Middlesbrough Theatre

Wednesday 20^th October, Middlesbrough Theatre.

Again quite local for us, only 45 minutes drive. Also high on the list of one of our most popular theatres. Over 800 people coming to see the show today. By far our best result here. Of course not all theatres are this well attended, and there is a recession out there, so we are eternally grateful that we have a very loyal audience who come to see us on a regular basis.

This is also one of Colin's favourite theatres. As a comic, audiences can vary as to their response to comedy, but for some reason, Middlesbrough is one of his favourites.

Marie is back in the show today, before bowing out again for next weeks run to Scotland. Natalie's knee problem is sorted, and it is Fay's last show before she goes on holiday next week. This is one of those special holidays, as it was won in a competition. 5 star luxury awaits her, and the rest of the cast are very jealous. Gemma Edmundson will replace her for 4 shows. Gemma has done this show before in one of her previous two contracts with the company. Gemma also teaches the dancers in UK Dance Mania, the dance troupe out in India. On this front, the company now have two versions of this troupe in India. One in Goa and one in Bangalore. The Bangalore girls having travelled just two days ago.

Back to Middlesbrough. Two fantastic shows. Brenda and her keep fit club are there again, occupying 100 seats as usual. Now for some peace as we have almost a week before our next trip away. A very busy few weeks coming up, and we'll keep you up to date.

Albert Halls Sterling

Friday 15^th October. Albert Halls, Stirling.

With all day to kill, we head off for Stirling at midday. Park up, and everyone heads into town to do different things. First of all food!! Last time we found a nice little place called Hole in the Wall, or something like that. Cheapish, cheerful ish. Bill Pen and Colin set off in search of presents for the children who appear in our show. Nothing elaborate of course, but a little something from us to them as a thank you for taking part in the show. Then Bill discovers that it is his wedding anniversary and he has forgot to buy Anne a present. Oh dear!!! Hot water me thinks!!!! An emergency visit to M & S and he gathers a bouquet to take home to his nearest and dearest. Colin and Pen end up getting 30 childrens presents. Pen is a great bargain hunter when it comes to these things and good with the ideas too.

All that done, it is almost time to do the get in. First visit box office to say a massive thank you to Eileen. I'm sure she threatens the public of Stirling with 'buy a ticket or have your legs amputated'. Best ever sales figures for us here with over 500 in one show. Also the best selling show at the Albert Halls this year we hear a rumour of.

With so many people in the audience, the atmosphere is fantastic. A couple of problems to tackle today. First of all Natalie has a knee injury and it is getting worse. Again we are forced to change a lot of the routines to use only 3 dancers. Not only that but Marie is not with us on this Scotland run. It is the first time that Erica has taken her place in some of the sections of the show. 'Jersey Boys' is one of them, but she must have done a good job as we find out afterwards that some of the audience enjoyed this section so much that they have bought tickets for a 'Jersey Boys' show at Albert Halls in a few weeks time.

Colin has also been using one of Eileens gags in the show. Thanks for that one, keep them coming. That applies to all our audiences too. We enjoy getting your feedback, requests for songs, and of course the odd gag or two. Keep them clean or Colin will get beheaded for being too rude!!!

Everyone on a high from the show, we travel home. 3 hours should do it, and then a short break until Middlesbrough.  

Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock

Thursday 14^th October. Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock.

An early start. 7.30am to be precise. Not a perfect time of day, and any entertainer will tell you that. A three and a half hour drive gives us our normal 11am arrival time, and a chance to tackle the tricky 'get in'. Theatres vary in this department, with some very easy ground level entrances. Others like Kilmarnock have a first floor entrance for all of the equipment, and are not as easy to get the contents of the van to where they need to be. Still with help from the tech guys, we get in, and get set up.

Just for boring detail for those who want to know. Get in and set up normally takes the following format.

Job number one. Pen and Marie are responsible for getting bacon sarni's for Colin and Bill. Bill takes control of setting lighting, and props. Colin sets up the sound system. The cast get their costumes out of the very large trunks used to carry them. Costumes are hung on rails at various points backstage, and then all costumes must be ironed. And people think that show business is glamorous. Most costume changes are done at the side of the stage as most of them are so quick there is no time to get to a dressing room. Yes it gets a bit chaotic at times, especially in a theatre with limited wing space.

Kilmarnock is another theatre which continues to grow in audience numbers. Around 750 will see the show today, around 100 up on our last visit.

Two great shows, and great kids today. Margaret Bunton is the dance teacher here, and she has been with us for 5 years now. Its always a pleasure to see her.

So Stirling tomorrow. A night at a Travelodge somewhere near Stirling is only an hour away, and next day the cast get a chance to have a lie in bed. Only an evening show, and so we travel when we get booted out of the Travelodge at midday.  

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Wednesday 13^th October. Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre.

One of our local venues just 35 minutes from home which means no early morning start and a nice sensible arrival time home. One sad part of today is that it could be the last time we get to see the theatre manager Ernie Merillees who is retiring. Ernie has looked after us for some 5 years now, and we are grateful for all his help. Here's wishing you a long and healthy retirement.

With Jenni travelling with Marie, there have been no 'pop master' sessions as per last season. Steve and Colin had a great start on their first 'pop master' together scoring 24 points, but since then it has gone all downhill and seldom have they even hit double figures. For those who don't know, Pop Master is a quiz on radio2 hosted by Ken Bruce, every weekday morning at 10.30am. Perfect time for us while travelling, as we are almost always driving. With 3 in the van next week, we should hit better results.

Fay is back to fighting fit after her migraine, and a fully fit cast ease their way through two shows.

