have hope.

“I hope this story since you by no means know what’s going to occur. I’ve a play on my life within the Royal Court docket Theater, and that could be a victory proper proper there. It’s unimaginable.”

Speedo Mick The Musical is situated on the Royal Court docket in Liverpool from June three to July 5.