Performance

VenueTheatre Royal
Other spaces: Studio, Stage 2
TownNorwich
CountyNorfolk
From30th October 2006
To4th November 2006
WhenMon-Thu 19:30. Fri, Sat 17:00, 20:30
PricesFrom £6.00. To £27.50.
What is currently on at Theatre Royal (V72)

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

Buddy - The Buddy Holly StoryT1502220138
The story of the legendary father of rock and roll, Buddy Holly, who died tragically young in a plane crash - this show has got everything needed for a fantastic family night out - laughter, tears and a finale that will have everyone from eight to eighty dancing in the aisles! After 30 years back on the road.
Author Alan Janes


Archive :: production:T1502220138, musical:S1611646266, venue:V72

Production details

Running time 2hrs

Special Performances


  • 4 Nov 06 Sign Interpreted

Reviews

Overall: 3.43
USER (27Oct06): This musical is amazing!! 5
USER (23May06): Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Monday 22 May 2006 Yes it’s that nostalgic 1950s show, on the go for approaching 20 years, 13 years in the West End and touring for many years and still filling theatres everywhere it plays. Last night a good sized and enthusiastic audience rocked and rolled to Elliot Harper as Buddy Holly. I liked the format of the show and as this was the first time I’ve seen the musical found the biography style of Act 1 and concert presentation of Act 2 exactly right and judging by the audience reaction they thought so too. The musical follows the short lived career of the bespectacled star who took the pop music world by storm in 1957 but who sadly died in 1959 in a plane crash alongside fellow performers Ritchie Valens (La Bamba) and The Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace) who were portrayed larger than life by Ricky Glowacki and William Kenning. All the well known numbers such as “Everyday”, “Peggy Sue”, "Oh Boy", "True Love Ways", “Heartbeat” and “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” are sung with flare by Elliot Harper and backed by a talented group of musicians under the direction of John Banister. The Act 1 closer “Oh Boy” got just that reaction and the finale “Johnny B Goode” brought the house down. Carina Gillespie was well cast as Buddy’s sweetheart and the whole cast worked brilliantly together producing a great atmosphere on stage and in the auditorium particularly during Act 2. Of note too were Debbralee and Ann- Marie Roberts as the Apollo Theatre (Harlem) singers with their vocals, fun and powerful presence. The sets are functional, ideal for a touring production and in the same way that those for “Grease” set the time span Buddy too had adverts from the 1950s and the added use of some back projection to punctuate the journey through his short career worked very effectively. There was also moodiness to the sets through some clever lighting but some of the individual spot lighting needed to be faster. Written and directed by Rob Bettinson this is a show that will please all ages and clearly still has a great deal of energy. Catch it at the Alex until Saturday May 27th 2006 it is well worth seeing. Clive Fuller 4
USER (19Apr06): The most amazing performance I have ever seen. Elliot Harper rocked!!!! I felt as though I was watching buddy for real. 5
USER (03Feb06): Best show ever, great music and dancing 5

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Company

Producer Alan Janes
Director Rob Bettinson
Design Andy Walmsley
Costume Bill Butler
Lighting Graham McLusky
Sound Rick Price
Performer Edward Handoll (Buddy some dates)
Performer Elliot Harper (Buddy some dates)
CORONAVIRUS: All UK venues closed on 16th March 2020, restrictions were lifted on 19th July 2021. Please note that iUKTDb archive listings between March 2020 and July 2021 may not be accurate as we did not receive details of all rescheduled and cancelled shows.

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