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Deborah Law
Discover what Shire’s team thought of the concerts, live events and theatre shows they’ve seen over the past couple of months at local venues
BACK TO THE NINETIES, THE OLD FISH MARKET, WARRINGTON
Backstage to say hello to 911 in the break, I met a hen party, very happy at having Lee Brennan, Spike Dawbarn and Jimmy Constable all to themselves. When the boys hit the stage, their fans went wild – When I found out that boy bands were in Warrington, Warrington is Spike’s home turf. He can still do a mean I had to be there! I was at 911’s shows from the back flip, and enjoyed telling the crowd that Jimmy had “The just turned 50. The band sold 10 million singles and six beginning, 25 years ago. Inside, the pop-up venue whole looked amazing, with incredible lighting. The audience million albums, and were huge in southeast Asia. In the were mainly women in their thirties, all dressed up and crowd was UK they had 10 top 10 singles. ready to ‘keep on movin’ and ‘get their body shakin’! Five are now three: Scott Robinson (minus ponytail), dancing Sean Conlon and ladies’ man Ritchie Neville. Everyone Many had been in line from late afternoon to grab a and was singing along to the hits, which sold around 20 million place at the front. singing” Phats & Small opened the concert – you may know copies worldwide. Time is their latest album. Both groups look really fit and made us all feel young them for the song ‘Turn Around’. I was expecting for several hours. Waking up next morning I still had a smile on my Ben Ofoedu but he’s long since been replaced by a lad with very neat moves. Jason ‘Phats’ Hayward was on the decks, and the whole face. What a fantastic night, what memories. Oh, and ladies – Lee and Ritchie are single. Form an orderly queue… DL HHHH crowd was dancing and singing.
TONY CHRISTIE, MARKET DRAYTON FESTIVAL CENTRE
FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL, VENUE CYMRU
In suit and tie, with a silk handkerchief peeping from his breast pocket, Tony Christie looked as stylish as ever on the Festival Centre stage. The veteran crooner was backed by a talented younger band, but anyone tempted to think ‘old wine in new bottles’ was wide of the mark. The set-up worked a treat. Christie’s “His voice voice remains was at its as he sang about the remarkably versatile. He gave smoothest soft-shoe shuffler with “silver hair, a ragged a spirited version and shirt and baggy pants” of ‘Jezebel’, a richest” who’d dance for you, rocking ‘Now’s while a laid-back the Time’ and a rosily nostalgic ‘Avenues arrangement of ‘Fly Me to the and Alleyways’. The natural Moon’ showed Christie’s voice at its smoothest and richest. entertainer was never more JH HHHH evident than in ‘Bojangles’,
Footloose visited Llandudno with the promise of “the ultimate feel-good show for a night of unforgettable fun” – and it certainly delivered. Anyone familiar with the Kevin Bacon film (and pretty much all of the audience “Joshua energy and passion were) had prepared Hawkins were infectious and he gave so much to themselves for highas Ren every scene it was octane, all-action stole the exhilarating to watch. entertainment show” Lucy Munden and they got it. The familiar was another quality performer as Ariel, and songs were belted out with several well-executed pieces gusto and the main characters of stagecraft saw sets and were suitably recognisable props used in innovative and from the screen heroes. Jake entertaining ways. A fun, feelQuickendon of X Factor fame gave a decent turn as Willard, good night out, as promised, with laughs and memorable but Joshua Hawkins in the role melodies too. KS HHHH of Ren truly stole the show. His
50 SHIRE MAGAZINE | July/August 2022
