Antony Costa: "I'll always cherish performing"

Image Source: Liverpool
Empire Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

When you think of Antony Costa, you may think immediately of Blue, one of the most British popular boy bands of the early 21st century. But he has also established himself a successful career in theatre, having performed in such shows as Blood Brother and Boogie Nights, and he's back on stage for Save The Last Dance For Me, which comes to the Liverpool Empire Theatre next month. We spoke to Antony about his current theatre tour, as well as key events for him in music and television.

First of all, tell us about the upcoming show Save The Last Dance For Me.

Save The Last Dance is a 60s jukebox musical with a love story. There are some fantastic songs, written by two songwriters called Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman; they wrote songs like A Teenager In Love, Viva Las Vegas and the iconic song Save The Last Dance For Me. It's a lovely musical that's very uplifting with a great love story.

Describe your Milton character in the show.

Milton is very much a ladies' man, a bit of a wheeler and dealer. He's an American Air Force guy; wherever he was based, the first thing he would do is to go out and try to meet girls and have a party etc. That's what he does! Also, Milton introduces Marie (played by Elizabeth Carter) to Curtis (played by Wayne Robinson), whose character is my best friend, and from there Marie and Curtis fall in love, and it's about their journey - do they or don't they?

Are there any differences from a performer standpoint between playing for a theatre audience and playing for a pop audience?

I think the theatre audience are there to see the show, which is great because you're part of an amazing show, whereas if a pop audience have paid to see, say, Blue, then they're specifically paid to see you if you know what I mean. But I think that's the only difference between the audiences really. Both are fantastic, by the way; I love performing, and I'll always cherish any sort of performing that I can do. So, it just depends on what you're doing really. I know that every audience that we've had for this show so far this year have been different, and they've all been great.

You rose to fame as a member of Blue with Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Lee Ryan. How did the group originally form, and when did you feel that Blue had truly made it?

Well, we formed in the year 2000, we had all become friends through auditions and different situations like that, so really we just became mates and from there Blue formed. Then, in 2001, we released All Rise, and it all happened from there for us.

How did you find the experience of participating in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2005?

It was amazing. A really, really good experience. It's an experience that I'll never forget and that I'll always cherish. It was hard, I'm not gonna lie, but it was really enjoyable!

Tell us about how Blue reformed in 2011 prior to competing in the Eurovision Song Contest.

It was brilliant to get the group back together. You know, to represent your country, in any field I suppose. It's fantastic to be able to represent the country in something that we love doing, which for us is singing. We really enjoyed the experience. It was hard work, but enjoyable.

Finally, what can the Liverpool audience expect from Save The Last Dance For Me?

What they can expect is an uplifting show with great music. We want them up dancing from the start singing along, having fun, leaving their troubles outside and going home with a smile on their faces.

Save The Last Dance For Me plays the Liverpool Empire from Monday June 6 to Saturday June 11. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Save The Last Dance For Me, click here.

Flavia Cacace: Last Tango a show for everyone to enjoy

Image Source: Burton Mail

Written By: Mark Armstrong

With more than 20 years of professional dancing experience, Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone have become one of the most notable dancing couples, having starred in several theatre shows and Strictly Come Dancing for seven years beforehand. And their latest show Last Tango is about to foxtrot its way into the Liverpool Empire Theatre. To learn more about the show and their careers, we recently spoke to Flavia Cacace, who promises an eye-catching and emotional performance for the Liverpool audience.

Tell us about the Last Tango tour.

We're on the road at the moment, we're touring the UK, and Last Tango is our first big production. It's quite an emotional show, and all of our shows have a story to follow, so we take you on a journey with us. It’s the story of a man called George, who acts almost as an older Vincent (Simone). So basically we take you through his life, from the very first time he met his partner to all the things that happen in his life, all the way to the very end. There are ups and downs that I think people will relate to.

We've got a cast of eight other musical theatre dancers and singers who are amazing, and we have a main voice in Teddy Kempner who tells George’s story; he's been in all three of our productions. We also have an eight-piece orchestra who are incredible. And there are lots of different styles of dancing; we go from jive to foxtrot to Argentine tango, the salsa, the flamenco … there's a little bit of everything in there as well. So, there's a lot to see, accompanied by some fabulous music.

When did you and Vincent first begin dancing together?

We've danced together now for around 21 years, so it’s been a long time! We were 16 and 17 years old when we partnered up to compete.

When did you both first achieve fame for your dancing?

Well, we were very well-known in what we call the ballroom world. We started competing at a very young age, as we felt we could do very well, so we were already a bit well-known and we were very successful in our own right. Then once we got into television, obviously that’s when we became much more well-known in people's homes. Later on, a lot of other opportunities came along, and now we're touring the UK with our own show.

How were you discovered for Strictly Come Dancing?

We were studying the Argentine tango at a studio in Kensington (in London). The studio had a call from the BBC, who were producing Dance Fever at the time (Graham Norton was the presenter). They were looking for a tango couple to perform with one of the live music acts, so the people that spoke to them put our names forward and we met up with the BBC. We sent them a tape of us dancing, and in the end, we did several performances for Dance Fever over the course of four years with various different music acts.

And then one year, the last year that we did Dance Fever, the BBC producer came to us (she had recently become their new producer), and she told us that she was producing Strictly Come Dancing that year and asked us whether we would like to take part. We'd achieved pretty much everything that we'd wanted to in the world of competitive dancing, so we were ready to move on, and so that's how we got involved in Strictly.

Did you both enjoy Strictly during your time on the show (2006-2012)?

It was an amazing experience. It’s a fantastic show which is watched by millions, and we were very lucky and privileged to be a part of it, and to have been there when it was growing and becoming bigger and more popular. We have lots of great memories from those seven years on Strictly.

What has been your favourite routine to perform together?

Oh, gosh! It would be absolutely impossible to pick. We're often asked what our favourite dance is, and what routine is our favourite. We've been so lucky to be able to dance to so many amazing songs. When we were younger, we had a wish list of songs that we used to listen to, so for example we would practice choreographing to them. And now obviously with our shows, and the performances that we've done, we've been able to make that a reality. So, there are so many different numbers that we love in the show and in the past shows that it would be impossible to pick.

I think our favourite dance, or at least mine, is the Argentine tango. I love the tango music. Obviously, I love them all as I've done them for many, many years, but I think the tango has a special place for me.

What should the audience expect from Last Tango?

It's an emotional show, so come prepared! We've had many people who were a bit teary-eyed at the end of the show and during the show. It’s not just a show for dance fanatics, because there’s the main story to follow, we've got a beautiful set designed by Morgan Large who designed all of our other sets as well (for Dance ‘Til Dawn and Midnight Tango), and we've got amazing music (and it's a real variety of music). So, there's something for everybody; you don't have to be a pure dance fanatic to come and enjoy the show. And obviously we're in it; we've got an amazing cast, and we're thrilled at the fantastic response we're having on tour. We're really happy that people have enjoyed all three of our shows, because that's why we do them. So, we hope to see lots of people in Liverpool, as it's a great city and we're looking forward to coming again.

Last Tango plays the Liverpool Empire Theatre from Monday April 4 to Wednesday April 6. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Last Tango, visit www.thelasttangotour.co.uk.

