Beat The Streets grows
CHARITY festival Beat The Streets has announced the second wave of artists for its 2019 edition. Among the new additions is soulful songstress Harleighblu, post-hardcore five-piece Palm Reader, frenetic rockers Haggard Cat, hip-hop MC and producer Juga-naut and BBC Introducing favourites Gazelle.
The festival has also announced that, following the recent replacement of Rock City’s floor, the venue has donated 10 pieces of the old floor as a commemorative gift. Anyone who buys a ticket to Beat The Streets ahead before January 21 will be entered into a prize draw for the coveted floor.
In addition, the festival is offering a host of other prizes with its tombola – including tickets to Splendour Festival, Dot To Dot Festival and a host of other gigs; meal vouchers for Pizza Express and Barburrito; an ice-skating day out at the National Ice Centre; signed band merchandise, vouchers for Rough Trade and much more. Tombola tickets can be bought on the day from Black Cherry Lounge. All proceeds will go to Framework.
With under two weeks to go, excitement is building for the event on Sunday, January 27.
The full list of new artist additions is: Alice Robbins, Ajay Henry, AVA SAINT, CHAI, Drew Thomas, Elliot Williams, Gazelle, George Gadd, Guy Ellerton, Haggard Cat, Harleighblu, Headsticks, I Am Lono, Jack’s Got A Plan, January Moonlight, Jaque Seviour, Jordon The Ego, Juganaut, Kelsey and The Embers, Margarita, Matthew Moore, My Pet Fauxes, Palm Reader, Rob Green, Roe Green, Sam Barker, Sancho Panza, Short Weekends, Super Furniture, Tash Bird, The Chase, The Edi Johnston Bit, The Frantics, The Ruffs and You Want Fox.
Beat The Streets is being organised by DHP Family in collaboration with local organisations and music groups including I’m Not From London; Farmyard Records; Hockley Hustle, and Rough Trade. Tickets are on sale for £6 from www. alttickets.com for people over 14.
The event will take place at Rock City, The Black Cherry Lounge, Stealth, Rescue Rooms, The Bodega and Rough Trade.
IT may be the last tour of this particular production, but it is the story that keeps on giving. Originally an award-winning movie, as a stage play The Full Monty has won both awards and hearts. In fact, such is the show’s popularity that as fast as one tour gets under way, producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers are compelled to map out the next.
“It is special,” insists Gary Lucy (famous for playing Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks as well as for roles in Eastenders, The Bill, Footballers’ Wives and as a Dancing On Ice winner) who plays Gaz. Having starred in almost every tour, he knows just how readily people fall for this story.
“People really love it. From proper theatregoers in Cambridge to Blackpool hen parties, everyone has an absolute ball. It is a gift of a role for me.”
Louis Emerick, recently in Coronation Street, concurs. “This is the third tour for me and it really is a special show. It is a great story that still resonates now. They are also a lovely company to work and travel with.”
Telling the story of six out-of-work steelworkers from Sheffield who put on a strip show to raise money, the film went on to become one of the most successful British movies of all time. Writer of both the screenplay and the stage script, Simon Beaufoy is also the talent behind The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Slumdog Millionaire. Joe Gill (Emmerdale) believes the play’s credibility is key to its success.
“It is my first time on the show [he plays Lomper] but everyone knows how iconic it is and what a culture it has, so they come knowing that they will enjoy it.”
James Redmond did lengthy stints in Hollyoaks and Casualty but has never toured in a stage play before. However, that doesn’t stop him recognising the show’s broad appeal.
“We can all relate to it and it is very moving. The poverty these guys lived in; Maggie Thatcher encouraged them to buy their council houses and then closed the steelworks so they were desperate. It’s a heartwarming story that still feels relevant today. Because half of us voted Remain and half voted Leave none of us know what the future holds.”
Liz Carney, who plays Jean, says: “It appeals to men and women of all ages and from all classes. The girls in the play tell their own story, so audiences connect with them too.”
Playing Mandy, Amy Thompson adds: “And the thing that I find really special is that it gets people coming to the theatre who haven’t been before. “
Well known for roles including Rhys in Torchwood and Pete in Hollyoaks, Kai Owen returns to the role of Dave and admits that he loves the audience reaction.
“They may start shouting at the start, but this isn’t Dream Boys or The Chippendales and as soon as they realise that it is a story they settle down. It is so well written that they get immersed and carried along until the end. Then everyone goes crazy!”
A play that covers a huge range of modern issues – as well as unemployment, themes include financial insecurity, mental health, divorce, sexuality and body image – the mix of comedy, pathos, warmth and sadness is perfectly balanced.
And then there’s the stripping. There’s no way to pussyfoot around the subject of the boys getting naked, so I ask outright: Is it absolutely terrifying?
“I’m sure we’ll break Joe and James in gently,” says Louis with a naughty grin, recounting the first day in 2014 when he first had the “undress” rehearsal.
“We had only been rehearsing for three days and we hardly knew each other. But we did it, although we all looked each other firmly in the eye! From then on it was pretty easy. It’s much more of a man’s story in many ways and it is great when you see blokes in the audience.”
“It is done really well on stage, although you do have to trust the lighting technicians, and some venues do have slow-closing curtains,” chuckles Andrew, best known for playing Tony in TV’S Dinnerladies.
With most venues being return visits
there are some that the cast are especially looking forward to visiting again. No pressure, gentle folk of Nottingham, but you’ve set the bar high.
“Lovely Nottingham,” sighs Andrew. “A really stunning theatre and a great town. That will definitely be a good week.”
The youngest member of company, 16-year-old Fraser Kelly can’t wait to embark on his first tour without needing to be formally chaperoned. He says: “I can’t wait to start. It is a privilege working with such great people and great actors.”
This final tour is directed by Rupert Hill. Best known as Coronation Street’s Jamie Baldwin, he is a previous cast member – something he feels gives him a distinct advantage.
“It gives me huge insight into the way it works. I don’t need to reinvent the wheel in every scene but there are things that I want to explore. The main thing for me was that all the female characters felt a bit secondary, so I am trying to make the relationship between the couples to be more meaningful and integral to the story.
“I also got the cast to watch the Ken Loach film Raining Stones. It was the film that inspired The Full Monty – they wanted to make a film that Ken Loach characters would watch. I think that’s one of The Full Monty’s strengths and it is unbelievable how relevant that film and our show feels now; payday loans, unemployment and anger at society. But also comedy is what Northerners use to get by. The financial situation the characters find themselves in is desperate, but that mix of comedy and relatability makes the show part story and part party. Ken Loach meets Cabaret! But it is celebratory and it works better on stage because the audience become part of the scene. The guys stripping at the end feels like a defiant gesture and the crowds go wild!”
More laughter from the others as they recall stories of different audiences, but they all agree that it is the most gratifying audience reaction they have ever witnessed.
“I can’t imagine that I will ever experience that kind of response from an audience again. You can actually feel the soundwave hit you and it is wonderful. I really want to earn that and for the audience to buy into the story,” says Rupert.
The last word goes to Gary: “There is no better show on the road. Come along and I’ll prove it to you.”