The Addams Family Review

New Wimbledon Theatre, 16th- 20th May.  Reviewed By Jessica Brady

The Addams Family musical holds a very special place in my heart, it’s one of my favourite modern musicals and I know this show very well so I was excited that I got to an opportunity to review it at the New Wimbledon Theatre.

The plot of the show follows all the characters we know and love from the Addams family and focuses on the now grown up Wednesday [Played by Carrie Hope Fletcher] who has fallen in love with a boy from Ohio, Lucas Beineke [Played by Oliver Ormson] and they are secretly engaged. Wednesday goes to her father, Gomez [Played by Cameron Blakely] and reveals the secret just as the Beineke’s are due to visit the Addams clan for the first time that evening for dinner. Wednesday begs her father to keep it a secret from her mother, Morticia [Played by Samantha Womack] leaving Gomez conflicted on who to stay loyal to. Wednesday is afraid that Morticia will ruin the evening and jeopardise the relationship she has with Lucas, as well as scaring off his parents Mal [Played by Dale Rapley] and Alice [Played by Charlotte Page] who are ‘normal people’ unlike the Addams Family. Uncle Fester [Played by Les Dennis] enlists the help of the Addams Family ancestors to ensure the night runs smoothly but this evening will run far from that. Wednesday’s Brother Pugsley [Played by Grant McIntyre] is worried his sister will desert him and not torture him the way they she always has now that she is being pulled in a new direction of happiness and rainbows with her new love interest. Pugsley’s jealously leads him to take drastic action and seeks wisdom from his Grandma [Played by Valda Aviks] who tells him he needs to move on and find his own happiness in life. This isn’t the advise he was hoping to hear so he sneakily steals some of his Grandma’s Acrimonium- a powerful potion that makes anyone who drinks it reveal their dark side, in the hopes that Wednesday, at the traditional family dinner game of ‘Full Disclosure’, will tell her secrets and ruin the relationship with Lucas. As the Beineke’s enter the Addams Family Mansion and are greeted by the butler Lurch [Played by Dickon Gough] the night escalates into ciaos with the Addams trying to act ‘normal’ for the sake of the highly strung Mal and reserved Alice. The dinner ends in total disaster as Gomez is found out to have lied to Morticia about Wednesday and Lucas’s engagement and the Acrimonium being drank by Alice as a result of Pugsley putting it in the sacred challis, not to mention Uncle Fester’s declaration of love for the moon! This comedy of errors does end happily but you will have to see it to find out how!

The set and lighting design is one of the best I have seen in any production and brings the gothic tone the Addams Family needs perfectly, along with some subtle tricks to have a moving picture and ‘The thing’ popping up in certain scenes. I was really blown away by it and the costumes were incredible particularly with the ancestors who all had intricate personalised characters ranging from a ballerina, a tudor, a jester and many more.

The whole cast was brilliant but my personal favourites were the incredibly talented Carrie Hope Fletcher who’s work I have admired for many years. Her characterisation of Wednesday was full of the sadistic energy it needs and her voice is incredible, each of her numbers in the show are effortless and powerful! Womack and Blakely play the iconic Morticia and Gomez wonderfully and their chemistry is electric, especially in their tango number. Les Dennis as Uncle Fester is such a great casting as he plays the bizarre, creepy and kooky nature of Fester down to a T!

This show is such a treat and absolutely hilarious with some cracking one liners and a fabulous musical score to enhance it! I love all the numbers in this show but we all know what to expect when we hear the familiar theme tune. So go along and *CLICK CLICK* for yourself, I promise you, you will not be disappointed!

Ballroom Review

Waterloo East Theatre 12 May – 4 June.  Reviewed by Claire Roderick

Ballroom doesn’t have the greatest score, or book, but for all its flaws, this 1978 musical still has some charm. In its European premiere, Gerald Armin’s direction manages to capture the faded and slightly tawdry atmosphere of a 1970s Bronx dancehall, but the Starlight Ballroom never quite sparkles as it should.

The plot follows widowed Bea Asher, who is sleepwalking through life after her husband’s death. Persuaded by friend Angie, Bea goes along to the Starlight Ballroom to meet new friends. Al Rossi sweeps her off her feet and their affair gives her a new lease of life, but he is not all he seems.

