FOOTLOOSE TOUR

[carol]

There are more Footloose dates on Gareth's official site. It has gone well!
love Carol xx
www.garethgates.com/

[helpinghands]

It certainly has Carol!
Delighted to see that Gareth has liked our site link, and also liked and retweeted our info about Footloose continuing. Great to know we have Royal approval!
H xx

[carol]

Jan 8, 2017 12:36:30 GMT helpinghands said:

It certainly has Carol!
Delighted to see that Gareth has liked our site link, and also liked and retweeted our info about Footloose continuing. Great to know we have Royal approval!
H xx

Yes we have! Another article about Gareth and Footloose.
love Carol xxx

Gareth Gates
He’s coming to Bromley in July

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Most people will remember Gareth Gates from Pop Idol, but since his 2003 success on the show, he’s made a name for himself in musical theatre.

And in July he’s coming to Bromley, alongside Maureen Nolan, in Footloose, as comedy cowboy - Willard.

The show follows the same plot as the 1980s rock ‘n’ roll hit film.

City boy Ren thinks life is bad enough when he’s forced to move to a rural backwater in America.

But his world comes to a standstill when he arrives at Bomont to find dancing and rock music are banned.

Taking matters into his own hands, soon Ren has all hell breaking loose and the whole town on its feet.

Gareth, whose musical theatre credits also include Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, says he feels comfortable in his role as Willard, because he can relate to him.

“Willard can’t dance, and he finds it really hard to speak to girls as he’s shy, which are definitely two aspects of life I can relate to,” he says.

“I’m really not a great dancer, but obviously working in musical theatre I have to try my best.

“Willard does have a big dance routine at the end of the show, and I love that bit. His character really develops throughout as he learns to dance and builds confidence.”

This is the performers first time playing a comic character though, but it’s a challenge he’s enjoying.

“I like to challenge myself when it comes to acting, which is what this role allows me to do.

“I usually play the prince or one of the more serious characters.”

It’s been non-stop for Gareth since Pop Idol, as he tells KoS: “I’ve actually been on the road and touring now for 15 years, which when you think ahout it is a very long time.

“It is crazy at times and I do also find it difficult sometimes but it also means I get to see the country, and meet some amazing people along the way.

“I wouldn’t trade it.”

He will be starring in Footloose alongside Maureen Nolan, who plays Vi Moore.

“Maureen’s great, she’s such a lovely woman. She’s a legend in her own right. It’s quite nice to be around the likes of her and the rest of the cast,” he said.

“All the actors also play instruments, we don’t have a separate band. They are just a very talented bunch. Working amongst people like that is incredible.”

Speaking of why people should come and see the show, Gareth said: “It’s just a really fantastic show, everyone has worked really hard to make the show come together, and we all work will on stage as a team.

“It is based on the 1984 film, which is a film that everyone loves. The stage adaptation definietly does the storyline justice, so if you loved the film, you’re sure to love this as well.

“I hope people leave feeling really upbeat and happy.”

The show is coming to Bromley’s Churchill Theatre from July 19-22.

For tickets or more information visit churchilltheatre.co.uk or call 020 3285 6000.



Read more: garethpgates.proboards.com/thread/1551/article-mad-musicals#ixzz4es9We0x0

[carol]

Here is another interview with Gareth as he resumes FOOTLOOSE again
love Carol xx
GARETH Gates had such a blast in his first comedy performance last year, he is reprising the role on the 2017 international tour of Footloose, The Musical, playing York from Tuesday.

"We toured for the whole of last year, when 160,000 people saw the show," says the 32-year-old Bradford actor and singer. "They asked me to do it again, and I'd enjoyed it so much, I thought, 'let's have another crack at it'.

Gareth is not appearing in the tour's opening week at the New Wimbledon Theatre this week, so York will mark his return to playing Willard in a musical based on the 1984 film that starred Kevin Bacon and featured such songs as Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise, Let's Hear It For The Boy and Footloose.

Footloose tells the story of American city boy Ren McCormack (played by Joshua Dowen), who has to move to a rural backwater, where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren cuts loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet.

"I play the show's comedy role, which is something I'd never done before, and I'm really enjoying it," says Gareth, who rose to fame in the inaugural series of the pop talent show Pop Idol in 2001, since when he has appeared in such musicals as Les Misérables, Legally Blonde and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

York Press:

Gareth Gates: "I'd enjoyed Footloose so much, I thought, 'let's have another crack at it'," he says

"To be playing a comedy role is a great opportunity for me. I had a meeting with the producers, who said they were thinking of taking the show on the road and they weren't sure which part I should do, so I read the script and thought, 'how about the comedy role?'. We were all apprehensive at first but it worked out really well, so that's why they asked me back."

The chance to be funny on stage had eluded Gareth until Footloose. "It's something I've struggled with in life, because of my speech impediment: I was always desperate in a pub or a social situation to get a laugh, just like anyone else, but it was always tricky, but as soon as I'm on stage and I learn the script and play a character, the stammer has never been a problem; it just goes. So to get laughs on stage is a great sense of relief for me."

