WILLY WONKA STARS OVERCOME COVID CHAOS IN EDINBURGH

Beverley Lyons 
An Edinburgh Willy Wonka production starring viral Oompa Loompa Kirsty Paterson and original Veruca Salt Julie Dawn Cole is back on track - after almost half the cast were hit by covid. 
And now the two global stars have met for the first time after four of the cast were left bed bound at the start of the production run at the Fringe. 
Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody had its premiere at Edinburgh Fringe after US producer Richard Kraft decided to make a musical about the story of Glasgow born Kirsty and the mammoth failure of Glasgow’s Willy Wonka experience.
Actor Julie, who was just 13 when she starred in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, flew in to join Kirsty as narrator of the fun show at the Pleasance King Dome.
However disaster struck when Covid meant the production, which even has scratch and sniff cards,  had to rely on stand ins 
after Kirsty and some of the other actors were unable to perform as a result of catching Covid. 
Julie, now 65, and a grandmother who came out of retirement to join in the fun at the Fringe show explained: “The first one who went down with Covid was Cassie, then Shelley then Kirsty then one of our directors. 
The show relies on singers and without it, if you’ve got Covid you can’t do this show.”
Kirsty added: “Two of our main singers got it and I got it. It was going around but we are all recovered now thank goodness.”
Julie who has taken Kirsty under her wing since initially Zoom calling her from the States said: “I’m teaching her everything I know. I’ve had a very lucky career and to anyone - if a door opens go through it -and hope it’s not a toilet.”
And Kirsty added: “I didn’t think my life would end up like this five months ago so I’m just rolling with it. I get to narrate with Julie Dawn Cole which is amazing. She’s showing me the ropes. I genuinely couldn’t have done this without Julie. She was so great before we met, zooming from Los Angeles.”
Kirsty also said she couldn’t believe she has a variety of actors playing her on stage. 
She laughed: “When Richard asked me to do this I thought I’d get a line or two but when I found it was all based on me with characters called Kirsty Paterson one and Kirsty Paterson two, I thought it was amazing. We are praying it does go to bigger places but we don’t know what is going to happen. It’s been a rollercoaster and I feel like I’m having an out of body experience. There’s so much more to this show. They could make a film out of this too.”
Julie added: “Richard is a persuasive man. I thought ‘This will be easy. I’ll be reading off cue cards and going to see other shows at the Fringe but I do a bit more than that. I’ve had an absolute ball doing it. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done with my life since Willy Wonka,  seeing everybody smile and being part of this and the joy, the music is wonderful, the buzz. Who knows what happens next? There’s no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going.”

KAYE ADAMS REVEALS ALL ABOUT FORTHCOMING LOOSE WOMEN TOUR IN GLASGOW

Loose Women is hitting the road for the very first time this autumn with Loose Women Live and Kaye Adams reckons it could be the ultimate girls night out.

Theshowbizlion.com can’t wait to be there as the gals swap the studio for the stage to bring laughter, never-before-heard stories and backstage secrets. 

It’s been twenty four years since the show began and the women will be truly let loose for the tour. 

 

Kicking off at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday September 01, the tour will visit 16 spectacular venues throughout the month and include a night at the world-famous London Palladium.

 

Joining Loose Women Live will be Brenda Edwards, Charlene White, Christine Lampard, Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Welch, Frankie Bridge, Gloria Hunniford, Jane Moore, Janet Street-Porter, Judi Love, Katie Piper, Kaye Adams, Kelle Bryan, Linda Robson, Nadia Sawalha and Sunetra Sarker.

Tickets are on sale now via livenation.co.uk

Panellists Kaye Adams  reckons things will be a bit different from the weekday show? 

 

She told us: “I'm really, really looking forward to it actually. Obviously, we love the show. It feels like your favourite pair of slippers, in the best possible way, but we're going to have to get our tap shoes on for the tour! Just to take it into a different arena is going to be interesting but also just to feel that buzz in a large theatre of all those people. 

We're going to mix things up a lot more, which I think we're all looking forward to. I think we can be a little freer when we're in a live theatre situation. I think people can expect it to be a ‘very loose’ Loose Women. We want it to be fun and for people to have a great time!”

A live audience will also offer a different dimension to Kaye and the panel. 