Jessica Martin is strong as Bea, managing to make you almost forget the ridiculous wig she’s saddled with for the second act; and really nails Fifty Percent. Olivia Maffett shows great comic chops as Bea’s disapproving sister-in-law and as a dippy ballroom regular. Natalie Moore-Williams as Angie gives a stand out performance, all gum chewing brassiness with a heart of gold beneath, with a fantastically over the top Cagney and Lacey style accent. Colette Kelly almost steals every scene as another neurotic dancer, and the entire cast are obviously having a ball, especially Danielle Morris and Adam Anderson – acing the cheesy cabaret singer moves and grins.

It is wonderful to see such a mature cast take the stage, but this leads to a wider range of dancing ability than usually seen. Nancy Kettle seems to have accepted what she has to work with and opted for simple routines that never threaten to take your breath away. The characterisation by the cast saves the day, with some gloriously ridiculous posing from the dancers. The Tango competition and the Hustle are fantastic laugh out loud moments, and you really can’t help being swept away on the charm and energy blasting from the cast.

Yes, it’s dated, fluffy and cheesy, and feels a little like the 50th anniversary reunion of the Dirty Dancing cast, but Ballroom is a lot of fun and has some great comic performances.

Graham Greene Spy thriller on stage – a treat for York 31 May – 3 June

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW RETURNS FOR A UK TOUR AND FIFTH SOUTHBANK CENTRE FESTIVE SEASON

THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED THEATRICAL SPECTACULAR

 

SLAVA’S SNOW SHOW

 

 

o   OPENS A UK TOUR IN CARDIFF THIS OCTOBER

o   RETURNS TO SOUTHBANK CENTRE’S ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL IN LONDON FOR A FIFTH WHITE CHRISTMAS

o   SLAVA’S LATEST BOOK, THE ALCHEMY OF SNOWNESS TO RECEIVE UK LAUNCH ON MAY 23RDAND 24TH

 

 

Enter a joyous dream-like world, unlike anything you have seen before. A world in which a cobweb envelops the audience and one tiny piece of paper begins a heart-stopping blizzard of snow…

 

The multi-award winning international sensation SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW returns to the UK this autumn commencing its 2017 journey at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on Wednesday 17th November, with a national press night on Thursday 18th November. The show tours to Salford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Norwich, Bristol and Southampton before making a return to London’s Southbank Centre for an unprecedented fifth season of festive magic from 18th December – 4th January.  The Snowshow is produced by Matthew Gale and Mark Goucher.

A combination of theatrical clowning and stunning visual spectacle, SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW is performed by a world-renowned company of clowns led by Slava Polunin, Artistic Director of the St Petersburg Circus.

Slava’s Snowshow is to clowning what Cirque du Soleil is to the circus… as theatrical as it is simple, as involving as it is inspiring” – Variety

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW is the internationally acclaimed winner of the Time Out, Olivier and Drama Desk awards for most unique theatrical experience. It had its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival in 1994, and has since toured all over the country, delighting audiences of all ages and winning an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment during its run at the Old Vic in 1998. The show’s popularity overseas has seen it performed in 80 cities around the globe including New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro and Moscow.

Ahead of the opening of UK Slava Polunin visits the UK to launch his new book Alchemy of Snowness. The publication explores Slava’s role as an artist, a creator, a performer, and of his Snowshow, the theatre spectacle that has entertained, enchanted and touched audiences worldwide. The book traces Slava’s artistic journey and exhilarating exploration in his creation of “a show that would bring us back to our childhood dreams; a show which would help spectators be released from the jail of adulthood and rediscover their forgotten childhood”. With 27 stunning illustrations throughout by artist Quint Buchholz punctuating Slava’s poetic storytelling this book is a must-read for anyone intrigued by the creative process and for those longing for a little magic in their lives.

Overwhelming, invigorating, terrifying, delightful…it brings us back to the lost Eden of our childhood” – Financial Times

 

The show’s triumphant return to the Royal Festival Hall after four highly successful winter seasons will mark the culmination of the latest stage in an extraordinary journey, which has seen it become a key part of the UK cultural landscape.

