My word, it seems like ages since this blog was updated. So much has happened and the last two months have been a whirlwind of auditions, rehearsals and then touring.
First of all to the auditions. At the end of last season we lost our dance captain Fay Blower who is about to travel the world on a cruise ship. We also lost our singer Steve Paul who went off to pastures new. All in all we needed two new dancers and a male singer. Neil Patrick was the obvious choice of singer, having worked with us before and now being available for a full contract. Our two new dancers are Steph Larty and Jenna Knight. Both friends of our new dance captain Helene Lewis. Gemma Edmundson also returns to the clan after an absence of a year or so.
So with the new team in place we start rehearsals late August and for some strange reason everything goes a little too well. We have early finishes on many days and it becomes quite obvious that these dancers pick up routines extremely quickly. Neil is also very quick at learning routines and within no time we are heading for Solihull for our first shows.
John and Judith from Retired Greyhound Trust (Midlands) come to see us on our first show. John is trying very hard to get Marie to take another greyhound but she is having none of it. As for the shows, well, no train crashes!!! This is so unusual. Normally first or second show there are some kind of disasters while folk get used the new show, but no, not this time. Very weird. Obviously Marie Colin and Jenni have done this show before which helps a little, but to have everyone performing every routine to such a standard was very pleasing.
So, off we went. Solihull for two days, a Saturday off in London. Broxbourne Sunday matinee, drive to Runcorn for three days and then finish at Skegness. Always a pleasure to see Graeme, Jim and Pete at Runcorn. Not forgetting our past dance captain Alex and Danielle, one of our previous singers, who is currently home after working on cruises.
The following week sees us tackle Scotland for the first time this season. Hamilton, then a day off due to the unforeseen closure of Whitehall Theatre, Dundee, which has now re-opened. Kilmarnock and a day trip to Inverurie finish off this particular run.
Home for a couple of days hard earned rest and then it is back to Scotland yet again. This time Greenock, Rutherglen and Stirling are our ports of call. Always a pleasure to see Eileen at Stirling. Not many people know this but she is one of Colin’s gag suppliers. Not many days pass that a gag or two don’t land in his email box.
And so we hit October and our first local venue of the season at Customs House South Shields. Three days of no set up, no ironing and a chance to lie in bed if needed. Our last show is only slightly marred by the fact that straight after the matinee show we have to drive to Aberdeen for two shows the next day. The fact that we know that our friends Debbie, Rebecaa, Lucy, Harry and Sarah are going to be with us makes it all worthwhile. The only downside being that we don’t get a chance to spend much time with them this season because of travel arrangements.
Our next run sees us hit Dudley, Felixstowe and Bradford. Looking at the calendar it is quite scary to think that most of the shows are now behind us and in a matter of four weeks or so the tour will have already ended.
Next week is our worst travelling week of the season. Starting at Dudley again, then to Cromer, Winsford and Exeter. Boy oh boy!!!! The cast have been fantastic and a real pleasure to work with. Nobody is moaning or whining, everyone is doing their job and the atmosphere backstage is ultra relaxed and happy. Long may it continue.