 

She explained: “I think it's just going to be amazing on the tour because we obviously have an audience when we’re recording Loose Women and it’s a huge part of the show. It really does give the show a lot of energy. It gives you a lot of information because you can see what resonates with people and what doesn't resonate with them, and the different kinds of reactions to different topics. So to be able to do that on a large scale and just give people a really good night is great. We want the audience to feel part of the experience, rather than watching an experience. That’s 100 per cent what we’re going to be focused on.”

 

Kaye also reckons there could be extra carnage on tour. She said: “How many times are you going to go on tour with a bunch of your mates?  Even for me, who's usually known as the sort of sober one, I think to be in bed at 11 o'clock would be a bit of a tragedy! So hopefully, this will be the ultimate girls’ night out! 

 

“With Judi, Jane and Nadia, [who I’m opening the tour alongside] we know each other very well. We've been away together, for weekends and things. We went to the Cotswolds last year for four nights, which was a riot, I can tell you. So I think you can expect us to be even less discreet than we would normally be!”

Kaye admits she is a tad nervous about going on stage. 

She said: “I expect to be absolutely bricking it. You know, I've got a podcast called ‘How To Be 60’ and we're doing three live shows at the Edinburgh Festival in August. We did a couple last year and I am a bag of nerves because you want people to have a good time and you want to be able to enable that. But also you do need nervous energy because I'm quite a laid back kind of person. I have to almost purposely wind myself up just to give myself that level of energy or it would be dull!”

She said she’ll also be ensuring she brings her dressing gown on tour. 

She said: “I got it when I did Strictly and it’s fabulous and fluffy with my name in gold on the back, so I’ll bring that. 

 

“One of the dates I’m doing will be in Glasgow, where I live, so I’ll sleep in my own bed that night but I will be sleeping in a different bed for the others, which will make me feel 25 again! I have heard that you can get a bus that you can sleep in overnight and, oh my god, that is where I want to be because I want the full Spinal Tap experience. I want to be on the top bunk! I don't think Judi will want the top bunk? Denise might… She is an absolute riot!”

 

For Glasgow Kaye plans of os something extra special. 

She said: “Yes, I’m sure I’ll do something special with the other panellists. Glasgow has been my home for such a long time. I feel so comfortable here. Often it's just the way you speak, the references that you make, and stuff like that. The panel that night are welcome to stay in my house and I will give them very competitive rates for that! 

 

“Do my children really want to come and see their mum cavorting on the stage? I'm not entirely sure…  And Ian would definitely rather be playing tennis. I know I don't watch him play [tennis] so I don't really expect him to come and watch me! “

 

And she said she’ll miss  Bea, her Cockapoo when she is not at home. 

She said: “Bonnie will look after her and Ian takes Bea to the tennis club and she runs about and chases tennis balls all day so she’s quite happy. 

 

Ian and I are both away for work a lot though and it wouldn't work for everybody but I think it works for us. You know, we've been together for 30 years plus… We're never entirely sure because it's so long and can't remember… But it's definitely 30 years plus! We've just always been like that, we've always had our own thing going on and before I had the kids and I was doing Loose Women I was in Manchester from Monday to Friday for a long time and he works a lot in Italy doing tennis stuff so it's just the way that we are. Whether it strengthens us or not I don’t know but I do know that it certainly doesn't damage it [the relationship] because it's just our rhythm!”

 

LOOSE WOMEN LIVE TOUR  2023: 

