Michelle McManus

McManus’ Discotivity Cancels West End Christmas
Date: 19 September 2007

Michelle McManus (pictured) won’t be making her West End debut this year after all (See News, 3 Jul 2007). The 2003 winner of TV’s Pop Idol was due to star in Nativity-inspired musical comedy Discotivity for a limited Christmas season at the Arts Theatre from 4 December 2007 to 30 January 2008. However, after the show’s premiere last month at the Edinburgh Fringe, its West End transfer has been postponed.

Producer Kevin Wilson told Whatsonstage.com that, following lessons learned in Edinburgh, the piece was being substantially reworked and would not be ready in time for this Christmas. The plan is now to launch a regional tour in autumn 2008 ahead of a West End transfer in time for next Christmas. Wilson hopes that, depending on her other work commitments, McManus will remain attached to the musical next year.

Discotivity is billed as “a unique version of the Biblical Nativity story revisited and revitalised as an unseasonal panto romp set to the pump of the disco beat”. Use it up and wear it out while Mary and Joseph and their mouthy donkey Tiffany Turner boogie on down the dusty road to a stable in a Bethlehem full to bursting. Thrill as the shepherds leave their flock and go off in search of the new King. Shake your body down as the Three Kings journey to the Messiah bearing gifts that would even turn Posh Spice's head. As for Herod, he's well bad.

Since winning Pop Idol in 2003, McManus, who hails from Glasgow, became the first Scottish female to debut at Number 1 with her single “All This Time”, which was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award and has been presenting on Scottish radio and television. She has previously appeared on stage in The Vagina Monologues.

Discotivity is written by former DJ and music journalist Toby Rose, with a Seventies musical soundscape by DJs Luke Hope and Alan X. The premiere production is directed by Russell Labey, with lighting by Mike Robertson and choreography by Tara Wilkinson.

- by Terri Paddock

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