Dominic North: "Sleeping Beauty is a great, great show"

Dominic North
(Image Source: Dancers Pro)

Written By: Mark Armstrong

We recently spoke to Dominic North, star of Matthew Bourne's production of Sleeping Beauty, about his role in the show, how it differs from the original fairy-tale version, and his own career to date ...

First of all, can you tell us about your role as Leo in Sleeping Beauty?

Leo is a love interest of Aurora, so I guess he's playing what would be the role of Prince Charming from the original. But he's more of a childhood sweetheart, like Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights, because he's a lonely gardener, and she's a regal princess.

What would you say are the main differences between this production of Sleeping Beauty and the original children's fairy-tale?

Well, compared to the Disney version, we go through a slightly different timeline. Our timeline starts in 1890 when the ballet was created, and then it's her 21st birthday in 1911, plus they're in Edwardian times for her 16th birthday. And then we have a hundred-year interval, so I have to find a way of being around to wake her up 100 years later. There's kind of a vampiric twist, without giving a spoiler away! And then our version goes up to the modern day, so the timeline is different. But if you know the story of Sleeping Beauty, you wouldn't realise that it's massively different; it's still about a princess who goes asleep and wakes up, and from there the main themes are exactly the same.

Share with us your background in dance.

In dance, I started when I was about 9 or 10 years old, just doing a couple of classes a week as a hobby, like modern jazz, that kind of thing. Then as I got older, I did more stuff like hip-hop and ballet. When I was 18, I went to a full-time school in London for three years and I didn't really know what I wanted to do; I just liked dancing! But I got a job coming out of it with Matthew Bourne's company, and now 12 years later, I'm in Liverpool talking to you! (laughs)

You also starred as Edward in Edward Scissorhands in 2015. What was that experience like?

It was amazing. It was an amazing role, a very iconic role, and you don't want to disappoint people who love the film. It was the first big role I did when I first performed it 8 years ago, so it was nice to go back to it. Having done other shows and other leading parts, to then go back to it and revisit it with a different set of cast members was good. And the show was actually better-received this time than it was before, for some reason, either because people saw it before and remembered it fondly, or there were some people who were new to being fans of the company, like within the last five years, and they had never seen it before, and then they really enjoyed this version. So, it was great to be a part of it again.

How have you found your time on Sleeping Beauty so far?

It's been great. It's the same kind of thing in that people haven't seen it or, if they have, there aren't many of them because it was only created a few years ago. And they've come back to it and said that the show is looking better with minor tweaks and changes. It's a great show to do, and it ticks all the boxes for me for a Matthew Bourne show: it has the story, there's humour, the emotion, the music - obviously a Tchaikovsky score is always great to work to - and the set and costumes are great too. Everything about it I think makes it a great, great show.

Finally, what are your future aspirations in both dance and theatre?

I don't really know! Just to keep doing what I'm doing, I think. I've been very lucky that I've managed to play amazing roles for this company around the world, so I hope to just continue doing that. And I revisit shows because I've started to enjoy doing that; if I play a part, I go back to it and invest even more in a character. So, yeah, I hope to just keep on doing what I'm doing.

Sleeping Beauty plays the Liverpool Empire from Tuesday February 16 to Saturday February 20. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Sleeping Beauty, visit http://new-adventures.net/sleeping-beauty.

Dean Elliott: Simon and Garfunkel story needs to be told

Dean Elliott (Image Source:
The Simon and
Garfunkel Story)

Written By: Mark Armstrong

The work of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel created some unforgettable songs which remain favourites amongst an older generation to this very day. And a modern audience will receive the opportunity to appreciate these tunes and more in the brand new theatre show The Simon and Garfunkel Story, which comes to the Liverpool Empire Theatre this Friday.

We caught up with Dean Elliott, who will play a vital role both on the stage and behind the curtain for this show, on the significance of this show and why, in many ways, it is an ideal production for him to work on …

First of all, The Simon and Garfunkel Story comes to the Liverpool Empire Theatre this Friday. Tell us about the inspiration behind a show celebrating the music of Simon & Garfunkel.

I was playing Buddy Holly in Buddy: The Musical in the West End, and I was toying with the idea of doing a show similar to Buddy, which would be like a rock 'n' roll biopic. But I wanted to find something that hadn't been done before, a story that hadn't been told. So, I went to my CD collection, and I had all the CDs for Simon and Garfunkel, so I thought that (a show about these two) would be fascinating. And then a guy who I was sharing a dressing room with at the time said to me "I love their music, but didn't they fall out? What was their story?" Then it suddenly hit me; I thought "that's exactly why this is a show that needs to be made". Those were unanswered questions of rock 'n' roll history, so we aim to answer it with this show.

So, this is a show where you are both a performer and a key figure behind the scenes?

Yeah. I'm currently playing Paul Simon in the show, but I am also one of the writers on the creative team, which is exciting. I've only ever been able to do this a handful of times, and never on this level. Being part of the creative team - it's really exciting.

You mentioned your previous role as Buddy Holly; what else makes up your background in theatre?

Well, I trained at Paul McCartney's school LIPA in Liverpool, and lived in Liverpool for four years. And every year, the people of LIPA kind of migrate down the M6 towards London, so I spent many years trying out the craft down in London. Then, luckily, I landed the lead role of Buddy Holly in Buddy, which was a massive breakthrough for me obviously, and now I'm very fortunate to be in a position to create theatre of this quality.

I understand that you also perform as the lead singer and a guitarist in The Domino Band. Can you tell us more about this?

Yes. I don't do a great deal of that, sadly. I wish I did because it's a lot of fun. Because of the theatre shows, I am very busy. But generally how that works is that we're a wedding and functions band, and we play a variety of songs from throughout the years. It's great because we get to play the Beatles, we get to play the Rolling Stones, we get to play modern music, we get to play rock 'n' roll, we get to play funk, we get to play soul, we get to play jazz etc. And actually as a musician, it's nice to be able to test yourself with lots of different styles.

Can you tell us more about the rest of the cast in The Simon and Garfunkel Story?

Well, we've got four cast members who are West End actors or musicians, all of which are extraordinary characters in their own right, and playing the part of Art Garfunkel is Joe Sterling, who's just magnificent. Hearing him sing Bridge Over Troubled Water at the end of the show is worth the ticket price alone. It's just extraordinary.

And then we have what we call the sixth member of the team which is our video projector, which displays right onto the back wall. It goes through all the ages such as the sixties, it tells their story, and it tells the story of the sixties as well. It's a real trip down memory lane and a nostalgic look at the things that shaped the music of Simon and Garfunkel.

Are the cast looking forward to performing in Liverpool?

I think so, nobody more than me. It was always my dream to play the Liverpool Empire, and I did it with Buddy: The Musical in 2006. Now, I was like "Oh, I'd love to bring a show of mine to the Liverpool Empire", and that will happen on Friday. So, yes, I'm really excited about that. On a personal note, having lived there for so long, with Liverpool being my favourite city in the world, I'm just really excited about playing this show.

And finally, which is your personal favourite Simon and Garfunkel song?