“Theatrical brilliance”- Sunday Times

“A magical work of wonder” – Evening Standard

Simply thrilling…an unforgettable comedy masterpiece” – The Independent

Influenced by artists such as Chaplin, Marcel Marceau and Engibarov, Slava and his company have taken clowning out of the world of circus, and brought it to theatre lovers, fellow practitioners and families worldwide.   -END-

 

LISTINGS

SLAVA’S SNOW SHOW

www.slavasnowshow.co.uk

ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON

Mon 18th December 2017 – Thur 4th January 2018

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/119777-slavas-snowshow-201718

Box Office:  0844 875 0073

Tickets: £20 to £105

Age Guidance: Recommended for children 8 years and over and strictly no children under 3 will be permitted

NB SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW is performed by an ensemble company. It is rarely known in advance which clowns will perform at which performance.

 

2017 UK TOUR DATES

 

Tue 17 – Sat 21 October                                                              Box Office: 029 2063 6464

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff                                               www.wmc.org.uk

Tue 24 – Sat 28 October                                                               Box Office: 0843 2086000

The Lowry, Salford                                                                        www.thelowry.com

Wed 1 – Sun 5 November                                                            Box Office: 0131 529 6000

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh                                                         www.edtheatres.com

Tue 7 – Sat 11 November                                                             Box Office: 0844 871 7648

King’s Theatre, Glasgow                                                               www.atgtickets.com

Tue 21 – Sat 25 November                                                           Box Office: 01603 630000

Theatre Royal, Norwich                                                                 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Tue 28 Nov – Sat 2 December                                                     Box Office:  0844 871 7627

Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol                                                          http://www.atgtickets.com

Tue 5 – Sat 9th December                                                              Box Office: 023 8071 1811

Mayflower, Southampton                                                           www.mayflower.org.uk

Footloose Review

Richmond Theatre, 15th- 18th May.  Reviewed By Jessica Brady 

The beautiful Richmond Theatre played host to a new production of FOOTLOOSE last night and it was a real toe tapping treat. Despite a slightly late curtain up, the show didn’t disappoint.

The story follows a young disgruntled teen, Ren [played by Joshua Dowling], moving into the small Bible belt town of Beaumont after his father left his mother [Played by Lindsay Goodhand] and him in Chicago. Ren struggles to integrate into the community that is plagued by tragedy after 4 teens died in a car accident 5 years previously. As a result of that accident, the town’s council imposed new laws, one of which was a ban on dancing to protect the teens of the town from corruption that could threaten the religious integrity of the youths. The town is ruled by its reverend [Played by Reuven Gershon] who’s son was killed in the accident and he tries to control the lives of people in the town as well as his young teenage daughter Ariel [Played by Hannah Price]. Ariel is the dutiful daughter in front of her mother [Played by Maureen Nolan] and father, but often goes out and rebels to escape the tight leash that holds her back. Her relationship with the town’s rough and ready Chuck [Played by Connor Going] often means she is controlled even more so as he is the bully that nobody wants to mess with. Ren makes it his mission along with his new and slightly dumb friend Willard [Played by Gareth Gates] to win the town round and make the teens of the town teenagers again and make them realise that living the way they do isn’t the norm and that a school dance would bring everyone together again.

The show has a super talented cast who all act as the band for the show playing a range of instruments along with dancing, acting and incredible vocals. I have seen a few actor musician shows over the years but this was one of the best of this type I have seen. Each member of the cast swaps and changes instruments with ease and you quickly accept the way the show is presented with characters playing on stage in scenes. Lots of multi roles happen in the show that show off real skill which makes for very entertaining viewing.

Special mentions must go to Gareth Gates who absolutely shines in the comedy role of Willard; he has incredible skill as a physical comedian and was a complete standout in this show which I was really happy to see. I also loved the three girls Rusty [Played by Laura Sillett] Urleen [Played by Gracie Lai] and Wendy-Jo [Played by Emma Fraser] who all had fantastic voices and comic timing not to mention heaps of sass! Joshua Dowen as Ren was a good choice, full of energy and charisma that suited the role well.

The staging was great and well used in different settings but I felt the lighting on stage was generally a little dark and the follow spots seemed to have problems knowing who to follow at times which was a little distracting. The cast to begin with seemed a little nervous and frantic [possibly a result of the late curtain up] but soon settled down and gave the show the powerful punch it needed.

Some great cheesy songs, packed with energy and fun, great choreography and an all round fun show, Footloose gives you a great feel good factor that will have you singing and dancing all the way home.