Fri 01 Sept

Birmingham, Symphony Hall

Sat 02 Sept

Cardiff, St. David's Hall

Sun 03 Sept

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Wed 06 Sept

O2 City Hall Newcastle

Thu 07 Sept

Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

Fri 08 Sept

Opera House Manchester

Sat 09 Sept

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Thu 14 Sept

Sheffield City Hall

Fri 15 Sept

Leicester, De Montfort Hall

Sat 16 Sept

Ipswich Regent Theatre

Mon 18 Sept

The London Palladium

Thu 21 Sept

Bath, The Forum

Sat 23 Sept

Plymouth Pavilions

Sun 24 Sept

Southampton, Mayflower Theatre

Mon 25 Sept

New Theatre Oxford

Wed 27 Sept

Southend, Cliffs Pavilion

OUTLANDER SCOTT KYLE REVEALS ALL IN NEW BOOK PROJECT

OUTLANDER star Scott Kyle has revealed his new book about his career will include behind the scenes stories from the famed Starz TV show. 
Glasgow born Scott who describes himself as a ‘latch key kid’ who found himself filming for Hollywood productions and global tv shows is currently starring in Irvine Welsh’s Porno - the stage set follow up to Trainspotting. 
As tickets went on sale for the production at Glasgows Kings theatre this week, Scott revealed his book plans for the future. 
Tucking into a mixed grill and chicken schwarma banquet at Glasgow’s Damasqino restaurant with his wife Karen where he let owner Mohammad Bashar Al Haj Ali have a sneak peak at his first chapter, he said: “I’ve started writing the book about my life as a boy in a single parent family from Rutherglen who ended up in huge productions including Outlander. 
It will come out next year and will be full of stories from behind the scenes on the hit show like getting my shirt off with big Sam Heughan. 
“On my first day on the Outlander set I had to go  topless as we were both given a public lashing. When I took my shirt off there was nothing much to report home about it, but when Sam followed and took his shirt off, all the supporting actors let off oohs and aahs. It was a sign of things to come.”

Scott who became part of the Outlander family, amassing huge views online after appearing on the show and now organising the annual Highlander Fling for fans, also had scenes with Caitriona Balfe and talks about that in the book. 
He said: “There are so many anecdotes from all the productions I’ve been in including Kajaki (Kilo Two Bravo in the States) where I spent almost two months in Jordan.”
Scott is currently delighted to be playing the role made famous by Ewan McGregor in the stage equivalent of Trainspotting two. 
He said: “I’m playing Renton, fifteen years after Trainspotting. From a Scottish actor point of view I’ve done the biggest TV show and this is the next highest role you could ask for.  
Irvine Welsh came to see us when we put the show on in Edinburgh and there’s every likelihood he’ll come to the Glasgow production at the Kings in December and then there are plans to take the show further afield.”

JAMES MCAVOY PROVES TO BE A REAL SWEETIE IN NEW SHOW

Beverley Lyons

X Men’s James McAvoy got rave reviews for his dress rehearsal of Cyrano de Bergerac - after letting the audience pay with sweeties - and going topless. 

The Hollywood A lister decided to invite people to London's Playhouse theatre ahead of the official opening night to make theatre accessible to everyone. 

He told fans ahead of the show: “We are doing an open dress rehearsal. That means that even though we are rehearsing, Anybody and everybody come can come. That means you can pay whatever you like 1p or 1000p. You can pay in sweets or anything you like really. We’re pretty excited.  It’s pretty unprecedented in the West end.”
As he also gave out Haribo from a box to some of the theatre goers outside in the queue, James said: ”Hope you enjoy the show. This is a dress rehearsal. Be kind.” 

The stage production was stark with few props but the rhyme and performances got thumbs up from the fans ahead of the official previews. 

The fact that James also performed shirtless in just a pair of leather trousers also got rave reviews. 

Paige Oblong Ellìot wrote: “Other plays may be good but are they James McAvoy in leather pants sitting in front of you shirtless with leather pants on? I thought not.”

Abha T was one of the punters who took advantage of the offer and paid £12 for tickets that would normally cost £119. 

She said: “The show was fantastic. The cast was incredible.”

Scottish actor Max McVey also said of the performance: “Amazing performances by all! Had me in tears by the end of it. Fantastic first half. Couldn’t help but laugh. On the edge of my seat the whole time. And such wonderful use of rhyme.” 

Another lucky ticket holder Sylwia added: “The show was outstanding.”
And Mira Vasiliu wrote on Twitter: “Just saw Cyrano de Bergerac  at @ThePlayhouseLDN and now I don’t know what to do with myself. How do you return to your life after seeing something like that?? #cyranodebergerac #JamesMcAvoy #theatre #London.”