I won't say that it's unknown because if you were a fan you'd know it, but it's called The Dangling Conversation. The reason why I think it's brilliant is because when you get to look through the body of work of Paul Simon like I have with a microscope, you get to really understand its significance. The story goes that Paul walked into the rehearsal room with Art Garfunkel and he said: "Art has written the masterpiece, the one that's gonna make us". It never was, and I have no idea why, but I just think that the song is a masterpiece. And it's definitely part of the show as I make sure of it! (laughs)

The Simon and Garfunkel Story plays the Liverpool Empire on Friday January 8. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about The Simon and Garfunkel Story, visit www.thesimonandgarfunkelstory.com/.

Robin Windsor Bringing Glitz To Puttin' On The Ritz

Image Source: Sunday Express

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Mark Armstrong recently grabbed a quick word with Robin Windsor ahead of his role as a lead dancer in Puttin’ On The Ritz, which is about to take the Liverpool Empire Theatre back to the Golden Age of Hollywood …

To begin with, can you briefly tell us the story behind Puttin' On The Ritz?

There's no exact plot for Puttin' On The Ritz. It's a song-and-dance extravaganza, so it's taking everybody back to the 1920s and 1930s, that Golden Age of Hollywood, with the music by Cole Porter, Irvin Berlin and George Gershwin. These are timeless songs that will never, ever be forgotten. So, it's just a succession of dance numbers and songs, taking everybody back to that wonderful era.

What role will you be playing in this show?

Well, when it comes to the dancing, there's myself and Anya Garnis, who I'm dancing with; Trent Whiddan who danced with Pixie Lott last year; and then of course there'll be your very own Ray Quinn. And we're all invited as very special guests; the show has already been created, so we just slot into that show at all the appropriate times, so we make appearances all the way through.

Tell us about how your dancing career evolved, and ultimately how you made it to Strictly Come Dancing.

I grew up as a ballroom dancer in a competitive world from the age of 3. I began in my hometown, which is Ipswich, and I continued competing up to the age of 19. Then, I joined a dance show called Burn The Floor, for which I ended up doing a world tour for 9 ½ years. We became the first ever ballroom show to end up on Broadway, and after that we headed straight to the West End in London. And, from there, I was picked to do Strictly. I wasn't your typical-looking ballroom dancer; I have a shaved head and a beard and I was a bit muscly at the time. So, they picked me for Strictly because I was different and I brought something different to the table, so that's kind of how it all happened.

What were the highlights of your time on Strictly?

For me, every moment you get to step on the set is absolutely brilliant, but I think my favourite moment would be dancing with Lisa Riley. The moment that she jumped into the splits at Wembley, where there were 6,500 people that night – the reaction was just like that of a rock concert! We both felt like Beyoncé for a moment; it was absolutely brilliant.

Which other productions have you been involved in over the last few years?

In recent times, I've done an awful lot of other stuff for Strictly Come Dancing: I've done the Strictly Come Dancing cruises, and I've done a tour of a show called Dancing With Music which was just myself, Kristina (Rhianoff) and the winners at the time, Artem (Chigvintsev) and Kara (Tointon). But I’m excited about the current show, Puttin' On The Ritz: it will be the first time that I'll be performing at the Liverpool Empire. I've been there lots of times to watch a show, and I can't wait to actually perform in such a big theatre and on a big stage.

Finally, which song in Puttin' On The Ritz will see you deliver a dance performance for the audience to remember?

Well, the show's called Puttin' On The Ritz, the most famous song from that time is called Puttin' On The Ritz, and the best dance routine that will be put together for the show is for Puttin' On The Ritz, so that's the one that you've got to keep your eyes peeled for!

Puttin’ On The Ritz plays the Liverpool Empire from Tuesday October 6 to Saturday October 10. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Puttin’ On The Ritz, visit www.puttinontheritztour.com.

Freya Sutton: "Tracy Turnblad is a dream role for me in Hairspray"

Image Source: Twitter

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

With the internationally-popular show Hairspray about to land at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, Mark Armstrong recently spoke to one of the main stars of the show, Freya Sutton, to discuss her role as Tracy Turnblad and why it is the perfect part for her to play …

To begin with, briefly tell us the story of Hairspray.

My character Tracy Turnblad is from a family that is not very well-off (her mum's a housewife who does ironing and stuff, and her dad runs a shop that doesn't really do very well), plus they're kind of overweight. Tracy is told that entering the dance business is a risk, because her mother doesn't want to see her get hurt, but Tracy is determined and says that she really want to get onto a TV show, The Corny Collins Show, which would showcase her talents.

And she manages to do that with the help of her friend Penny (Monique Young), plus along the way, she meets Seaweed (Dex Lee) who is the son of Motormouth Maybelle (Brenda Edwards), a DJ on the Corny Collins show. And at one point, Tracy thinks "Well, hang on. This isn't about me wanting to dance anymore; Seaweed’s little sister wants to dance on the show, they want to dance more and they're really good, so you know what? It's not all about me; I want everyone to dance together." So by the end of the show, she makes that happen, and she actually manages to have a love story as well with Link Larkin (Ashley Gilmour) who is a popular boy on The Corny Collins Show.

How would you describe your character of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray?

My character is very joyful, she's very considerate, and I think she's very observant. And she's kind of wise before her years, very supportive. She goes on this journey where she could leave her mum in the house, but she takes her mum with her, she takes her friend Penny, and instead of just getting herself on the show, halfway through Act One, she gets herself on Corny Collins, but the show doesn't stop there. So, she's very considerate and happy.

How is your second run in this production comparing to your original stint?

It's different because the first time I did it, it was such an incredible experience. I got to work with an American director who was an assistant to the original director, and he actually come over with the original choreographer, which was amazing. And our show that we did was the Broadway version, which was then the West End version, whereas this second time around, this is different. Last time, we had the original set, we had costumes shipped over etc., whereas for this second run, it's been amazing because I've been there through the whole redesign of costumes. I've had input into that so, for example, if there's shoes that I liked, I've asked for them or if I want to wear a specific colour. I've had input in a lot of direction, I've had a lot more freedom and it's been a lot more organic, which has been really nice. Each time, I've just loved every minute and it's been the dream role for me, so it's just been incredible to get to do my dream role again.

What can you tell us about the rest of the cast in Hairspray?

They're incredible! They're all absolutely phenomenal! Everyone's just brought so much to it: there's so much energy, so much commitment, and it's amazing to work with such a talented range of people. There are people that have got a lot of experience, and there are people who have just graduated. It's really nice to get that kind of wisdom from more experienced names on how you can keep doing it eight shows a week, and then to also see the energy from the newer people who have just graduated – it’s really great. We're only around three weeks into the tour, and already everyone's just getting on so well. It's great!

What has been your career highlight so far as a theatre performer?

Probably getting to play this character: Tracy Turnblad is a dream role for me, because I get to act, sing and dance. She's such an amazing character, she goes through all sorts of emotions, so she's knocked down emotionally, she's happy, she has a love scene, she has scenes where she's in her protest – there’s so much that she does. She dances, which is a really big passion of mine, and I'm quite similar to her as a character, And at some shows, I've had people come up to me at the stage door or they’ve Tweeted me, and they’ve said: "You know, I've struggled with my weight, and coming to watch this show has really helped me think that I am what I am and inspired me.” She has a really great heart, the show has a lot of meaning behind it, and so it's a beautiful piece of theatre to be a part of.