Early start tomorrow to get to Kilmarnock for the first of two days in Scotland. Hope there is no snow.

Inverurie Town Hall

Sunday 10^th October. Inverurie Town Hall.

Sunday carvery did in fact happen, and we discover that Steve has two stomachs. He must have to eat that much food. Erica is the only person to have desert. About the 10^th time this season for that one. Definitely a chocoholic. Everybody fed and watered, we travel the 20 minutes to the venue.

Not our normal sort of venue this one. A typical Town Hall with very limited wing space to store props during the show. Very limited lighting options. On the plus side we have quite a loyal following in this tiny Scottish town who come to our every show. Special thanks at this point to two people. First of all Frances Mitchell, a fan of our shows, who contacted us and offered to do lots of publicity in the area, and who Colin had the pleasure of meeting before the show. Secondly Sarah Littlejohn. Without fail every time we arrive in Aberdeen, Sarah greets us with the biggest mountain of food you can pack into a four-wheel drive. A true saint, and Sarah, your efforts are truly appreciated.

Half way through the show we were sent a little reminder that it doesn't always run smooth in show business. Our dance captain Fay is hit with a very bad migraine, proceeds to throw up, and for the first time this season we are forced to re-plot most of the routines for the second half of the show. Not easy with only 15 minutes to do it in, but we did it, and I'm sure the audience didn't notice a thing.

Needless to say that Fay has an early night, while everyone else meets in Debbie's room to finish off Sarah's food, and the ample supply of wine that sits on the table. Jenni and Bill party poop at around 1.00am and hit snoring time. Colin is not far behind and well and truly snoring when Marie and the rest of the cast finish the party at 4.00am.

Next morning Bill leaves early with the girls, Jen and Marie travel together in the car, and the boys enjoy the luxury of the van for the next 6 hours. Next up Hartlepool on Wednesday.

Aberdeen Arts Centre

Saturday 9^th October. Aberdeen Arts Centre.

And so the travelling continues. We set off later than planned the day before, on the six hour marathon to Aberdeen, and for regular readers of our blog you may remember that Aberdeen is a bit special for us, as our great friends Debbie and Harry, with children Rebecca and Lucy (and dog Benji of course) live in Aberdeen. This gives us a chance to catch up, spend a bit of time together, and enjoy a little tipple in the Travelodge after each show.

Marie is still in the shows but Erica is getting prepared to take over some of the songs when Marie gets trapped in the office to keep on top of the ever increasing paperwork.

The journey to Aberdeen takes the expected 6 hours, and we are met at the Travelodge by Debbie and Harry, who are very eager to drag us to the pub who are taking last orders for food. Who are we to argue with a proposition like that. Food and drink sorted and all of the cast chill before two days of shows.

Aberdeen Arts Centre is more or less sold out, thanks to the help of Debbie. Everything goes according to plan, and Steve is now master of the handjive in the Grease section. Easey Peasey!!!

Tomorrow is just one evening show at Inverurie Town Hall. Sunday carvery is already beckoning.

Potters Bar

Wednesday 6^th October. Wyllyots Centre, Potters Bar.

Without going into too much detail, a very important day for us with some very important people in the audience. So much so that Colin and Marie's PA Joanne, makes the trip to London to act as host. It is the first time that Jo has been on tour, and gets introduced to life on the road.

The cast sit down after a few drinks to watch a DVD of the last show with a view to correcting any mistakes, and generally cleaning the show. Fay has done a great job as dance captain, and the dancers are looking very very tight as a group.

Jo and Colin meet our guests, the show is ready for the off, and with tickets sold out, there is a good atmosphere in the place. Jo is also on duty to video the show, just to confirm that Steve still cant do the hand jive in Grease.

Show over, back in the van and cars, and another 5 hour drive home. The week isnt over yet and there is still a 6 hour marathon drive to Aberdeen to come yet.

A very busy two weeks, but then a short chance to catch up on some rest before it all kicks off again.

Monday 4th October. Winsford Lifestyle Centre.

Monday 4^th October. Winsford Lifestyle Centre.

Just a short trek from the Travelodge to the theatre. Apart from Erika getting a foreign object in her foot in the first half of the show, not a great deal to report. Oh yes there is. Jen split her 70's trousers, and had it not been for a good strong safety pin, the audience might have seen a different type of 'Timeless' costume.

Part of the weird week is that we get to get home after this show. Just for one night, and then travel to London again tomorrow ready for the matinee show on Wednesday.

Maisy the greyhound comes out of the kennels on Tuesday, and thanks to Marie's mother Mary, who is going to dog sit, she gets to stay home until the trip to Aberdeen on Friday.

Broxbourne Civic Hall

Sunday 3^rd October, Broxbourne Civic Hall. 

The start of a very busy week of mainly travelling. London, Cheshire, and back to London in short. Travelling to London the day before the matinee show is a must, and so the cast set off Saturday tea time to get a few hours chill in the Travelodge close to Broxbourne.

Steve and Colin are in the van listening to the end of the Sunderland v Man Utd match, and a healthy 0-0 draw keeps them relatively happy. Bill Bill collects Fay, Erica and Natalie on the M1, while Jenni and Marie talk each other to death in Marie's new car.

The show goes without a hitch, and there is a rumour that Steve did get the hand jive right, although it was not on video and therefore not proved.

Mark and the super quick techs, get us out of the theatre in quick time, and we start a 3 hour journey up to Cheshire ready for Winsford tomorrow afternoon.

Of course the journey is lengthened by an accident on the M1, just for a change, and the 11.00pm arrival makes it time for a quick bite then bed.