The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
The Lady Boys of Bangkok: Forever Yours...X
Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, August 31 to September 3
Energetic, exotic, eclectic and completely unpredictable – the sensationally glamorous Lady Boys of Bangkok are ready to whoop it up in Kirkcaldy with a dazzling new production of the country’s most popular touring cabaret show.
Coming to the Adam Smith Theatre, the new show, Forever Yours...X, is a show like no other, performed by exotic “show girls” like no other girls.
It’s a night of pure escapism, releasing audiences from the humdrum of everyday life in a euphoric bubble of laughter, glamour, glitz and music.
With more songs and musical production numbers than you could shake a sequined hip to, this is one cabaret production that is too good to miss. The entertainment is fast and unrelenting as music effortlessly flows from movie hits to superstar pop favourites with tributes to the likes of Kylie, Katy Perry, Rhianna, Tina Turner, Shakira, Whoopee Goldberg and even One Direction.
Executive producer Carol Gandey says the theatre sector of the British tour is always an eagerly anticipated highlight.
She says: “We find that theatre audiences are extremely responsive and the artistes tell us they can feel the warmth of the welcome and support.”
And creative director Phillip Gandey adds that a huge amount of time and effort goes into breaking down the traditional boundaries between stage and audience so that everyone can feel involved. He says: “The essence of cabaret is to include the audience and as the Lady Boys of Bangkok is very much part of the cabaret genre, we’ve gone to great lengths to ensure our theatre production stays true to that concept.”
One of the principal artistes, Sonia (Mr Uten Pengsa Ard) The Dance Captain (lead dancer) of the cabaret troupe, says the “boys” all love playing theatres in Scotland.
“The audiences always make us feel so welcome and it gives us the opportunity to bring our show to parts of the country that we might not otherwise be able to reach,” he says.
The Lady Boys of Bangkok consists of a cast of 16 male artistes.
Last year the tour raised more than £17,000 from audience collections for their chosen charity – Pattaya Street Kids Support Project –which helps slum children in Pattaya with support and education. This is the 19th year the Lady Boys have toured the UK.
Gandey World class Productions has staged some of the world’s most famous shows and memorable productions for the last 40 years.
Its portfolio includes The Chinese State Circus, Cirque Surreal, The Lady Boys of Bangkok, Spirit of the Horse and Fist of the Dragon.