Finally, what are the moments which attendees should particularly look out for when watching Hairspray?

Well, the audience always love the '60s, and you can't stop the beat because everyone's always up dancing. People have told me that when they have seen it, there aren’t any weak scenes: it's so well-written that there's no song or scene that you'd say "Oh, that could be taken out" or "That's a bit of a weak link". The show just keeps going and everything is so entertaining, the time just flies by, and I find that to be the case on the stage as well; the time just goes so quickly! It's amazing. Oh, and the choreography by Drew McOnie is great, so that's something to watch out for as well!

Hairspray plays the Liverpool Empire from Monday October 12 to Saturday October 17. To book your tickets, click here.

For more information about Hairspray, visit www.hairsprayuktour.com.

Joe to play Joseph: X Factor champ dons coat of many colours at St Helens Theatre Royal

Joe McElderry

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St Helens Theatre Royal

X Factor winner Joe McElderry will put on the dazzling coat of many colours as he steps into the title role of the UK’s longest-running musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at St Helens Theatre Royal in February 2016.

Joe was just 18 when he won the sixth series of The X Factor having been mentored by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and beating off fierce competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon.

He then soared to number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’s The Climb and his debut album Wide Awake went straight in at number three on the UK Albums Chart. He has since gone on to have two more top ten albums, and he became the first X Factor star to release four albums, with a fifth in the making.

Joe, who hails from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, is also the first and only celebrity to win three reality TV shows! He was crowned the winner of the second series of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar before strapping on his skis and slaloming his way to become champion of Channel 4’s celebrity ski competition The Jump last year!

Joseph marks Joe’s first major theatrical appearance following a one-off West End gala performance as the lead in The Who's Tommy in 2012.

Having garnered sensational reviews and standing ovations at every performance since its inception almost 35 years ago, Bill Kenwright’s Amazing’, ‘Superb’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Brilliant’ production of this sparkling family musical has now sold an estimated 20 million tickets.

This vibrant and exciting retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours sings out to young and old alike with a score which is crammed wall to wall with hits, including Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

The show is presented by Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group – lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Chantelle Nolan, manager of St Helens Theatre Royal, commented: “Following the success of Blood Brothers, we are absolutely thrilled to present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and are sure Joe McElderry will be perfect for the role of Joseph.”

For more information, please visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.

Puttin' On The Ritz coming to Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Strictly Come Dancing stars lead the UK tour of the hit song and dance extravaganza

Presented by International Theatre Producer David King, the tour of the spectacular Puttin' On The Ritz is currently wowing audiences across the UK.

Puttin' On The Ritz stars a variety of professional “Strictly” dancers at different venues, including Robin Windsor and Anya Garnis with Trent Whiddan and Gordana Frandosek.

Ray Quinn will join Puttin' On The Ritz in September. Runner-up in The X- Factor in 2006, with his debut album going straight to number one in the UK charts, Ray has starred in many West End musicals.

Puttin' On The Ritz takes you on a musical journey with wonderful music from three legendary composers, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. Songs in the show will include Cheek to Cheek, Alexander’s Rag Time Band, Birth of the Blues, Swanee, Night and Day, I Got Rhythm, Easter Parade, and Puttin’ On The Ritz.

These classic songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood are recreated live on stage with a star-studded cast of fabulous singers and dancers who are set to entertain the audience with their slick harmonies, glamorous costumes and ballroom dancing skills.

Puttin’ On The Ritz is produced by David King with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin.

Becky O’Brien performed in her first professional production at the age of seven. Becky toured America, Asia, Europe and the UK, as the lead vocalist in shows such as Spirit of the Dance; Broadway, the Star Spangled Celebration; and The Spirit of Christmas. Alongside two of her sisters, she took on the role of The Deering Sisters in the internationally acclaimed Pathe feature film, Mrs Henderson Presents. The sister act worked alongside Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins, recording the theme song for the film.

Ray Quinn’s first acting role was in Brookside, the popular soap based in Liverpool. He was announced as the runner-up in the X Factor to Leona Lewis in 2006 and subsequently released a a debut album which went to number in one in the UK charts and eventually became a platinum selling album. Ray has starred in many West End musicals including Grease, Dirty Dancing, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Legally Blonde. Ray was the winner of ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2009 and went on to win the final All Stars series in 2014. Ray is currently recording an album and is inspired by by the “greats”, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the Rat Pack.

Robin Windsor is a British professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, best known for his appearances in the BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing. Robin is also known for starring in the successful West End production of Burn The Floor with his professional partner Kristina Rihanoff.

Trent Whiddon is an award-winning Australian dancer and choreographer. He was a lead dancer and company manager of Burn the Floor for 13 years including the Broadway production. He has choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance, Satisfaction on a Dance Floor and the E-trade commercial with Kevin Spacey. Most recently, Trent has completed touring with the Strictly Live tour after a successful first season on Strictly Come Dancing partnering Pixie Lott.

For more information, visit www.puttinontheritztour.com.

Danielle bringing Hope to The Sound Of Music

Image Source:
Manchester Evening News

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

The Sound Of Music, one of the most legendary musicals of all-time, is returning to the Liverpool Empire next month. Playing the role of Maria Von Trapp will be Danielle Hope, who over the last five years has had a range of unforgettable experiences on the theatre stage, having been propelled to stardom by a television show which landed her a role as Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz and a place in future big-budget theatre productions. I recently spoke to Danielle about The Sound Of Music, her experiences so far in theatre, and whether she could handle a family as big as that of the Von Trapps in real life …

To begin with, explain the story of The Sound Of Music, and of your role as Maria Von Trapp.

The Sound Of Music, as many, many people will know, is a very famous story based on a family that were fleeing Austria at a very dangerous time. I think the reason a lot of people feel this strongly connected to The Sound Of Music is because they were real people, and this was a very real time in the world. Now, a young girl who is training to be a nun is sent away because of, let’s say, her behaviour, and her choice of life and singing. Then, she meets this very disconnected family where the father is going through a lot, and the children have almost been army drilled because he's a naval officer. And she introduces them to music, and then they find a connection, which ends up inspiring the captain and saving them at the end of the day while they flee.

I think people of all ages connect to this story because they've grown up with it; I grew up with the film with my grandmother. That being said, the stage show is different to the film in an exciting way, plus it's the 50th anniversary of the film at the moment so we've had really, really great audiences. We've been on tour since January, and it's amazing to be trusted with the role of Maria. I know they're very specific about who they get to play her, and it's been a real challenge and a real joy to share her story around the country. We're in Dublin, Ireland right now, and we've already been around the UK and Scotland and, well, everywhere! I'm looking forward to being in Liverpool and getting up north because that's home turf to me, and all the family are coming to see me in Liverpool too. So, it's been great so far.

You touched upon the film version of The Sound Of Music. What, from a production and viewing standpoint, are the key differences between the movie and theatre versions?

There's different songs, there's extra songs, so all the ones you love from the film are in the show as well as some more. The order of things is slightly different, because as we all know, something that works on-screen doesn't necessarily work on stage in the exact same way, and vice versa. So, it's adapted for the theatre, and it's just so beautiful. The set is so classy and so elegant, and it's going to look beautiful at the Empire, it really is.

