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Probably
the greatest Variety Show ever seen in Long Eaton will take to the stage
on Saturday 7th October at Trent College’s May Hall … and
it’s all in aid of the Phoenix Fund and their show business friends, the
Grand Order of Water Rats – Britain’s oldest showbusiness charity.
Following a devastating fire in November 2003 in which Long Eaton’s
Duchess Theatre was razed to the ground, the owners – Long Eaton and
District Arts Council – established the Phoenix Fund. In addition to
appealing to major funders, a programme of day-to-day fundraising is
also taking place with a target for the fund of £800,000.
Thanks to a lot of hard work by the show’s
director, Past King Rat Keith Simmons, those attending can look forward
to a performance from Melvyn Hayes (It Aint Half Hot Mum,
Eastenders, Countdown and Summer Holiday), appearing as “Gunner Gloria
Beaumont”, who will be welcomed on stage with a rendition of “Meet the
Gang” from Long Eaton’s Young Performers.
The show will be hosted by
Jeremy Beadle
(You've Been Framed and Beadle's About) and
Tim Healy
(Auf Wiedersehen Pet and, more recently as
Sean’s “lost father” in Coronation Street) who will introduce
performances from Melvyn Hayes (It Aint Half Hot Mum, Eastenders,
Countdown and Summer Holiday), appearing as “Gunner Gloria Beaumont”,
who will be welcomed on stage with a rendition of “Meet the Gang” from
Long Eaton’s Young Performers plus the very talented BBCtv comedy
impressionist Paul Squire who appeared in several of his own
television series and Nottingham’s own ventriloquist Neville King.
Adding to the comedy
bill will be father and son act Keith and Ben as Simmons and Simmons
who promise “mirth and mayhem” before they return later in the year
to the Derby Assembly Rooms where they are appearing with Gary Wilmot in
Peter Pan, a show which the talented Keith is also directing. Magic and
manipulation will come from Derby’s Stuart Brown whilst Long
Eaton’s Young Performers will be contributing three show tunes to
get the audience’s feet tapping. The Leonettes with Phoenix Fund
Chairman Leon Wade at the piano will provide music for all the acts.
Guests at the matinee and evening Gala
Performance will be welcomed by a group of
Trent College Musicians
before taking their seats for these very special shows.
Also welcoming visitors and the Mayor and
Mayoress of Erewash to the May Hall show will be this year’s King Rat –
Kaplan Kaye – who said: "I
am really looking forward to my visit to Long Eaton. It will give me a
chance to not only thank everyone for what they are doing but I also
want to visit the site of the theatre and talk to as many people as I
can about what's happening.”
There will be two shows (at 3.00 and 7.30
p.m.) with tickets for the evening Gala Performance almost “sold out”!
Tickets can be
purchased from either from Heaps the Stationers of Long Eaton
during the week or from the Chatsworth Centre on a Saturday
morning. Bookings can also be made
by telephoning Leon Wade on 0115 849 0598
or by writing to him at 270 College Street, Long Eaton, NG10 4GW.
Further information:
Graham Smith – Consultant Director of
Fundraising – The Phoenix Fund
Telephone – 0786 655
8589 E-Mail – g.smith1@ntlworld
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