PRINCES THEATRE TOWN HALL, CLACTON-ON-SEA WHAT’S ON GUIDE SPRING 2017 WELCOME... Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity If you enjoyed Irelands Call and Essence For the family we are looking forward to a to wish all our customers a very Happy New of Ireland then Seven Drunken Nights is brand new show Marty MacDonald’s Toy Year and welcome you to another fantastic the show for you. Produced by the same Machine which is a fun, interactive, song- season at the Princes Theatre! production company Seven Drunken Nights filled adventure, featuring a host of lovable We didn’t think it was possible to top brings to life the music of puppet characters plus CBeebies’ Justin the success of 2015 but wow what a Ireland’s favourite sons – Fletcher is the voice of Pongo the Pig. phenomenal year 2016 turned out to be. ‘The Dubliners’. We finish off the season with a We had an impressive 130 shows/events Following his successful tour family extravaganza, this year’s Easter during the year including our first ever from last year we are pleased Pantomime Robin Hood starring Gareth Monsters Ball which was a huge success. to have back by popular demand Pasha Gates, Graham Cole and Zippy and George We also held 4 Boxing Events, 2 Wedding whose special guest is Anya Garnis with from children’s television show Rainbow. If Fairs, 5 Weddings and 3 award ceremonies. their brand new tour “Let’s Dance the Night you came to see last year’s Beauty and the The continuous growth of our theatre has Beast you know you will be in for a real treat. helped us raise sufficient funds to reinvest. Away”. Funnyman and serious joker Lee We hope you enjoy our Spring programme Last year a whopping £25,000 was spent Nelson, the legendary Barry Steel & Friends and look forward to welcoming you to the on refurbishing our bar, see page 3 for with The Orbison Story, Some Guys Have All theatre soon. further details. If you haven’t seen the the Luck – The Rod Stewart Story, Illegal improvements yet I am certain you will be Eagles and Abba tribute act Arrival UK also Wendy Bilsby impressed with the final outcome. It looks make a welcome return. General Theatre Manager (Marketing) amazing! This Spring we are launching a brand new production Someone Like You - The Adele Songbook with Katie Markham. Adele is one of the most successful female British artists to date and Katie has received standing ovations on her 2016 tour. “A truly amazing show”, “spectacular”, “not to be missed” are just some of the comments received. 2 BAR REFURBISHMENT After the success of the Essex Hall refurbishment and the increased quality of service we are able to provide our customers, we are even more determined to improve other aspects of the theatre. We have taken on-board the suggestions given by our customers which identify further ways to enhance the theatre. Some of the changes we intend to undertake include, a complete refurbishment and extension of the toilet facilities, new comfortable theatre seating, modern sound, lighting equipment as well as improving the overall décor of the building. The Princes Theatre is a Grade II listed building and as such all these improvements come at a very high cost. In view of this and to fall in line with many other civic venues throughout the country, we will be introducing a restoration fee to our ticket prices in the new financial year. This money will be ring-fenced and used to maintain the theatre to a high standard which will help us continue to provide shows and events for everyone in the district. 3 SPRING AT A GLANCE Toy Machine - page 8 Freddie Tribute - page 9 Navi, King of Pop - page 16 The Orbison Story - page 18 The Fureys - page 18 Seven Drunken Nights - page 19 The Rod Stewart Story - page 21 Illegal Eagles - page 22 Abba, Arrival UK - page 23 KEEP IN Join us on facebook/twitter. Enter our weekly competitions to win tickets to shows. BOX OFFICE: 01255 68 66 33 To sign up to our mailing list please email [email protected] BOOK ONLINE: www.essex-live.co.uk TOUCH FIND US ON FACEBOOK Follow us on Twitter WHAT’S ON: www.tendringdc.gov.uk PRINCESTHEATRE @PrincesTheatre 4 JANUARY 2017 - MARCH 2017 CLACTON ARTS & LITS AT THE PRINCES THEATRE MONDAY NIGHTS For tickets and show enquiries please contact Cindy Hardy 01255 670131 Tickets cannot be purchased via the Princes Theatre Box Office. JANUARY 16th JANUARY 23rd JANUARY 30th FEBRUARY 6th The New Year starts with Michael Law’s Presenting Dr Annie Gray, food historian ‘Poles Apart’ with Dr Michael Leach West End Diva Rosie Ashe presents Piccadilly Dance Orchestra with the and a regular on BBC Radio 4’s The Wildlife photographer and author. “Miss Merman, You’re the Top!” Gatsby Girls dancers. Kitchen Cabinet Sponsored by a