Go Go Craig!
February 27, 2008
When producer/director BILL KENWRIGHT brings his renowned production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT back to the Sunderland Empire this summer, audiences will undoubtedly recognize the young man in the leading role it will be 25 year-old CRAIG CHALMERS
Craig was one of the most popular finalists in the recent hit BBC series Any Dream Will Do. Watched by millions every Saturday night, the show was produced to find a leading man for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new West End production, and Craig, chosen from tens of thousands of wannabes, charmed audiences week after week with his vocal talents, finishing in the top five.
Before JOSEPH, Edinburgh born Craig was a professional vocalist and entertainer. He was part of successful boyband ‘No Reason’ who enjoyed a top ten hit, as well as performing at the Kings Theatre in Edinburgh and Hampden Stadium, alongside Blue, McFly, Sugarbabes and Girls Aloud. Read more
Half A Sixpence
February 26, 2008
Half A Sixpence
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Date Reviewed: 25th February
Half A Sixpence is a gem of a touring show that allows Gary Wilmot to demonstrate he is still one of Britain’s best all round stage performers.
Best remembered as a hit musical film, Half A Sixpence is a feel good family show. Telling the story of Arthur Kipps, who as a child cuts a sixpence in half and gives one piece to his childhood sweetheart Ann before they are separated. Years later Ann (Claire Marlow) traces Arthur to Folkstone where she still expects to be “his girl”. Unfortunately when he inherits a large sum of money, Arthur starts to mix with society people who just want to change him and he becomes engaged to Helen Walsingham (Zara Plessard). Read more
Wedding Singer to get a good reception
February 25, 2008
Based on the 1998 blockbuster movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer tells the story of Wannabe rock star Robbie Hart, everyone’s favourite wedding singer.
He’s the life and soul of the party until he gets jilted at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a waitress who wins his heart - only trouble is, Julia’s about to be married! Can Robbie pull off the performance of the decade and win the girl of his dreams?
The Wedding Singer features television star Jonathan Wilkes, whose theatre credits include the lead roles in The Rocky Horror Show, Tommy and Grease, and Natalie Casey, who has just wowed the West End in Fame and is well known from BBC2’s smash hit comedy Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Read more
Dancing on Ice glides in to Newcastle
February 24, 2008
Dancing on Ice, the ITV hit show returns for its second live tour, stopping at the Newcastle Arena for two nights only, April 11th and 12th .
Andi Peters will return as compere of the live show; this a time around he will present to live audiences without the help of crutches having steered clear of the ice since his ankle break last year which he sustained during practice. He went on to present the show regardless of his injury.
All of the celebrities (inc Chris Fountain, Linda Lusardi, Gareth Gates, Kyran Bracken and Clare Buckfleid )will be trained and choreographed by mentors Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean (who will perform several of their favourite routines at each show) all over the UK.
The judging panel will be rink-side at each show to critique the celebrity routines. Olympic gold medal winner Robin Cousins will head the panel of ice judges, which includes Karen Barber, Nicky Slater and Jason Gardiner. Read more
Oh! What A Night
February 22, 2008
Oh! What A Night
Venue: Sunderland Empire
Date Reviewed: 21st Feb 2008
The musical Oh! What A Night has been around for some time but it has been revised for the 2008 tour and appears to be still bedding in to its new guise. We now have a set made up of white screens that can be used to back project pictures that take us from high over New York to the inside of the Inferno Disco and recorded music.
Kid Creole again leads the show as the owner and DJ of the Inferno Disco and shows the audience he can sing still and dance.
The story line, as such, is just a way of linking all the 80s hits together. The main story involves a Hollywood producer coming to the Inferno to find the best dancers for an up and coming movie set in New York (where the Bee Gees have been signed to write the music). Not only does she find the dancers but ends up agreeing to use the disco as the night club in the film. At the same time we have one of the Inferno workers trying to trick Kid Creoles character in to giving him the disco to pay off his debts. Read more
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