Darlington Hippodrome – Darlington Theatre Town

RAISE A GLASS TO DARLINGTON THEATRE TOWN WITH EARLY DOORS

Darlington Theatre Town is an exciting new initiative to present the most ambitious and high quality theatre in Darlington. The project brings together the expertise of partners Creative Darlington, Darlington Hippodrome, Luxi, Theatre Hullabaloo and ODDMANOUT to cement Darlington’s place in the Tees Valley as a Theatre Town and a place where theatre thrives.

The project, funded by the Arts Council and Darlington Borough Council, grew from the opportunity presented by the redevelopment of the Civic Theatre (opening as Darlington Hippodrome this Autumn), the exciting development of Theatre Hullabaloo’s new theatre for young audiences ‘The Hullabaloo’ (opening this Autumn) and the momentum that has built over the last couple of years around theatre in unusual places by events such as the award-winning Jabberwocky Market.

This creative project is launched with Early Doors, a celebration of community spirit and pub culture, presented by award-winning theatre company Not Too Tame who bring their production of Early Doors The Hole In The Wall in Darlington next week.

Not Too Tame Theatre is founded on the belief of ‘Theatre for All’, that everyone can take something away from. Artistic Director, Jimmy Fairhurst, “Early Doors is a love letter to the local boozer and the people who frequent it. A site specific, immersive show that incorporates live music, comedy, pathos and moments to warm your heart, it’s a great night out condensed into an hour and a half’s entertainment.”

Early Doors comes to The Hole In The Wall, Horsemarket, Darlington on Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25 May at 8pm. Recommended age 14+

Tickets £10 concessions £7

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 405405 or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

MEL BROOKS’ MONSTER MUSICAL TO PLAY NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL BEFORE WEST END PREMIER

MEL BROOKS’ MONSTER MUSICAL TO PLAY NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL BEFORE

WEST END PREMIER

 

Legendary filmmaker and comedian Mel Brooks is bringing his new musical Young Frankenstein exclusively to Newcastle Theatre Royal ahead of its West End premier.  North East folk will be able to see the monster musical comedy and its all-star cast first before anyone else for two weeks only: Sat 26 Aug – Sat 9 Sep 2017.  Do not miss!

 

Local lad and comedy hero Ross Noble and screen stars Lesley Joseph and Hadley Fraser will lead the cast of the brand new all-singing all-dancing extravaganza, which is based on the Oscar-nominated smash hit movie of the same name.  The show will run for two weeks in Newcastle as a ‘pre-West End’ season before it opens at London’s Garrick Theatre in late September.

 

Summer Strallen also stars in the show.  Sister of Zizzi (Mary Poppins) and niece of Bonnie Langford, audiences will likewise recognize her from Live Theatre’s Flying into Daylight and Paradise Moscow at the Theatre Royal in 2009. Dianne Pilkington (Wicked), and Patrick Clancy (The Producers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) will also feature.

 

Hadley Fraser will play the title role of Dr Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein, and immortalised by Gene Wilder in the 1974 movie. Hadley’s widely acclaimed stage credits include Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables, a show to which he returned in the role of Javert. He was in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company for The Winter’s Tale & Harlequinade at the Garrick Theatre and starred alongside Tom Hiddleston in the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, and performed there again in City of Angels, The Vote and Saint Joan.

 

Cramlington lad Ross Noble will play the hilarious role of the hunchbacked, bug-eyed servant Igor. Ross is one of the UK’s most original and exciting performers: a stand-up comedian since the age of 15, his countless accolades include Time Out award winner for best live stand-up, Barry Award winner, Perrier Award nominee and several Chortle Awards. Unveiling a new sell-out show every year for the last 20 years, Ross is one of the most successful comedians of our time exuding an on-stage presence unlike any other.

 

Ross’ worldwide travel as a stand-up was the subject of his own BBC Radio 4 programmes, Ross Noble Goes Global and Ross Noble On. He is a regular guest star on TV programmes including Live at the Apollo, QI, Just A Minute and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, and he has made 19 appearances on Have I Got News for You.

