The Brindley, Runcorn

1st/2nd/3rd November. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Yes, three days at the same venue. Bliss!!!! Only one get in and get out in three days. Some early nights and late mornings to look forward to, and more important, only having to iron the costumes once in three days.

A 2.00pm show rather than 2.30pm means an earlier start than normal, and a 10.30 arrival at the venue. Within minutes we are made welcome by Graham, Jim, and Pete our good tech friends. Within only another five minutes Graham bangs his head against the top of the van while loading, and is soon getting staples in a deep cut. Not the  sort of start that everyone had hoped for. The other boys take delight in reminding Colin, Steve and Bill that Sunderland did in fact get beaten by Newcastle by 5 goals to 1, and some rather blue language starts filling the theatre. Just as well the public are not in yet.

One of the first familiar faces we see is Alex. Alex is Graham's girlfriend and was our dance captain for more than 2 years. This is our first season without her and it seems very strange to be talking to her, without her actually being in the show. She looks so well, and is enjoying her new job of teaching dancing.

This afternoon we are also looking forward to seeing Jamie Rae and Danielle Sharp. Jamie was with us for almost two years, and only recently left to work for a large management group in Blackpool. His workload is vast, but he finds time to come to see us, and it is great to see him again. While talking in the dressing room we get a call from Danielle to say that she has broken down and is not going to make it. Danielle was Marie's understudy for quite a while, and although we are disappointed, she promises to try to make it tomorrow.

Natalie is receiving plenty of praise today as she learned how to put up a clothes rail for the first time. Only two weeks to go of the tour and .......well, at least she knows now!! Todays major howler that nobody knew about belonged to Jenni. After our Seekers section, she gets dressed into her Irish costume which is a massive cape. Well, she should get dressed into the cape..........but didn't. Then she heard the music over which she should be singing, and proceeded to put the cape over very little, well nothing in the way of clothing. If only the audience knew.

Only an afternoon on the first day, and so we get back to the Travelodge, dump our cases, and head to the pub over the road. Jamie joins everyone, and we all tuck into a Toby carvery for a fiver.



Day 2. Two shows, matinee and evening.


Danielle makes it and it is fantastic to see her. She sits out front and enjoys the matinee show. Enjoying that is until the last five minutes when things went very pear-shaped. After Colins solo comes the second half finale starting with Jive Talking. All was good until Jenni, Steve and Colin were in front of the tabs singing Banner Man, and then the music went off, and started at Jive Talking again. OK, so it is blind panic, but we cant let the audience see that it is blind panic. We know what has happened but now we have to correct it. Jenni does a fantastic job of talking to the audience while Colin nips backstage to sort the problem. Within 30 seconds we are  back to Banner Man, and the world is wonderful.

Day 3, Matinee only then off to Devon.


So our last day of luxury before setting off to Devon. Over 1200 people have been to see the show, and it doesn't seem like two minutes since we arrived. The cast have had a nice break from early mornings and late nights. The dancers have found Morrisons to get the odd bottle of relaxing juice. Not Erika of course, she just headed for the cake section. Bill and Steve got plenty of chill time, and Colin taught Jen a little more in the art of poker. Neither won the free entry tournament, but Jen gained a bit more experience.

Show over and we head for Devon. 3 hours says the sat nav, and it is only just past 10pm when we get there. Two shows tomorrow in Exeter, but for now thank you Runcorn for a great 3 days of shows, rest and no ironing.