Launching next week, West End in Blackpool will see Blackpool homegrown stars Jodie Prenger, Tom Lister, Kelsey-Beth Crossley, Ashley Luke Lloyd and Laura Wilson perform numbers from West End musicals alongside a West End Ensemble of performers.
They will be joined by the Leading Lady and Leading Man of the West End Musical ‘Top Hat’ – Charlotte Gooch and Alan Burkitt – who will perform a captivating ‘Smooth American’ dance to ‘Cheek to Cheek’.
The show will also celebrate the rich history of the Winter Gardens and its past performers to create a unique ‘docu-concert’ which combines documentary coverage with stunning performances.
Jodie Prenger rose to fame when she won the BBC’s Andrew Lloyd Webber show ‘I’d Do Anything’ claiming her debut role in the West End showing of Lloyd-Webbers ‘Oliver!’ as Nancy. She has since become a much-loved TV personality.
Jodie Prenger said: “Oh, we miss it don’t we? The thrill of an opening night, the excitement as the lights dim in the audience. The tingles you get when the orchestra strikes up. But to know that Blackpool have been able to recreate that digitally for audiences out there who are missing theatre as much as we are. Well, I just could not be prouder.”
Tom Lister and Kelsey-Beth Crossley are known for playing soap siblings Carl King and Scarlett Nicholls in Emmerdale. Since leaving the soap, Tom has played the lead role in the West End’s ‘42nd Street’ which also saw him perform in the Royal Variety Show 2017 and Kelsey-Beth has appeared in The Voice and starred as the leading lady in many theatre shows.
Tom Lister said: “Like an itch that hasn’t been scratched for such a long time, it was brilliant to get dressed up and sing again!! To do it in the beautiful ballroom of the Winter Gardens made it even more special. Can’t wait for people to see this wonderful event that Ashley and Kelsey have put together. Oh, how we all miss live entertainment.”
Charlotte Gooch and Alan Burkitt are a dancing duo who starred as the leads of West End musical ‘Top Hat’. They have since performed dances from the show around the world and Alan provides choreography for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Charlottes leading roles include Dirty Dancing and Flashdance.
Ashley Luke Lloyd – the shows director – has a West End background. He played Michael in the original West End cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the tender age of 9 and went on to perform in West End shows ‘Mamma Mia!’ and ‘Dreamgirls’. Ashley is also the writer and producer of an upcoming movie that was filmed in Blackpool and was the choreographer for the Pet Shop Boys ‘Closer to Heaven’ sell-out show.
Laura Wilson is known for her roles in West End musicals Fame and Shrek and has performed eight times at the Winter Gardens Blackpool.
West End in Blackpool will be available to stream 6th April – 9th July. Tickets can be bought from the Winter Gardens Blackpool website here.