Lesley Joseph is Frau Blucher, the forbidding housekeeper to the Frankenstein family estate in Transylvania. Lesley is best known for playing Dorien Green, the neighbour from hell, in the ITV1 sitcom Birds of a Feather. Having recorded over one hundred episodes, Dorien became a national institution, with the show watched at its height by 23 million people. Lesley has a wealth of theatrical experience to her credit; most recently in the 2016 UK tour of Annie, in which she played the role of Miss Hannigan. In 2016, Lesley donned her dancing shoes and sequinned dresses as one of the contestants in Strictly Come Dancing with dance partner Anton du Beke.

 

Young Frankenstein, the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic, sees Frederick Frankenstein, an esteemed New York brain surgeon and professor, inherit a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his deranged genius grandfather, Victor Von Frankenstein.  He now faces a dilemma – does he continue to run from his family’s tortured past or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather’s mad experiments reanimating the dead and, in the process, fall in love with his sexy lab assistant Inga?

 

Based on the hilarious 1974 film and co-written with Thomas Meehan, Brooks will once again collaborate with Broadway director and choreographer Susan Stroman for this all-singing all-dancing new production, bringing his and Gene Wilder’s classic movie to life on stage.

 

The company will include Imogen Brooke, Matt Crandon, Nathan Elwick, Kelly Ewins-Prouse, Andrew Gordon-Watkins, Sammy Kelly, Richard Pitt, Harriet Samuel-Gray, Gemma Scholes, Emily Squibb, Aron Wild and Josh Wilmott.

 

Young Frankenstein is produced by Mel Brooks, Michael Harrison and Fiery Angel.

 

The pre-West End season of Young Frankenstein is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Sat 26 August until Sat 9 September 2017, playing evenings Tue – Sat at 7.30pm, matinees on Sat 2.30pm (not 26 Aug) & Thu 7 Sep 2pm. Tickets from £19.50.  Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

La Strada Review

Quays Theatre, The Lowry, Manchester – until Saturday 20 May.  Reviewed by Julie Noller

You could be forgiven in assuming that because La Strada was being performed on a smaller stage within The Lowry that it wouldn’t be a polished performance, well it was more than polished it was totally watchable (I may even say awesome). I like The Quays Theatre, it may be the smaller stage but it has character and you always feel part of a small group brought together for enjoyment.

The stage set up looked drab and grey fitting perfectly with the oppressive feel of the whole play. Lighting was used to perfection cleverly designed by Aideen Malone, one stand out piece is the motorbike headlight as it scans through the night catching the audience its hard to decide if I felt like a rabbit caught in headlights or rather part of a facist ragime interrogation.

Fellinis 1954 film of the same title is well known, however I must own up and confess to not having watched it – sadly. I was impressed with Sally Cooksons direction on stage. I was lost in its story of humanity. I do believe that my interpretation of what I watched to be unique to me, you may see and feel entirely different aspects for that is the desired effect.

I loved the beginning how the ensemble gave the appearance of a collective yet as individuals. I felt like I was back at school watching a travelling theatre company perform a very personal show just for my class. But they are right, the ensemble, it is a story that transcends time itself, it is happening now, it happened ten thousand years ago, it will happen tomorrow.

You watch the story unfolding yet you don’t judge any character, La Strada highlights many things, social weaknesses, poverty, malnutrition, deprivation. Life is full of sadness and vulnerability.

Each character perfectly entwines the next cleverly highlighting a different aspect of life itself. Gelsomina portrayed with great understanding by Audrey Bisson, is vulnerable and yet a character of great strength. There are subtle clues into her own life and personality, is she autistic in a time where autism wasn’t accepted or even existed? She doesn’t like noise and hums to herself to remain calm. Sounds and lights and textures play an important part be it the rose petals released by The Fool or watching the band play. There is humour yet there is always the haunting melody of Gelsominas tune – we associate that music with Gelsomina when we hear it, only hummed by Gelsomina herself until sadly at the end when we hear a stranger hum it, whilst cleverly tieing loose ends together and bringing the tale to a close.

Stuart Goodwin as our yorkshire accented strongman must have included every stereotypye of the time, a temper, bloodyminded, drinker. He is a bully yet he’s a victim of circumstance, remember how people throughout history react to deprivation and poverty. They drink to forget, they party when they can, try to be with likeminded people, seek out company or speciafically sex to replace the lack of love and compassion in their lives. It was fantastic to see this deeply unemotional man towards the end show a vulnerable side, to see how deeply Gelsomina affected his life.