FORD KIERNAN TALKS ABOUT THE AGONY HE ENDURED AFTER STILL GAME LIVE SHOW

Exclusive
Beverley Lyons
STILL Game’s Ford Kiernan has spoken for the first time about the agony and pain he endured before having to go under the surgeons knife following his last run of shows at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro.
The comedian and actor who will star as Jack alongside Greg Hemphill’s Victor as well as actors including Jane McCarry, Paul Riley, and Sanjeev Kohli in Still Game Live: The Final Farewell stage show from September 27 until October 13, endured a complex back operation following his run of shows in 2017.
Asked about any luxuries he’d indulged in since having success with his comedy, Ford said: “The starriest thing that I’ve done is that I had two of my vertebrae removed and never waited on the National Health to give me a date for it. I went round the corner to the Nuffield and I got them to whip it out and that’s something I couldn’t have done if I hadn’t been working on the telly. It was my lower back, vertebrae five and six.”
Ford said the operation took place following his last sell out run of Still Game: Bon Voyage shows at the SSE Hydro in February 2017. And he revealed he couldn’t go on stage without receiving medical treatment before each performance.
He added: “And it was just after I finished the Hydro in 2017. I was getting a cortisone injection into my spine in 2017 before every single show.”
Showing off the scar at the base of his back he added: ”Put it this way, before I got into Chewing the Fat they’d say ‘You know who would be ideal for this?’ - Stretch Kiernan. I did the damage lifting barrels off the back of a van when I was twenty one.”
Greg laughed: “The truth of the matter is there was nothing wrong with Ford back then. It was just a Daniel Day Lewis thing. I was slouching and he was committed to be the wee one and took two vertebrae out and that is commitment.”
Ford and Greg will be saying farewell to their beloved TV and stage characters following their final bout of stage shows in Glasgow.
Greg said: ”It’s one of my favourite things going to the Hydro to do the show and it’s great fun and it feels like the end of the road. It took us six or seven months to write it, to make sure it was a fitting show, picking up where the tv show left off. It’s like getting to be a rockstar for fifteen nights and it’s pretty cool. We’re not doing the Eagles. It’s the end.”
Ford said: “People say ‘Is it the same show as before?’ but we’ve written a brand new show because it’s the finale with the big splash at the end. In the last TV episode Jack and Victor walked into the mist and they were gone. It’s all down to interpretation. If you think they are dead you might get a surprise either way. If we were designing a funeral for Jack and Victor it would be a pire.”
Greg said: “Don’t say we killed them. Maybe we differ on this. My feeling is they live their life full. I don’t think anyone would invite 150 thousand people into an arena to make them cry. I think you can’t kill them off. It would be too sad. Jack and Victor have always been about life and living it to the full.”
Following the run, both men say they want to spend more time with their families.
Greg said: ”I’m celebrating my twentieth wedding anniversary in a week and I remember buying my mum and dad a gift for theirs. It’s really freaking me out. Twenty five is silver, fifty is gold and forty is ruby. There’s other things we want to do together down the line, together and separately.”
Ford added: “We’ve got a body of actors here who are dynamite and phenomenal not just for comedy bit for everything which we are extremely lucky to have. I’d be surprised if we don’t bump into them in some professional capacity in the future.” 

BELLSHILL SINGER SHEENA EASTON IS WILDER THAN YOU THINK

SCOTS singer Sheena Easton claims she'd have love to have been a wildlife photographer if she hadn't gone into the music business.
The Bellshill born Morning Train singer who collaborated with Prince and lives in Las Vegas said: "I love sci fi. If I had a time machine and could go back and take an alternative path I'd love to have been a wildlife and landscape photographer. That would be a fabulous way to live your life.
She added: "When I was at drama school, I was also doing the academic side so I could have gone on to teach."
Sheena is currently in London for a production of 42nd Street where she plays Dorothy Brock, whose understudy replaces her after she hurts her leg.
The 58 year old revealed she combats her nerves with a few rituals before she goes on stage.
She said: "I always say a prayer to my self before I go on stage. And before I enter I have to take my power posture: even if I'm terrified and butterflies and nerves are jumping all over the place I need to collect myself and bring the full centred thing onto the stage, no matter what."


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

RIVER CITY LEAH MACRAE LITERALLY BREAKS A LEG DURING GLASGOW SHOW

RIVER City and Gary Tank Commander actress Leah MacRae proved the show must go on - performing from a wheelchair after dramatically snapping her Achilles' tendon during her stage show.
The Scots actress was walking off from the first half of My Big Fat Fabulous Diary at Eastwood Park theatre when she heard a loud noise.
And despite the theatre's medical staff advising her to go straight to A and E, Leah proved to be the real trouper and insisted on performing the second half in a wheelchair before heading to hospital.
Leah said: "I heard a big bang, like a whiplash as I went off stage and the next thing I knew I couldn't walk properly. The audience and my crew didn't have a clue what happened and for a minute or two I was behind the stage feeling dazed and upset. They wanted me to go to hospital straight away but I just said I wanted to finish the show."


Leah went back on stage in a wheelchair after an announcement was made saying there had been an issue.
She said : "The show is a comedy and I think the audience thought it was all part of the act. There was something really weird about singing Defying Gravity in a wheelchair.'
Leah who has had now rescheduled the rest of her May performances was rushed from stage to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow.
She said: "I do a lot of exercise and thought I'd just sprained my tendon but the doctor told me it was ruptured and pretty serious and that I'd have to be plastered up for a number of months."
I've now got a lovely big cast on my left leg and had to tell the River City producers who were brilliant and said they'd work round it. Everyone had been lovely and the theatre and hospital were great with me so I'd like it thank everyone.
The rescheduled dates for the show are the Village Theatre East Kilbride:, Friday 4th August and Rutherglen Town Hall Sat 5th August.



- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

FORD AND GREG WANT NEW STILL GAME STAGE SHOW TO BE MORE THEATRICAL

Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill decided not to record their new stage show because they claim the last one felt 'a bit flat' when they watched it back on a screen.

The Still Game: Live 2 show is on at Glasgows SSE Hydro from February 4-16 and Ford said: "We wanted it to be a theatrical experience and we felt when we saw the DVD played back from our last show that there was a third hand feel to it. It was all there but there was a flatness about it we were not entirely comfortable with when we saw it back.

Greg added: "This show is kind of unique in that it's the first time we've done Still Game where it hasn't been been recorded. All the TV episodes we've recorded are obviously on DVD and the original stage show we did at the festival in 1997 is also on DVD but this is uniquely theatrical and by the fifteenth of February it will be gone forever. It kind of feels good. That's how theatre should be. I know you can go to the GFT and watch a big production because people can't go to London and whatnot but I think theatre has to be experienced live.

"You can watch Kevin Bridges or Frankie Boyle on a DVD because you are used to seeing them live. It's them and a mike so it's not that much of leap to watch a DVD of them live but to watch a theatre show with lots of actors, you've got to be here."

The two actors who play Craiglang pensioners Jack and Victor in the comedy admitted there was a huge pressure on them to fulfil the expectations of their audience.

Ford said: "There is a huge pressure because everybody raved or passed comment on the last one and said they had a terrific time and a big part of the audience is repeat business who have been before so we've got to keep them entertained and surpass what we've done before."

Greg added: "It feels like a very different animal from the TV show but that has its own pressure and it feels like we are used to that. When the show was on, people loved it and there was the pressure to continue it at the level we were at and there was the pressure to bring it back after seven years and now we are doing the stage show again, it's got to be fresh and different and are kind of used to it and thrive on it .

The duo also suggested a new series of Still Game may soon be on its way.







- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN MUPPETS PROVES A XMAS HIT IN GLASGOW

Jakey puppets, dragged up mothers, a real life Apple Siri, a pop star Snow White, and hilarious audience interaction are all on offer at this latest production from Inside Out.
Snow White and The Seven Wee Muppets is a refreshing change to the traditional pantos which can often be complacent and rely on hackneyed cliches to keep them going.
You won't find big budget lasers and special effects here but what lacks in the technical department is more than made up for by the talent and the giggles on offer.
You can see that artistic director Paul Harper Swan and his team have worked hard to bring this unique production to the stage.
There are laughs and songs galore from the larger than life characters and the colourful costumes could give any of the bigger pantos a run for their money.
Neil Thomas is a real star as the instantly likeable bubbly panto dame who can sing, dance and has costumes to die for.
Splitting his outfit mid show caused even more laughs.
Alison Rona Cleland also brings a charming humour and cheekiness to her role as computer program and intelligent personal assistant Siri in an innovative twist to the show.
Jamie McKillop adds evil, glamour and plenty of Glasgow style cackles to the cocktail as the badd while Joanne McGuinness proves to be a very modern Snow White who can sing dance and has a bit more attitude than your average panto female.
And smiley Lee Reynolds is everybody's best pal - including Snow White's in the show.
The production which is less 'Disney' and more 'does so' is on until the end of December at Websters Theatre and is definitely worth a stroll to the wild West End.


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com




- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

STILL GAME'S TAM IS IDEAL DATE BAIT

HE might be an unlikely sex symbol but Still Game's Tam Mullen has appeared on dating site Plenty Of Fish.
The Criaglang pensioner might be attached to librarian Francis but that hasn't apparently stopped him advertising his wares online.
We're not sure if the cheeky punter who put up his pic on their profile has had much success in the pulling stakes yet but at 70 Tam who is a hospital DJ isn't exactly the ideal date material as his miserly ways mean you'll be the one paying for the drinks.
One time he even pretended he had bad arthritis which prevented him getting his hand into his pocket.
As a pal of Jack, Victor and of course Winston he has a solid group of pals but don't expect big night out - he likes to spend time in the pub and the bookies.
Actor Mark Cox who plays the character claims he had nothing to do with the dating profile but he joked: "Smashing-Get him Pumped!"





- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

RIVER CITY'S JOHNNY BEATTIE AND HIS BIRTHDAY WISH

RIVER City star Johnny Beattie is hoping for the best birthday present ever for his ninetieth - for Donald Trump to fail in the US election.
Johnny, who was given a special luncheon by the Showbiz Benevolent Fund to celebrate his ninetieth and many years in Showbiz said: "I'm nearly ninety. I'm nearly as old as my gags and that's saying something. I turn ninety on November 9. It's the day after the big election between the two funny people over in America. He would have done well over here in our variety business - Donald Trump. By god what a turn he'd have been - Donald Chump. Is that going in cause he'll sue me. He's sued everybody else so he might as well sue me. Nice to sue you to sue you nice.
He added: "The best present for my ninetieth would be for Donald Trump to not be president of the United States because let's face it, we're all doomed if he is."


Johnny, who left River City last year, has been enjoying time away from our screens .
He said: "The reason I had to stop was I had had vertigo and it was a balance thing but quite honestly I'd have carried on - even now. I really miss it but I keep in touch with all the cast like Eileen McCallum and Una Maclean. I loved River City and was thirteen years in there.


He reminisced about Jack Milroy, Anne Fields who just passed away, Jimmy Logan and Peter Duranz.
He says he used to do a sketch that is like a Strictly take off - 'We did Wilson Keppel and Beattie.'..
He says his ears are not so good but in fine fettle apart from that. I've still got a jig or two in me - it's just my hearing."
He told stories and so did Maureen Beattie, Alasdair Gillies, Dean Park and Alastair Mcdonald -



Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Sunday Express and Sunday Post.

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

JOHNNY BEATTIE DOESN'T WANT TRUMP TO JUMP OUT HIS CAKE

RIVER City star Johnny Beattie is hoping for the best birthday present ever for his ninetieth - for Donald Trump to fail in the US election.
Johnny, who was given a special luncheon by the Scottish Showbiz Benevolent Fund to celebrate his 63 years in showbiz and ninetieth birthday said: "I turn ninety on November 9. It's the day after the big election between the two funny people over in America. He would have done well over here in our variety business - Donald Trump. By god what a turn he'd have been - Donald Chump. Is that going in cause he'll sue me? He's sued everybody else so he might as well sue me. Nice to sue
you to sue you nice.


He added: "The best present for my ninetieth would be for Donald Trump to not be president of the United States because let's face it, we're all doomed if he is."

Excerpts of this article appeared in the Sunday Express

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

BIG ANGIE BREAKS BOX OFFICE AT FRINGE

BIG Angie came, saw and conquered Edinburgh - and after breaking the box office she's not ruling out a rerun next year.
Glasgow's Big Darling, the invention of the talented Scot KB Brannigan who is determined to play the SSE Hydro in the not too distant future, dared to shake it all about and escape the relative safety of online as she gave her Guide To The Gallowgate at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The audience who turned up to witness her showcase were in the palm of her hand by the Ibis hotel at Cowgate as she took them through her life story with a few sobs and chuckles along the way.
The show ended with her own song and a message to take some chips n cheese up the road.
Having performed at Glasgow Gay Pride on Glasgow Green, to an audience of 10,000, and amassed a strong online following as well as being hailed by the likes of Fred Macaulay, it won't be the last time we hear from her.
Full of Weegie patter, Big Angie said: "I love all these acts and the handsome men at the Fringe. It's fantastic. We got told the other night we broke the box offices at C Venues.
I saw a good psychic the other day and she says I'll be back next year. The future I s as bright as these lights."


- Posted from theshowbizlion.com with love from Scotland

GIRLS NIGHT OOT PERFORMER FENDS OFF STAGE INVADER WITH GIANT WILLY

The Scottish premiere of Girls Night Oot at Glasgow's Webster Theatre was a resounding success and even saw one enthusiastic audience member try to storm the stage.
The bolshy and bantertastic musical sequel to stage hit I Will Survive tells the story of four girls on a hen night.
With songs from the 60’s,70’s, 80’s, 90’s and now, it managed to get everyone dancing in the aisles.
Producer director Paul Harper Swan and his Inside Out Production team provided plenty of laughs with cheeky new lyrics to accompany popular tunes like Steelers Wheel's Stuck In The Middle and Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl.