Society member telling the story of one of the greatest Sponsored by GCS Alarms Ltd. Clacton-on-Sea Sponsored by member Christine Mummery Ross in broadway musical stars of all time. memory of her Mum and Dad FEBRUARY 13th FEBRUARY 20th FEBRUARY 27th MARCH 6th Amanda Bryett with an entertaining The Jazz Repertory Company The Penultimate Presentation Welsh Baritone Anthony Stuart Lloyd. talk about “The Perils and Pleasures of a performing “100 Years of Jazz in 90 ‘Christopher Biggins’ Anthony will be accompanied by pianist Blue Badge Tourist Guide” minutes”. Sponsored by Talisman Coach Lines Alexander Abbott. Sponsored by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines 0800 Sponsored by member Keith Middleton in memory Sponsored by Boydens/J V Story (Estate Agents) 0355110 of his wife Ann Clacton-on-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea and Colchester Full programme available form the Visitor Information Centre. 5 FRI 27th JAN 7.30PM Legendary swing, jive and skiffle group, The Jive Aces, are renowned worldwide for their high-energy music and spectacular stage show. They are perhaps best known as the first live band to reach the final rounds of “Britain’s Got Talent” and for their award winning viral video,“Bring Me Sunshine”, which has 3 million views online and is so uplifting it’s even been prescribed by a doctor! This swinging sextet average 300 shows a year and have performed for The Queen, as well as working with Van Morrison and John Travolta. They’ve played to capacity crowds at the Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, Glastonbury Festival, The London Olympics and have graced stages in 40 countries, including major theatre tours in the USA. They famously cheered up a grumpy Simon Cowell and wowed the judges on “BGT”. Other TV appearances include: “Strictly Come Dancing”, “Children in Need” “Good Day Los Angeles” and “The Alan Titchmarsh Show”. “Absolutely Brilliant! That really put me in a good mood.” - Simon Cowell “Infectious, uplifting and marvelous!” - Len Goodman “Simply Sensational!” - The Stage “Jive Aces rocked us, literally, and raised the roof!” - Huffington Post “True Showmanship!” - The Telegraph Tickets £15, Concessions £13 • Stalls – Cabaret Seating with Dance Floor area 6 7 SUNDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2.00PM THURS 16th FEBRUARY 7.30PM A brand new show featuring the voices of CBeebies’ Justin Fletcher and Nicole Davis as Pongo the Pig and Molly- Moo the Cow - from the team who brought you Marty MacDonald’s Farm! Everyone at Marty MacDonald’s Farm is delighted with the special delivery that’s arrived – the Toy Machine that makes all of the toys in the world! But then they realise that Crafty the Crow has been up to mischief and it shouldn’t really be there at all… Worse still, the machine has stopped LDN WRESTLING working, so they need to fix it before the Toymaker comes to get it back! Come and see the larger-than-life Characters from all corners Join Marty, Sally the of the world do battle inside the ring with heavyweight Scarecrow, Pongo the Pig, collisions and jaw-dropping high flying action! Molly-Moo the Cow and A brand-new season of LDN Wrestling return’s this February, Sheena the Sheep in a fun, with a great line up of top International talent from all the musical, interactive adventure major federations from around the world to face the best to repair the Toy Machine, of British personalities in a 2-hour non-stop fun filled family save the day and give the evening out. Featuring American wrestling sensation from world back its toys! Boston, USA, Travis Flip Gordon. Tickets £10.50, Concessions £9.50, Family of 4 £35.00 Tickets £14, Concessions £12 8 SATURDAY 18th FEBRUARY 7.30PM FRIDAY 24th FEBRUARY 7.30PM BOB DRURY PRESENTS MERCURY THE NEIL DIAMOND STORY THE ULTIMATE QUEEN TRIBUTE Bob Drury and his band celebrate the life and music of the Undoubtedly one of the UK’s finest vocal tributes to Neil Winners of the National Tribute Awards, Mercury have firmly legend that is Neil Diamond. Diamond, Bob has performed the songs for a number of established themselves as one of the world’s most authentic The show tracks Neil’s remarkable journey from unknown years as part of his Neil Diamond tribute shows throughout tributes to Queen. The show includes fantastic and authentic and struggling New York songwriter to international mega- the UK and overseas, most recently performing for the performances of the most popular Queen hits such as star and includes music from every stage of a staggering American Neil Diamond Fan Club in Nashville, Tennessee Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga, We Are The Champions, and hit-filled music career spanning five decades.