I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about the two shows I’ll be attending this week and they’re both in, or close to, Tameside.
First up will be Cats at Stockport Plaza, as performed by The Drama Dept from 26th to 30th September. I went along to a rehearsal a couple of weeks ago and the energy and creativity was off the scale.
I’ve featured interviews with cast and creatives on my radio show in recent weeks and there’ll be another in the spotlight this week. I have seen Gary Jones in a couple of local Am/Dram shows during the last year and he was fabulous in both, so I can’t wait to see him in action again.
Another great group, NK Theatre Arts, who’re usually based at the famous Forum Theatre in Romiley, are performing SiX: the Musical, despite their plans almost ending because of the discovery of RAAC (Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) being found at the Forum, which is where they usually perform and rehearse.
The George Lawton Hall in Mossley has come to their rescue and so the show goes on in Tameside. If you fancy watching this very popular show, by an amazing group of talented performers, it’s on Sunday 24th at 3pm and again at 5.30pm, plus Thursday 28th, Friday 29th and Saturday 30th, with an additional performance at 5pm on Saturday 30th.
Aren’t we lucky to have two great, affordable shows right on our doorstep?
Last week I was at the Lowry in Salford to see Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which was brilliant. The first thing that draws me to any Musical is the music and although I wasn’t familiar with the songs before I went, I was drawn into the amazing story by some great songs and heartfelt ballads. Rebecca McKinnis, who played Jamie’s mother, was outstanding. I’d seen her previously in Dear Evan Hansen, in a similar role. She really is an amazing singer.
The following night I was at the Palace Theatre to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic Jesus Christ Superstar. Although I was familiar with the title song and I Don’t Know How to Love Him, and generally I love Lloyd Webber musicals, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I’d expected. There was nothing wrong with the choreography or the performers on stage, it was the music that I didn’t really enjoy. I must also say that describing Julian Clary as the “star” was very misleading. He was on stage for less than five minutes and performing just one song as Herod. Clearly, I’m probably one of the few Musical lovers who have that view. Everyone around me loved it. Musical taste is so subjective and I’m sure there will be many who wouldn’t love the songs of Abba as much as I do.
On Saturday evening I saw the CGI show Voyage for the eighth time and loved every minute. The energy inside the Abba Arena, right next to Wet Ham United’s stadium, the former Olympic Studium, was amazing. Everyone left with a smile on their face, a spring in their step and a song on their lips. I suppose there might have been someone who attended purely out of curiosity and maybe they left feeling like I did after Jesus Christ Superstar; slightly underwhelmed. It wouldn’t be right if we all loved the same things, but the next show is always just around the corner, both literally and metaphorically, as with Cats and Six this next week.
Join me from 7pm on Sunday, Tameside Radio 103.6FM, for great show tunes and my chats with the creatives from Cats and Six. To all those performing and attending, Break-a-Leg!