During a rendition of ABBA's Man After Midnight one man got hauled up on stage to be a stripper while the encore saw one over zealous audience member trying to get up on stage.
As she attempted to jump up and join the cast during their rendition of Tina Turner's Proud Mary she was fended off by one of the cast - Lauren Ellis-Steele - who played the bride to be - wielding an inflatable penis!
Sex mad Donna Hazelton, and the hilarious Alison Rona Cleland, joined Britney wannabe Natalie Tulloch in the supporting roles.
The show continues at Webster theatre in Friday and Saturday April 15 and 16 before heading to other Scots theatres below.
It's a wee bit naughty but a great night out for the gals.

23 April-Cumbernauld Theatre
1 May-Oran Mor
5 May-MacRobert
6 May-Rutherglen Town Hall
27 May-Howden Park
13 August-Glenrothes
4 September-Oran Mor
1 October-Eastwood Park Theatre
28 October-Byre Theatre

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

BARBARA DICKSON HASN'T SEEN PETER KAY AND SUSAN BOYLE COMEDY SKETCH

 SINGER BARBARA Dickson loves comedian Peter Kay but claims she has never seen his spoof of her classic duet with Elaine Paige - I Know Him So Well.
The respected vocalist was at the Scottish Variety Awards in Glasgow's Crowne Plaza when the conversation turned towards the comedy take off of the hit Chess song which saw Peter play her role opposite Susan Boyle's Elaine Paige.
Barbara said: "I'm a great fan of Peter but I haven't seen the sketch. The song is a classic but I never sing it now - because it needs a duet."
Barbara joined band Prides, River City's Jordan Young and upcoming comedian Kate Dillon amongst the winners at the annual Scots showbiz ceremony.

The glitzy event was hosted by River City's Leah MacRae, STV's David Farrell,and talents including STVs Laura Boyd, Gerry Cassidy, musicians Fatherson, and star stylists Taylor and Anne Ferguson were in attendance.
Performances came from the UK Theatre School who paid tribute to David Bowie and mind reader Colin Cloud who baffled everyone with his psychic powers. Prides and Barbara also showcased their winning sounds and Gun frontman Dante Gizzi showed off his dance moves till the wee small hours.
Guests tucked into a three course dinner of chicken liver pate, filet of beef and cheesecake and funds were raised for DEBRA, The STV Appeal and The Second Chance Project on the night.

FRANK SINATRA JUNIOR DEAD

FRANK Sinatra Junior has passed away.
The son of ole Blue Eyes cancelled a show after 'feeling light headed' and was admitted to hospital yesterday.
According to US sources including TMZ he had a heart attack.
The singer who appeared at Glasgow's Royal Concert hall in June was 72.
He had been due to perform at a concert on Wednesday night but passed in the afternoon.
Frank Junior hit the headlines when he was kidnapped and held for ransom at age 19.
His sister Nancy said on Facebook "Sleep warm, Frankie..."


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

JASON DONOVAN THRILLS WITH NOSTALGIA TRIP IN GLASGOW

 JASON Donovan was the boy next door every schoolgirl wanted to be with at lunchtime in the eighties, and nothing appeared to have changed at Glasgow's Royal Hall for his Ten Good Reasons Tour.
The hands were up in the air as a throbbing mass of female hormones screamed out in adoration of the former Neighbours Star.
Charlene was nowhere to be seen but there was still plenty going on down under.
Banners bearing the message 'We'll be your Kylies' were waved in the air as Jason sang all of his big hits like Too Many Broken Hearts, Nothing Can Divide Us and Seal It With A Kiss mixed with a few lesser known ones like Question Of Pride and If I Don't Have You. Stock Aitken and Waterman were the chosen songwriters of the night, but it didn't matter what he sang, as the crowd lapped up every word, and every move - even cheering when he removed his jacket.

Jason who is coming to Aberdeen's His Majesty's Theatre on May 19, told his crowd: "We always end up in Glasgow and it is such a great city .It is one of my most visited towns, primarily for the theatre shows I've done here. Doing my own show is better than doing eight shows a week which is very taxing, traveling round the country. It's not so great when you have such a big family."
The atmosphere was like a giant hen night and one over excited lady even began flashing her bra at the star - until she was removed by security.

Jason joked with his mostly female followers, sharing titbits from his radio show and generally posing for selfies with those who found their way at the front of the stage.
He was humble, musing that he had to do this because his TV and film work dried up twenty years ago.
His parting note was Especially For you and everyone in the audience, including a couple of slightly drunk husbands, felt it was aimed at them.
There's more than Ten Good Reasons to go see him next time he's here.

