Features

Diversity visit North West with 2010 UK tour

ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity have announced a 13-date UK headline tour which includes visits to both Manchester and Liverpool.

In May this year, the dance troupe beat competition from an array of talented acts to win the reality TV talent contest and will be showcasing their talents once again in March and April next year.

The tour will open at the Manchester Apollo before it visits Liverpool’s Empire theatre and venues in Wolverhampton, Glasgow, Newcastle, Swindon, Plymouth, Oxford, Leicester, London, Bristol, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth.

The show promises to be a spectacular one which will be based around the concept of toys coming to life and features fellow Britain’s Got Talent contestant Aidan Davis joining Diversity on stage, as well as other special guests.

Formed in 2007, in memory of a dear friend, Diversity consists of eleven members from east London and the Essex area. Ranging in age from 13-26, they are made up of three sets of brothers: Ashley and Jordan Banjo, Ian, Jamie and Matthew McNaughton, Sam and Mitchell Craske. They are complemented by four of their best friends Terry Smith, Ike Ezekwugo, Warren Russell and Perri Luc Kiely.

The group’s leader and choreographer, Ashley Banjo, has been dancing since he was just 5 years old. Incorporating several genres of music from classical to hip-hop, their diverse eye-catching routines won the hearts of the nation. Nearly 20 million people in the UK watched Diversity sweep to victory in the TV reality talent contest, which was the most watched television programme in these shores for over six years.

Speaking about the tour next year, Ashley Banjo said: “We are so excited to be announcing our debut tour. It promises to be a fantastic experience. There will be unbelievable routines integrated in a storyline full of surprises with special guest artists. I think a lot of people will be surprised with what we’ve come up with. Expect the unexpected! This won’t just be a series of dances that you have seen us perform on TV. We will be bringing a toy story to life! Wait and see!”

Spurred on by the group’s motto ‘Dream Believe, Achieve’, they have travelled the length of the country dancing for their legion of devoted fans.

Highlights so far include performances at Wembley Stadium, T4 on The Beach, the MOBO Awards, and the Pride of Britain Awards. They are also the only act ever to perform on Downing Street for the Prime Minister, outside No.10. They will also be entertaining Her Majesty The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in December.

Diversity – Bringing a Toy Story to Life visits the Manchester Apollo on Saturday 27 March 2010. Tickets cost £18.50, for further details call 0161 242 2560.

The UK tour will then visit the Liverpool Empire on Sunday 28 March 2010 and tickets are on sale today (21 November), over the phone on 0844 847 2525 and online from 9.30am and to personal callers at box office from 12noon.