As last year's box office figures would indicate, Footloose is as popular as ever, but what makes it such a rip-roaring good show, Gareth? "The director [Racky Plews] has tried to keep it as close to the film as possible, so fans of the film who've come to the show have been very pleased with what they've seen," he says. "It has that big Eighties feel to it, which is important too, and the whole show has a feelgood atmosphere, based around the story of this guy who comes into a town he's not familiar with, where the people don't believe in what he believes in but he sets out to change their opinion and be accepted by them."

Amid the well-known Eighties hits, Gareth sings a number new to the stage musical. "I get to do a song called Mama Says as the character I play is very close to his mum, so he sings about what she's taught him over the years, and it turns out she's a bit of a crazy lady!" he says. "It's the comedic song in the show."

Look out in particular for Gareth's big moment: Let's Hear It For The Boy. "That song is all about my character, who's a cowboy who can't dance and has to learn to dance," he says. "It's great fun!"

Attachments:

[helpinghands]

Thanks for posting Carol. This show has been such a hit for Gareth, showing off his ability to be a comic actor, that he was invited to tour again. Well done to Gareth! Is anyone from here going?
love H xx

[carol]

I am posting the link, as I am in Suffolk with my tablet only. It's a great review of the show, and I like it, that they say Gareth steals it! We think that anyway!
love Carol xxx

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/what-s-on/theatre/review-footloose-1-8525168

[carol]

Here is yet another fantastic review. looks like Gareth has found a niche he fits perectly into!
love Carol xxx

www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/15264691.Review__Footloose__The_Musical__Grand_Opera_House__York__until_Saturday/

[helpinghands]

Great reviews of Gareth and the show Carol, many thanks.
love H xx

[carol]

Another lovely review!
love Carol xxx

in2 Theatre: Footloose The Musical review by Tanya Mancini

Footloose The Musical review by Tanya Mancini

Footloose and fancy free…

I SUSPECT not many words are needed when describing Footloose The Musical, an adaptation of the hit 80’s film. But, what makes the musical stand out is the use of actor musicians, where the whole cast share playing the score live on stage which truly makes for a vibrant show, full of energy and passion, how music should be heard and felt.

Joshua Dowan steps into the shoes of the young Kevin Bacon and dons an incredible portrayal of Ren, combining his frustration, emotion and dance moves which draw all the attention to him, making the character his own.

Ren leaves Chicago a troubled teen, only to find the small town he now calls home has banned Rock music and dancing. As Ren struggles to fit in he ends up finding himself standing up to the town council and Reverend to lift the law and allow a school dance.

The show is captivating as a strong cast superbly acts out the rebellion and romance of the story and of course its fantastic recognisable song list, lifts the spirit and draws you in to all the emotions.



A favourable song has to be ‘Holding out for a Hero’ powerfully song by Hannah Price aka Ariel. I have to confess, here I joined the Gareth Gates fan club. I will not spoil this for you but it’s a pretty good scene!

Pop Idol star Gareth Gates stars as Willard and has the character down to a tee. He is so charismatic and funny. The track ‘Let’s hear it for the boy’ sees Ren teaching Willard how to dance and it’s here Gareth shines and you realise just how great he has made this role.

Another star that cannot go unmentioned is Maureen Nolan, who has the most amazing silky smooth voice and highlights the emotions of the struggle and suffering of the town’s people to perfection.

As the show ends the audience is invited to stand and it’s certainly impossible to resist jumping up and dancing, joining in with the cast as they celebrate and close with a medley of hit songs.

It’s an amazing entertaining production and full credit to the whole cast I thoroughly recommend seeing it.

I left with my daughter buzzing from the great night we had shared together, enjoying a fantastic trip to the Theatre. Then came home to the harrowing news of the events in Manchester.

These people had just been on a night out, enjoying themselves as we were. You can’t help but stop and think about how we go on after events like this. I feel in life you always seem to connect to and draw on what’s current in life. As I reflected on the shows story, how they had tried to survive the death of four teens by banning music and dancing, in a desperate bid to protect their young, and how this led to suppressing emotions. It suddenly felt all too raw and real. In a strange way I feel there is a lesson here. It really is a poignant story of cutting loose and allowing yourself to enjoy life and we cannot just stop and shut down. We still have to live.

So ‘kick of your shoes and cut loose’ keep dancing your own dance. Carry on going to shows, evenings out in the city and doing what you love. My love and thoughts are with you Manchester.

Footloose The Musical at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch until Saturday 27 May. If you can’t catch it here it’s on tour and will be back in Essex at Towngate Theatre, Basildon in August.

For more information on the Footloose The Musical tour visit:
footloose-musical.com/

[carol]

A great review and a video also to the trailer. Gareth's comic genius has again been notice.
love Carol xx

www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/176799/review-footloose-brings-the-80s-back-to-llandudno.aspx