Gossip

These Shoes Are Made for Touring???

Shoes, the new dance musical by Jerry Springer – The Opera creator and composer Richard Thomas and director/choreographer Stephen Mear, faces the critics tonight (7 September 2010), but following enthusiastic responses at previews – including the one attended by Whatsonstage.com theatregoers at last night’s Outing – plans are already afoot (excuse that and any other puns) for the show’s future life. Speaking at our post-show Q&A, Thomas said Shoes is likely to return to the Sadler’s Wells programme in the new year, running for six to nine weeks at the Peacock Theatre in the West End before touring and eventually returning “home” to the dance base in Angel.

In the meantime, Shoes’ brief world-premiere run continues until 11 September. Billed as a dance revue exploring “the gamut of footwear, from the highs of the Louboutin to the lows of the croc”, songs include “Vex in the City”, “Imelda Marcos Argues with the Nation” and “The Flip-Flop Paradigm”. In addition to 12 dancers, the production features four singers (Australia’s chart-topper Kate Miller-Heidke and West End stars Alison Jiear, Simon Gleeson and Tim Howar) and a live band.

Check back in News shortly for our full podcast recording of last night’s – highly entertaining and occasionally X-rated post-show discussion with Richard Thomas and Stephen Mear!