5:40pm Tuesday 14th April 2009
Exclusive By Emma Clayton
Musicals based on the hits of Take That, steamy blockbuster The Thorn Birds and TV sitcom dinnerladies are on their way to Bradford’s Alhambra theatre, as part of a dazzling spring season.
Over at St George’s Hall there’s comedy from a member of the Royle Family, music from the voice of M People, Heather Small, and an evening with boxing legend Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton.
Take That fans will be flocking to the Alhambra for Never Forget, featuring the band’s hits, including Back for Good and Pray, and starring former Brookside actor Philip Olivier as an aspiring singer/songwriter on a roller-coaster journey of fame, fortune and friendship.
Colleen McCullough’s novel The Thorn Birds, which sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, was made into an iconic 1980s TV mini series starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward. Now the dramatic saga is a stage show, starring musical theatre favourite Peter Karrie.
Another popular TV show given the theatrical treatment is Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies. Pudsey actor Andrew Dunn, who played Tony in the BBC sitcom, reprises his role in the new play, set in a factory canteen, which also stars former Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati.
The steamy platform of Milford Junction is the setting for an acclaimed production of Brief Encounter, featuring a cast of actor musicians switching between theatre and film to recreate the romantic story.
Next month the Alhambra stage is transformed into an ice rink for Cinderella on Ice, featuring the world-renowned Imperial Ice Stars, and in June dance maverick Matthew Bourne presents his version of Dorian Gray, turning Oscar Wilde’s gothic fable into a darkly seductive dance show set in the image-obsessed world of contemporary art and politics. Other shows at the Alhambra include Singin’ in the Rain, Scooby Doo and the Pirate Ghost.
Adam Renton, general manager at Bradford Theatres said: “We have an amazing array of shows this summer, including the best in dance with hip-hop dance festival Breakin’ Convention and Irish dance spectacular Lord of the Dance; comedy with Ricky Tomlinson and Russell Howard; and children’s shows Chuckle Brothers, Scooby Doo and Tweenies.
“And taking us into the autumn, the Alhambra will be alive with The Sound of Music starring Connie Fisher.”
Over at St George’s Hall, Ricky Hatton hosts an evening featuring boxing legend Frank Bruno, offering an amusing and revealing glimpse into the world of boxing.
The Vagina Monologues stars former Hear’Say singer Suzanne Shaw, Wendi Peters, best known as Corrie’s loud-mouth Cilla Battersby, and former Emmerdale actress Hayley Tamaddon who starred in Alhambra panto Cinderella last Christmas.
There are laughs with Ricky Tomlinson, hosting a variety comedy show in character as Jim Royle, and Mock the Week regular Russell Howard, back in Bradford by popular demand with his Dingledodies show.
There’s music from Heather Small, while rock ‘n’ roll show Rockin’ on Heaven’s Door celebrates the likes of Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Stones In His Pockets is a funny and poignant play, performed by two actors playing more than 15 characters, about a quiet Irish community disrupted by the arrival of a Hollywood movie crew.
There are daredevil stunts from Kung Fu masters the Shaolin Warriors, for Abba fans there’s Dancing Queen, capturing the Mamma Mia magic with wall-to-wall hits from the Swedish supergroup, and there’s beefcake in Here Come The Boys, billed as ‘the biggest US male glamour phenomenon’.
For young theatre-goers there’s the Chuckle Brothers’ Chuckle Trek – The Lost Generation, which sees Paul and Barry hurtling through outer space, and the Tweenies in Top of the Tots.
l Tickets for all shows are available on (01274) 432000 or at bradford-theatres.co.uk e-mail: emma.clayton @telegraphandargus.co.uk
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