Tell us about how you first made your name on the BBC show Over The Rainbow.

It was five years ago now, which I can't believe! I auditioned for the television programme for Andrew Lloyd-Webber; 9,000 people auditioned, and the programme was three months long, and I was lucky enough to win the part and went on to play Dorothy at the London Palladium alongside Michael Crawford, which was just epic really! I think it's the only word for it! I mean, who starts their career headlining the London Palladium? It was bonkers!

It's been amazing since then, and I've worked with so many people that I have admired in the theatre industry for such a long, long time. But, yeah, the programme was a very crazy experience, and I moved to London so quickly. My plan was to go to University which I didn’t do, so everything I had planned didn't happen, but the outcome still happened, which I think proves that there's no right or wrong way to do anything. You just have to take a chance sometimes and just be brave, which is what I did and I’m so grateful that I did. So it was a crazy time and I've since been in shows like Les Miserables and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, so it's been a really wonderful and crazy five years!

As discussed, your victory on Over The Rainbow earned you your first theatre role as Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz in 2011. Tell us about how you fared in this starring role, and how quickly did you take to the stage?

We opened for previews in January/February time, so we rehearsed over Christmas and New Year, and it was so exciting, plus I had such a supportive cast around me. You know, I'd always wanted to be on stage; it wasn't like I randomly turned up to an audition, and I was like "Oh, I'll have a go at this!" It was something that I'd always wanted to do, and that's what I was training to do at high school and sixth form.

Actually, the first time that I ever performed was on the Palladium stage was for the Children In Need live broadcast with Terry Wogan. I sang Over The Rainbow, and the theatre was full, plus (in addition to TV) it was being broadcast online and on the radio, so in effect all three mediums, which was so crazy. I remember that was one of the most nerve-wracking things I ever got to do, but it was nice having already performed once on the stage. And the Palladium is one of the most beautiful theatres that I've had the pleasure of being in, so I just absolutely loved it.

For The Wizard Of Oz,I was there for a whole year, and you just grew in the part over the year because you get to do the same show eight times a week, and you find new things constantly. I think that's why I love live theatre and why a lot of people love live theatre. I mean, it's great to be able to press Fast-Forward on your Sky box or whatever, but when you go and watch a show, what is happening in front of your eyes can't be paused or rewound, it can't be redone, and even if we try and recreate things, we can't because we're human, so it's always going to be different. I think that's why it's so attractive and appealing, because you're really part of something unique and special every time you go to the theatre.

As you mentioned, your other theatre credits over the last few years have included Les Miserables, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. What were your memories of those productions?

Well, Les Miserables was straight after The Wizard Of Oz, and it was incredible. It was a very different role, one of an aggressive, torn young girl from the streets. It was amazing to be able to play something so different straight after doing Dorothy, and I loved it, plus I made some of my best friends on that show. I think it was nice to have the responsibility of such famous songs, but Jean Valjean was leading the show, so I felt like the pressure was off a little bit in comparison to Dorothy. But I still had enough responsibility to drive me and feel like I was a real core part of that show. Plus, the film came out when we were in it, and I got to go to the premiere, so it was a very cool time to be a part of Les Miserables that year.

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat was my first tour. I started The Sound Of Music two weeks after I finished Joseph, so it's been a bit of a crazy year being on the road. Again, Joseph was so different, and it was very cool to see some parts of the world that I'd never seen.

Snow White was my first panto, and it was hilarious. The cast included Gok Wan, John Partridge (who judged on Over The Rainbow), Stephanie Beecham, Gary Wilmott … the names were endless, and we had such a good time at Birmingham. It ended up being one of their biggest pantos, so that was exciting.

I also did a show called The Last Five Years which has just got two people in it, and you only actually get to interact for about 30 seconds in the whole show! So, it's like doing a one-woman and a one-man show, and that was one of the most creatively challenging things I have done so far in my career. It was something that I've wanted to do for a long time, as well as something that terrified me every single night, but it also gave me the confidence to do my own solo cabaret in London, which I then took to New York and recorded my debut album of that. I released my album in June of this year, which is a live recording of my New York concert which I did in February. So, there's been lots of things that I've been able to do and that I've worked towards that I've just never thought would happen, not within these few years anyway.

Do you feel a certain level of pressure as you take the famous role of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music?

Of course. With a show like this, as with the Wizard Of Oz, there comes a huge responsibility, but I think you have to just acknowledge that and just release it. This role and the story and the characters are so well-loved. But I'm not here to imitate Julie Andrews, nor was I there to imitate Judy Garland. I'm just here to tell this story in the best, most honest and truthful way that I possibly can, and to just have a really joyous time doing it. The cast are wonderful, the children that I get to work with are just marvellous, and we have such a good time, and such a lovely connection and bond throughout the show. So, I acknowledge the responsibility and the pressure, but I love it. Also, getting to be blonde is very cool; I have very, very long dark hair, so getting it under that tiny little wig is an event! (Laughs)

The last question is, in The Sound Of Music, the Von Trapp family have a lot of children. Do you think in real life you could cope with that many kids?

(Laughs) Oh, I know there's a lot of children! I don't know. I think if they were all my brothers and sisters and or nieces and nephews, absolutely, because that's what they feel like. I feel like I've adopted them while they're on stage, and if they were all as charming and as lovely as these children are, absolutely I could handle it! Yeah, I would be blessed to have children like the ones in this show; they really are little beauties!

The Sound Of Music plays the Liverpool Empire from Monday September 14 to Saturday September 19. To book your tickets, click here.

You can find out more about Danielle Hope at www.daniellehope.co.uk.

Dreamboats and Miniskirts brings the Swinging Sixties back to Liverpool with a performance at the Cavern

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Cast perform at the world-famous Cavern Club during International Beatles Week

60s Rock and Roll spectacular Dreamboats and Miniskirts opened at the Liverpool Empire last night.

The show is here until Saturday, and they couldn’t have picked a better week to Twist and Shout their way into Liverpool.

International Beatles week takes place this week and, to celebrate, the cast performed a number of well-known smash-hit songs from the show at the world famous Cavern Club.

The sequel to the popular Dreamboats and Petticoats which was set in the 1950s, Dreamboats and Miniskirts moves on a decade and to the next period in pop history.

The show is heavily inspired by the advent of the Beatles and the Merseybeat sound, which features heavily throughout the show.

Expect a whole lot of nostalgia, as the show is bursting with hits from the Merseybeat generation including Do You Love Me, Hippy Hippy Shake, Be My Baby, Twist and Shout, Louie Louie, The House of The Rising Sun and many more.

Dreamboats and Miniskirts is happiness guaranteed!

The show plays at the Liverpool Empire until Saturday August 29.

Dreamboats and Miniskirts bringing the swinging 60s back to Liverpool

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Dreamboats and Miniskirts has returned to theatres to showcase the greatest hit songs of the 60s, and is touring the Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday August 29.

It is the sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats, which premiered in Bromley in 2009, and became a musical phenomenon having played to more than two million people across the UK. Inspired by Universal’s multi-million selling album series which now boasts seven double compilation albums and a myriad of one off special releases!

It’s 1963 and the Petticoats gang are growing up and facing new challenges. Bobby and Laura’s first single, Dreamboats and Petticoats, went to the top of the charts, but they haven’t been able to repeat that success with any further records. Norman and Sue have settled down to non-marital bliss – and a baby! And Ray and Donna seem blissfully happy in their professional lives ... but are they really?

