Alan Plater’s award winning musical play, Blonde Bombshells of 1943, begins its major national tour at The Lowry from tonight until Sat 24 January 2009.

Brimming with 1940’s classics by Fats Waller, The Andrews Sisters and Glen Miller, Blonde Bombshells of 1943 is directed by Mark Babych and features a live band of eight talented actors/musicians including local Didsbury actor Matthew Ganley.

The Blonde Bombshells, the most glamorous all-girl swing band in the North, loses members every time it plays a GI camp. Now there’s an important BBC job in the offing and Betty (Charlotte Armer) needs to find new musicians – fast.

Among those drafted are naïve schoolgirl Liz (Laura Stevely), who plays a mean clarinet; Miranda (Rosie Jenkins), an upper-crust saxophonist; singing nun Lily (Sarah Whittuck) – and Patrick (Matthew Ganley), a male drummer prepared to don a frock in order to avoid a drafting.  With her motley line-up complete, Betty and her band prepare to dodge Hitler’s bombs and make the dangerous journey to a secret BBC recording – and potential fame and fortune.

Winner of the Manchester Evening News Award for Best Production of 2006, the talented Blonde Bombshell band of actor/musicians includes Matthew Ganley from Didsbury, a Salford University graduate who has previously worked with Hope Theatre Company and Manchester Actors Company. Jane Milligan, daughter of much-loved comedian Spike Milligan and Bradford-born actress/singer Paddy Milligan, plays May.

The all time favourite songs that the band perform live include, “Don’t sit under the apple tree”, “T’aint what you do”, “When I grow too old to dream”, “Tweet Tweet Shush Shush” and many more.

Blonde Bombshells runs at the Lowry from Tues 20th until Sat 24th Jan.

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