My favourite character has to be Il Matto – The Fool, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp he brings light relief to what is potentially a highly charged play of deep emotions, I wasn’t expecting to feel close to tears or to want a character to succeed in life as much as I did. Is his character another one of lifes lessons? Fools do not survive? Or was it a case of here is a fool with so much knowledge of life? I feel if I watch La Strada again I will gain another insight. His purpose is a basic one to show how life could be, hes poor yet happy. He aims to bring Gelsomina out of her oppressive lifestyle to remember her freewill, to be happy. Ultimately he succeeds but not before paying the ultimate price. Congratulations on the amazing circus skills, very impressive and as my friend commented La Strada is not just a ticket to see a play you get a circus thrown in too.

The music throughout again brings to mind poverty and how important music is in uplifting our souls. Original music is by Benji Bower and I have to say we have songs in English, French and Italian each song has great meaning to plays an important part in story telling, deprivation is not unique to one nation.

I enjoyed La Strada and would consider taking my teens to watch it. It’s a striking piece of theatre that shows such a fantastic understanding of humanity. I can’t praise it highly enough. If you enjoy cheering on the underdog be warned it doesn’t have a Hollywood happy ending. But it does allow your mind to drift afterwards to alternate endings and what ifs lifestyles.

Rob Brydon announces new tour: I Am Standing Up

Rob Brydon: I Am Standing Up

Newcastle City Hall Saturday 7 October 2017

Stand up Rob Brydon is coming to Newcastle as part of his latest tour.

The comic, who is currently on our screens hosting Would I Lie To You? and starring in The Trip, will be performing at Newcastle City Hall.

 

The performance of his show, titled I Am Standing Up, will take place on Sat 7 Oct 2017. The tour dates are Brydon’s first stand up shows since his sell-out national tour and West End run in 2009.

 

Rob Brydon is perhaps best known for the television shows Gavin and Stacey, Would I Lie To You? and The Trip as well as Marion and Geoff, Human Remains, Little Britain, The Rob Brydon Show, Best of Men, Gangster Granny and Q.I.  His film work includes The Huntsman : Winter’s War, Cinderella and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Earlier this year in London’s West End he starred opposite Sir Kenneth Branagh in The Painkiller.  His other theatre credits include Future Conditional at The Old Vic and A Chorus of Disapproval at The Harold Pinter Theatre.

 

Rob Brydon plays Newcastle City Hall on Sat 7 Oct 2017 Tickets are £37.00 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk  or from the Theatre Royal Box office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).

 

Stand by Me at the Edinburgh Playhouse

Stand by Me

       A celebration of Ben E King and The Drifters

Stand by Me is the phenomenal musical history of a group that helped to define Atlantic Records, inspired early rock and roll and was a forerunner to both the black music movement in 1950’s America and even early Motown.

Bringing a remarkable and unique tribute to the icons, challenges, controversy, and conflicts and of course the vast succession of over 50 hits over the last six decades. The music sets the scene for our tribute within the lyrics, with well-loved songs that transport you straight to Broadway, talk of growing up in 1950’s Harlem and even aspire to a black president of the United States… those heady days of Disco and the Northern Soul scene and much more.

This fast moving show features some of the group’s most well-known hits including Under The Boardwalk, Save The Last Dance For Me, Saturday Night At The Movies, Up On The Roof, Can I Take You Home Little Girl, Love Games, There Goes My Baby, Dance With Me, Sweets For My Sweet, There Goes My First Love, When My Little Girl Is Smiling, On Broadway, Money Honey, Every night’s A Saturday Night With You, Kissin In The Back Row, Come On Over To My Place, Down On The Beach, More Than A Number In My Little Red Book, Hello Happiness, Like Sister & Brother and many more…

The Drifters, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, are one of the biggest selling, longest serving bands of all time having sold an incredible 214 million singles and over 114 million albums worldwide – this is their musical history told through the music and anecdotes of the former members on screen. Featuring some of the original recording artists from the successful Stand by Me Album. Not to be missed, you will be on your feet remembering some of the greatest hits of all time!

©OTHELLO MUSIC LIMITED 2015

STAND BY ME IS NOT ASSOCIATED IN ANY WAY WITH TREADWELL ORIGINAL DRIFTERS LLC