The advent of the Beatles and the Merseybeat sound is inspirational. But will it inspire Bobby and Laura to have one more shot at stardom, Norman to “get off the drains” and find that hit parade voice he has longed for, and Ray to realise his ambition and manage a really top pop act?

All will be revealed in a follow up with the same wit, charm, and great songs as Dreamboats and Petticoats.

Dreamboats and Miniskirts is written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, The New Statesman, Shine on Harvey Moon, Save the Last Dance For Me and of course, Dreamboats and Petticoats, and is produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield in association with Universal Music.

Featuring hit after hit from Twist & Shout to Handy Man to Pretty Woman, One Fine Day and many more, Dreamboats and Miniskirts is happiness guaranteed.

To book tickets for Dreamboats and Miniskirts, click here.

Full casting announced for Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce the full cast for the UK tour of the international smash-hit musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday January 25 to Saturday January 30 2016.

Joining the previously announced Jason Donovan, who reprises the role of Tick, are Simon Green as Bernadette, Adam Bailey as Felicia and Philip Childs as Bob.

Simon Green’s most recent stage credits include Bruce Ismay in Titanic, both in Toronto and at the Southwark Playhouse; The World Goes Round at the Union Theatre and Monsieur André in The Phantom Of The Opera on tour. Adam Bailey most recently appeared as Espresso in the German production of Starlight Express. His other theatre credits include Mary Sunshine in Chicago at Leicester Curve and Alan in Bare at the Greenwich Theatre. Philip Childs played the role of Bob on the 2013 tour of Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert. He is currently appearing as Doctor Dillamond in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria. Other recent theatre credits include Alan Bennett’s People and The Habit Of Art at the National Theatre.

Jason Donovan played the role of Tick when the show originally opened in the West End and its subsequent tour in 2013. His other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music and Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and most recently Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. His television credits include Neighbours and Echo Beach. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash-hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

They are joined by Richard Astbury; Rebecca Botterill; Matt Crandon; Peter Cumins; Amy Di Bartolomeo; Martin Harding; Lisa-Marie Holmes; Ricky Lee Loftus; Adam Lyons; Callum MacDonald; Laura Mansell; Catherine Mort; James Paul McAllister; Robin Mills; Craig Ryder; Naomi Slights and Julie Yammanee.

Get ready for the ride of your life! Based on the movie, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dancefloor classics including I Will Survive, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff, Boogie Wonderland and Always On My Mind, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical originally opened in Australia and after a sell-out two year run, opened in London’s West End followed by Broadway in the United States. It has won numerous awards all over the world, including prestigious Olivier and Tony awards.

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and Directed by Simon Phillips. The Associate Director is Dean Bryant. Choreography is by Andrew Hallsworth and Ross Coleman; Musical Arrangements, Direction and Supervision by Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy and Charlie Hull; Production Design by Brian Thomson, Costume Design by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner; Make-Up Design by Cassie Hanlon; Original Lighting Designs by Nick Schlieper and Original Sound Design by Michael Waters.

A little (more) conversation with Sian Reeves

Image Source: Chronicle Live

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Throughout the week, Love Me Tender, the brand new musical featuring the hits of Elvis Presley as its soundtrack, has left the Liverpool Empire and thousands of attendees All Shook Up. As the show continues its Merseyside run, I spoke to one of the stars of the production, Sian Reeves (who plays the character of Mayor Matilda Hyde), where she discussed her contribution to Love Me Tender, and compared it to other experiences throughout her varied career …

First of all, can you tell us about the story of Love Me Tender, and of your role as Mayor Matilda Hyde?

The story is about a small town in the middle of nowhere in America. I play Mayor Matilda Hyde, and she runs the town with a firm hand: she doesn’t allow tight pants, public kissing, loud music etc. But then this guy comes to the town who's a bit of a nod to Elvis, who shakes us all up, who makes the jukebox work again, and who gets everybody wearing blue suede shoes. I oppose him all the way, until near the end when I have a meltdown to (the tune of) The Devil In Disguise!

It's very fun and tongue-in-cheek; it's all about mistakes and love. And it's quite strange because there are ten leading characters, which you don't normally have in a musical. I think that makes the show really interesting, because there are so many different people coming on all the time. Mica Paris is just fabulous; her voice is just stunning. I think everybody in the show is brilliant: It's such a high standard, and the choreography is wonderful. It's not a show about Elvis; it's a kind of cheesy, let's-fall-in-love thing.

What appealed to you most when you were offered the chance to participate in Love Me Tender?

Well, I haven't toured for 27 years, and I wanted to do something different as my daughter has finished school now (so I can tour again). Of course, I was in the original cast of Les Miserables 30 years ago, so when this came up, I thought "Oh! I could go on tour! I could be in a musical!" And here I am!

Also, I thought the book (for Love Me Tender) was so funny:  I was just laughing out loud at the story of it. And the chance to build a character in a brand new musical is quite rare these days. It's not another (version) of anything, it's not like a new portrayal of, say, Guys & Dolls, so that opportunity was really exciting. And Mayor Matilda has a really good story as well: she’s all in charge, and then she sort of crumbles to being in love with someone at the end. It's a great arc to play, and I get such a great response from everybody which is really rather nice, so it's been really exciting and fun to do.

Did your previous musical experience, most notably in the BBC show Just The Two Of Us, help to prepare you for this particular production?

No it didn't, because that show was a daily thing. You know that Strictly Come Dancing is weekly, so they have a week to prepare a dance? On Just The Two Of Us, you didn't know if you were gonna last because you could be voted off that night, so the next day you had to learn another song. And, as you know, Rick Astley kind of left me on the show, and Russell Watson came in last minute, but we didn't have any songs prepared because Rick had gone, so it was so stressful! There were lots of nerves and even though they gave you all this fabulous hair and make-up and costume, (because of the singing situation) I felt so under-rehearsed for it. So once I'd got through that, I thought "Wow! I can get through anything!"

With this show, though, we had a proper rehearsal period, and I had time to really create the character. Plus, my costume is wonderful, Morgan Large is an amazing set designer, and Karen Bruce is a fabulous director. With Love Me Tender, I felt I had loads of time to do it and think about it and to prepare for it. And I loved opening in Manchester; I love Manchester, it felt like home there because I'm always in Manchester filming stuff, so that was really nice.

You also have previous theatre experience in Les Miserables. Although both Les Miserables and Love Me Tender have a musical element, they are very different shows. How do you tailor your performance to cater to what I imagine would have been two very different kind of audiences?

It's very interesting that you picked up on that. It was my first ‘job’ in Les Miserables, and I was learning. You know, there was so much experience in that cast: Roger Allam, Patti LuPone, Alun Armstrong …  Caroline Quentin was in the ensemble too. They were all so learned, and I was, like, 19. The great thing about that show was that you had 8 weeks to rehearse that, although we were so tired by the time it opened. Everything was so ingrained in you, and it was a bit depressing and sad, the show is really sad, so you could really just dig down and recreate that feeling really well.

