Showcase Productions Session two A new session and a new compere, this time in the recently slimmed down and now svelte figure of comedian Lee Lard. ‘I hope you’re not disappointed as I’m not Tank Sherman- but at least you’ve not got Craig Harper’, Lard quipped as he warmed up the early evening attendees. In-jokes … Continue reading
Showcase Productions 2014 – session 1 Viva Cabaret Blackpool Producer Barrie Lucas& Colin Jones November 3rd and 4th First session Blackpool seafront during the famous illuminations provides a great backdrop for an inaugural event such as this. Producer Barrie Lucas has been on the wrong end of some, in my view, thoroughly undeserved flak from … Continue reading
JMA Productions Showcase 2014 – Session 1 Westlands Leisure Complex Yeovil October 13th Producer John Mills Reviewer Mark Ritchie This is a great venue for a showcase and armed with a production team covering all bases and as sharp as a tack, it was soon time for this flagship South West England event to get … Continue reading
West end entertainments annual showcase 2014 Liner Hotel Liverpool October 21st Producers Barbara Brown and Pete Pinnington Reviewer Mark Ritchie In a continuation of the business built up by the late and great Tony West, Barbara Brown and her merry crew always push the boat out at their annual event. Those in the cabaret room … Continue reading
Curtains up Showcase session four Reviewer Johnny Tait The final session of Curtains up opened with 4 piece covers band Back 2 Skool With Lady Z. Fronted by an attractive young lady with a powerful voice backed by 3 top musicians. The sound and vision was absolutely first class. Now That’s What We Call … Continue reading
Curtains up Showcase session three Reviewer Mark Ritchie Close-up magician Matty Evans was busy bamboozling one and all in the foyer and key bookers gathered from all over the UK. The quality of a showcase audience is certainly more important than the quantity, as we hear reports of other ‘packed’ trade showcases, where hundreds of … Continue reading
Curtains Up Showcase session two Reviewer Mark Ritchie Compere Miki Travis introduced 70’s style disco band Chic Le Freak. Live instruments were augmented by a click-track. A punchy sound, some great vocals and eye-catching stage wear combined to create the most favourable of impressions. The superbly presented tribute quartet called The Jerseys gave us a … Continue reading
Curtains Up session one Circus Tavern Purfleet Session one September 22nd Producer Paul Rogers Reviewer Johnny Tait The show compere Miki Travis presented a new and hopefully regular fixture in the national showcase calendar and opening the show was Essex based three piece male vocal act The Bass Tones. They were well presented with excellent … Continue reading
The Tony Wayne School -Re-Launch Charity Concert Low Moor Club Bradford August 29 2014. Producer Paul Taylor Reviewer: Mark Ritchie (Pic Tony Wayne) The name Tony Wayne is synonymous with two major attributes, a successful vocal technique school and an often outrageous stage act. The school’s truncated history has been rekindled by this concert, which … Continue reading
Wheelers and Wobblers Charity Concert August 2014. Westgate Common club Wakefield Producer: Sam Lyons Reviewer: Mark Ritchie A benefit evening for a charity that performs great work in providing access for the disabled was staged in the traditional surroundings of a Wakefield social club. A whole swathe of civic dignitaries was in attendance on the … Continue reading