DYNAMO REVEALS SECRETS BEHIND TRICKS

                                                   Jim Marks photo  DYNAMO has revealed the secret behind seven incredible new illusions for a new campaign which will help people add a bit of magic to their selfies.
The magician appears to be floating above the London skyline using an umbrella, shrinking himself l to the size of a pint glass and jumping crowds of people on a pedal bike in the series of clever illusions for the Samsung Galaxy S7 promo.
By using a mix of "forced perspective" techniques, combined with everyday items he's provided a simple guide on how you can achieve special effects yourself.
The Magician Impossible star said: "Ever since I was a child, I have been interested in looking at the world in different ways.​ I have always been fascinated by the fact that a simple twist on perspective can completely affect our perception of an image. I wanted this concept for the Everyday Illusions pictures.
"They say magicians should never give away their secrets - but for one time only, I wanted to create a series of illusions that anyone can create and show you exactly how to do it.
"The pictures highlight the incredible resolution and focus of the new Samsung Galaxy S7 phone. The Images are forced perspective alongside a few simple props to create mind boggling illusions which I believe anyone can achieve​with a little time and imagination."

Here's a guide to the illusions
ILLUSION 1 – GODZILLA – Dynamo appears to tower over a London traffic scene. We created a miniaturised London road with some props to create a forced perspective illusion that really makes you look twice
ILLUSION 2 – THE PUB CHAIR – This illusion uses a simple chair prop. The seat of the chair is actually a separate component which is put further back in the shot which when lined up makes whoever is sitting on it look tiny
ILLUSION 3 – WALL OF WATER - I wanted to try a really cool shot using water, and just by flipping the orientation of the image, I was able to create this incredible image of me walking out of a wall of water.
ILLUSION 4 – THE MATRIX – Creating the illusion that you are standing on a ledge is all about finding the right location, in this case, a concrete bench. The paper aeroplane really adds to the shot casting shadows and confusing the orientation. This shot was caught by using the super-fast focus on the S7 to capture the plane in flight
ILLUSION 5 – BMX JUMP - When I was younger I used to be into BMXing. I’d try loads of crazy scores but I wasn’t that good at it. But using some very clever camera work, you can actually become the ultimate extreme sports star – all you need is your imagination a birds-eye view
ILLUSION 6 – BOOTS – this is by far the easiest illusion of the set but it’s still brilliantly effective and very easy to create, shooting from a low angle and positioning the boots to line with your feet – simple!
ILLUSION 7 – MARY POPPINS – This shot showcases the super-fast shutter speed of the S7 – if you haven’t guessed already this involves a trampoline a decent stretch of sky and trying to look like you are walking rather than jumping! Having a ‘burst mode’ on your camera phone really helps as one out of 10 shots will achieve the right effect
BONUS: STAGE FACE - Dynamo shot a final ‘Bonus’ illusion he has called ‘Stage Face’ – onstage during his tour at the Liverpool Echo Arena

GRADO TAKES INSPIRATION FROM MICHAEL BARRYMORE

SCOTLAND'S cult Wrestler Grado has looked to Michael Barrymore for inspiration in his new comedy show.
The unitard wearing banter merchant reckons Barrymore was good at involving everyone of all ages in his performance and he's planning lots of laughs for his two shows in the Kings Theatre at Glasgow Comedy Festival.
Grado who will perform stand up in his own show It's Masel' on Thursday April 17 and Friday April 18 said: "I've got two shows at the Glasgow Comedy Festival which starts on March 20. I've never done stand up before but I I like to think of it like Michael Barrymore in the nineties. He was good with the old yins."
Realising that Barrymore may be a bit of a controversial role model he added: "Obviously I don't want to be promoting it as the Michael Barrymore Show but it will be about the weird and wonderful celebs I've idolised and what happened to them. There's weird stuff including my gran's tights but she's passed."
Grado who is is still an active part of Insane Championship Wrestling and is the former world heavyweight champion reckons he might feel a bit of pressure to be funny.
He added: "I think I'm funny but don't put me under any pressure now. The wee guy who cut my hair today is taking a wee Cypriot burd to the show so that's good.
Grado also claimed he packs his unitard everywhere he goes just in case the occasion calls for it.
He explained: "I always pack my gear in case a match ever breaks out. It can happen if you are walking across the town in Glasgow. There's never any hassle actually. People want selfies and it's all good banter. I've never had to get the muddle maker out.