Whereas with Love Me Tender, you need to have so much positive energy to come on and go "bang!" every time. This is more exhausting really, because everybody's on and off, on and off, on and off.
You're not doing a constant story; you're going in saying "It's me now!" and this is what I'm telling, so it's a real different energy that you have to plug into. And it's not really until the end of Act II that my part has its big story to tell, and at like 9.30pm, I'm like "Oh I can't!" (laughs) My number's 5 ½ minutes, which is massive, so I've had to really get in shape and get fit for that. So, it's a very different energy to find for this show because it is slapstick and in-your-face, and the lines are very small and sharp and you have to sell the joke. It’s hard to come off after each little scene panting. It's great for weight loss! (laughs)

On a similar note, how can you apply your acting skills from the small screen, such as your previous roles in the likes of Cutting It and Emmerdale, and adapt them to cater to the theatre stage?

Well, luckily, I've been on the stage since I was aged two in the local dancing school. I wanted to be a dancer, but then my dad said "Oh, you ought to do a bit of acting" as well, and so I was trained at a very early age to make sure you're including the people in the cheap seats, you know. That's ingrained into me, and I think people who have done telly and nothing else, I think it'd be hard to learn to be bigger and to have this energy that you need on stage.

It's very interesting because some brilliant actors on-stage can't convert to TV; they just don't seem to be able to do that. But they are two different types of delivery, and when bringing your performance down to TV, it’s more intimate and trusting that you're telling the story in a small way, whereas on-stage there's got to be a lot of energy. I was quite nervous because I haven't done anything on-stage for so long, and I had to do a lot of work with skipping and singing at the same time, and to get my strength up. TV is a much smaller tool as it were, and for example if you're ill, on TV you can get away with it, but on the stage, you really can't.

And finally, which Elvis Presley hit is the one that you most look forward to hearing during the show?

Oh, it's If I Can Dream, the big anthem towards the end which Chad, Lorraine and Dean sing where they’ve got the love heart on stage; yeah, I love that song! I'm sick of Hound Dog though (laughs), I've heard it so many times! But our musical arranger, Matt Spencer-Smith, is just stunning; he's done the most amazing job on all of the songs, and he's made all of them into anthems. And what he's done with my song (in the show), wow! What he’s done with The Devil In Disguise is just fantastic; I’m very lucky!

Read a review of Love Me Tender by clicking here.

You can find out more about Love Me Tender by clicking here.

Shrek to take 'ogre' Southport Flower Show

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Beloved ogre Shrek and the beautiful Princess Fiona will ‘swamp’ Southport Flower Show’s opening day on Thursday August 20

Shrek The Musical® plays at the Liverpool Empire from Wednesday November 25–Sunday December 6

The characters of Shrek The Musical® will be making appearances throughout the day as part of the celebrations of the opening of Southport’s annual flower show, ahead of the production’s triumphant return to the North West.

The flower show will feature a specially designed Shrek swamp, by award-winning gardeners, Mook Gardens LTD, giving visitors a chance to meet Shrek and Princess Fiona on their home turf.

Visitors to Southport Flower Show have the delight of exploring Shrek’s garden and his floral swamp house throughout the show (Thursday August 20–Sunday August 23) with the chance of bumping into the star couple on the opening day.

Shrek commented: "I confess a trip to the Southport Flower Show is a first for me, but of course when I heard there was going to be a recreation of my swamp I couldn’t resist. Fiona is really excited and hopes the flower show might inspire me into developing more of a gardening habit. I already have the green fingers so that’s a good start. We couldn’t resist visiting as the tour of Shrek The Musical will arrive in Liverpool in November/December time and has its very last date in February at the Lowry in Salford."

Ray Roukin, general manager at Southport Flower Show, added: "We're really pleased to be welcoming Shrek and his swamp garden to the show this year, it's going to be a unique attraction and should prove a big draw for young and old alike."

Shrek and his garden join a number of family attractions at this year's show, including free-flying birds of prey, dog displays and award-winning clowns Sonny and Rainbow. The show will also be having its first ever Super Kids Sunday which includes a dedicated Children's Marquee on the final day of show, with science workshops and fun, interactive activities.

Entry to the show-ground is free for children under 16, when accompanied by a paying adult, so there have never been more reasons to take the family to Southport.

Southport Flower Show runs from Thursday August 20-Sunday August 23. For more information, visit www.southportflowershow.co.uk or call 01704 547147. Southport Flower Show Tickets cost just £18 in advance, a 20% saving on the gate price.

Shrek The Musical® is coming direct from London, where it was seen live on stage by nearly a million people, and will run at Liverpool Empire Theatre from Wednesday November 25-Sunday December 6, and The Lowry from Wednesday February 2–Sunday February 20 2016.

Based on the Oscar® winning DreamWorks film and featuring all-new songs as well as cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, Shrek The Musical® brings the much-loved DreamWorks characters to life, live on stage, in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza.

Legally Blonde returning to Liverpool Empire

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Omigod you guys!

Liverpool Empire’s Creative Learning department have been working on an exciting new project that has given local young performing arts enthusiasts the opportunity to star in the North West’s amateur premiere production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Following on from the success of last year’s Youth Theatre production of Sister Act, the Liverpool Empire’s Creative Learning department was invited to present one of the first amateur productions of Legally Blonde: The Musical, a year before its general amateur release.

The Empire’s Youth Theatre and Youth Dance companies work under the guidance of industry professionals, which enables them to experience a professional environment, preparing them for the world of work within the theatre industry and many of those involved go on to pursue professional careers in performing arts.

Both performing arts groups have been meeting regularly and working hard in preparation of the full scale musical, which plays at the Empire Theatre from Friday August 21-Saturday August 22.

Creative Learning Manager Natalie Flynn commented: "Legally Blonde is such a great show and one that the young people can relate to, as it explores themes such as following your dreams and being true to yourself. ATG launched the first tour of Legally Blonde the Musical in Liverpool so this production is extra special to us. We’re honoured to be chosen as one of the first to perform an amateur production of Legally Blonde."

A winner of seven major awards including the coveted Best Musical 2011 (Olivier Awards), the all-singing, all-dancing romantic comedy Legally Blonde: The Musical is about knowing who you are and showing what you’ve got!

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take ‘no’ for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone ‘serious’, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. With some help from new-found friends Paulette, Emmett and her Chihuahua Bruiser, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style!

Just one month until the brand new production of The Sound Of Music opens at the Empire

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

From Oz to Austria, a Palladium star brings the hills alive in The Sound Of Music

One of the greatest musicals of all-time returns to the stage in a magnificent new production which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday September 14-Saturday September 19 as part of a major national tour.

Playing the iconic role of Maria von Trapp is Danielle Hope, who captured the hearts of the country when she won BBC Television’s Over the Rainbow and made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Danielle has since played Eponine in Les Misérables in London’s West End and Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Joining the company as Captain von Trapp is much-loved stage and television star Steven Houghton. Well-known for his longstanding television role in London’s Burning, Olivier-Award nominated actor Steven has taken on leading roles in Spend Spend Spend, Blood Brothers, White Christmas, Martin Guerre and Grease and had a Top Ten hit with ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’.

Produced by Bill Kenwright, directed by Martin Connor, choreographed by Olivier Award winner Bill Deamer, and with musical direction by David Steadman, this wonderfully lavish new staging of the classic musical coincides with the 50th anniversary of the film version, the most successful movie musical in history.

It all began with the story of the Trapp Family Singers and Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, which inspired Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse to create a Broadway musical in 1959. The Sound of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of WWII.

The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, So Long, Farewell and, of course, the title song The Sound Of Music.

Joining Danielle and Steven are West End stars Jan Hartley (The Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story) as Mother Abbess, and Emma Clifford as Baroness Elsa Schrader, with Howard Samuels as Max, Grace Chapman as Liesl and Luke George as Rolf.

Completing the cast are Lynden Edwards, Philip Day, Zoe Ann Bown, Kate Milner Evans, Martin Dickinson, Lewis Barnshaw, Colin Burnicle, Jessica Daley, Grace Gardner and Katie Shearman.

Sister Act coming to the Liverpool Empire in Autumn 2016

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Jamie Wilson is delighted to announce a national tour of an all-new production of the hit musical comedy Sister Act, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervision and arrangements by Tony award-winning Sarah Travis. Sister Act will play the Liverpool Empire Theatre from Monday October 10-Saturday October 15 2016.

Tickets go on sale to ATG Theatre Card members on Monday August 3 2015 and on general sale on Wednesday August 5 2015.

Craig Revel Horwood, director and choreographer, commented: “I am truly thrilled to be directing and choreographing this all new production of Sister Act, a show I fell in love with when I saw it a few years ago. I am currently putting together a dream creative team, and I can’t wait to get started next year on this hilarious and wonderful show”.

Jamie Wilson, producer, added: “I am delighted to be presenting this all new production of Sister Act at both Curve, Leicester and on tour. I couldn’t think of a better theatre to be producing this show with and am thrilled Nikolai Foster and his team will be welcoming those singing nuns next summer!”

Nikolai Foster, artistic director of Curve, said: "It's been a great joy collaborating with Craig on Annie and having been inspired by many of his innovative productions as director, I know, along with Sarah’s inspired musical leadership, they will deliver an exhilarating and hugely original production at Curve".

Based on the smash-hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith, Sister Act tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

Sister Act features original music by the eight-time Oscar and Tony Award winner Alan Menken. Alan’s credits include the films and stage musicals of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Newsies as well as Tangled, Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and Hercules on film. His other credits include the film and stage production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Craig Revel Horwood is probably best known as a judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. As a director and choreographer, his many credits include the recent all-star concert of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the Royal Albert Hall, Sunset Boulevard at the Comedy theatre in the West End, the national tours of Fiddler on the Roof, Spend Spend Spend and Chess (also Toronto) and The Witches of Eastwick, Martin Guerre and Copacabana, all at the Watermill Theatre. Craig also wrote and directed a brand new show Strictly Confidential that toured the UK, starring familiar faces from Strictly Come Dancing as well as the annual arena tours of Strictly Come Dancing. As a performer, his West End Theatre credits include Munkustrap in Cats at the New London Theatre; Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane; and Harry in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre. He is currently playing Miss Hannigan in the tour of Annie.

Sister Act has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, with a book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. It is based on the Touchstone Pictures movie Sister Act, written by Jacob Howard.

For more information, visit www.sisteractuktour.co.uk.

David Hasselhoff to tour in a brand new musical

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

The iconic David Hasselhoff is to tour more than 20 theatres and arenas across the UK with the brand new musical Last Night A DJ Saved My Life.

The explosive new production opens with a world premiere at the Blackpool Opera House on October 16 2015 ahead of a major UK tour which will see The Hoff play 68 nights at more than 20 venues over a 13-week tour between October 2015 and February 2016.

The Hoff plays Ross, a hilarious hedonist. He’s Ibiza’s top 80s DJ who doesn’t realise a new decade has dawned, disco is out, and that the club scene is in.

He tries to keep up with the times...with Mandy, his new younger girlfriend (Kim Tiddy, from The Bill and Hollyoaks), but matters are complicated when his teenage daughter Penny (Stephanie Webber from The Voice) arrives to stay. Father and daughter haven’t seen each other for three years, since a messy divorce. No longer a demure school girl, but a wild child who quickly falls for Rik, the holiday rep (Shane Richie Jnr).

It’s the story of two generations colliding, as a badly behaved parent tries to control a wild child teenager! This hilarious hit-fest is also a touching father and daughter drama set against a background of sun, sea, sex, drugs and hits that take us back to the 80s and 90s when we wore denim overalls, girls had hair scrunchies and guys played Nintendo Game Boy. Think Mamma Mia on speed! Friends meets Ibiza Uncovered, with the soundtrack of our lives.

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life will play the Liverpool Empire Theatre from January 19-23 2016.

Jason Donovan to play Tick in Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce that Jason Donovan will play the role of Tick in the UK tour of the international smash hit musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday January 25-Saturday January 30 2016.

Jason Donovan reprises the role of Tick, the part he played when the show originally opened in the West End and its subsequent tour in 2013. He has had a hugely successful and varied career as both an actor and world-wide recording artist, selling over 13 million albums to date. As well as Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, his other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the title role in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and The Artilleryman in The War Of The Worlds. He can currently be seen as Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. His television credits include Neighbours and Echo Beach. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

Get ready for the ride of your life! Based on the movie, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dance-floor favourites including It’s Raining Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff and Always On My Mind, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of Fabulous!

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical originally opened in Australia and after a sell-out two year run, opened in London’s West End followed by Broadway in the United States. It has won numerous awards all over the world, including prestigious Olivier and Tony awards.

For further details, visit www.priscillathemusical.com.

Roll back the years to the swingin' sixties with the Dreamboats sequel

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Inspired by the seven smash hit multi-million selling albums

Whatever happened to Bobby and Laura and Norman and Sue? Their story continues in Dreamboats and Miniskirts, the sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats.

This summer, Dreamboats and Miniskirts returns to theatres to showcase the greatest hit songs of the 60s. It visits the Liverpool Empire theatre from Monday August 24-Saturday August 29.

It is the sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats, which premiered in Bromley in 2009, and became a musical phenomenon having played to more than two million people across the UK. Inspired by Universal’s multi-million selling album series which now boasts seven double compilation albums and a myriad of one off special releases!

It’s 1963 and the Petticoats gang are growing up and facing new challenges. Bobby and Laura’s first single, Dreamboats and Petticoats, went to the top of the charts, but they haven’t been able to repeat that success with any further records. Norman and Sue have settled down to non-marital bliss, and a baby! And Ray and Donna seem blissfully happy in their professional lives ... but are they really?

The advent of the Beatles and the Merseybeat sound is inspirational. But will it inspire Bobby and Laura to have one more shot at stardom, Norman to “get off the drains” and find that hit parade voice he has longed for, and Ray to realise his ambition and manage a really top pop act?

All will be revealed in a follow up with the same wit, charm, and great songs as Dreamboats and Petticoats.

Dreamboats and Miniskirts is written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, The New Statesman, Shine on Harvey Moon, Save the Last Dance For Me and of course, Dreamboats and Petticoats, and is produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield in association with Universal Music.

Featuring hit after hit from Twist & Shout to Handy Man to Pretty Woman, One Fine Day and many more, Dreamboats and Miniskirts is happiness guaranteed.