Post by mariaw81 on Sept 1, 2011 23:50:04 GMT
We had a very long journey to Wimbledon on Sunday, it should take about one and a half hours, but due to bad traffic and a diversion at Streatham, it took nearly 3 hours.
We had 10 minutes to spare to get into our seats, we only had balcony seats, as the tickets were expensive. I have not sat in the balcony at Wimbledon before, and have to say it was very steep. I suffer from fear of heights, and had to really discipline myself to look down whilst holding onto Keith's arm, but after a while I got used to it.
It was a really good evening, great stars, much humour, and fantastic singing too. I felt especially proud when Shane Richie introduced Gareth. Before he even came on Shane explained to us that he had already had the pleasure of working with Gareth on several occasions, and what a great guy he was. He also said ( jokingly) that he was robbed in Pop Idol.
I assumed that most of the fans were at Wiltons, but there were quite a few there because Shane did the old trick of reminding them that their heart throb would be on soon, and encouraging the screaming.
He introduced him as ""the young man who has won rave reviews all around the country for his part of Marius in Les Mis, see my report. Gareth got tumultuous applause both before and after he sang. He looked wonderful in the grey suit. His voice was as beautiful as ever, and his performance so moving, as he really acts out what he sings.
It was strange to see Gareth at the beginning of a show, he is always at the end normally, and I must admit I did miss seeing him at the finale. Having said that I think it's wonderful that Gareth gave his support to 2 shows in one evening, and I am sure by the time he finished at Wilton's he must have been really tired, and only too pleased to get to the bar for a quiet drink and a wind down.
This was written about Gareth in the programme.
IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT GARETH HAS STRUGGLED WITH HIS SPEECH, SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR HIM FOR MANY YEARS,HE DECIDED TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION AND ENROLLED ON THE MCGUIRE PROGRAMME, WHICH CHANGED HIS LIFE BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. FROM BEING UNABLE TO PARTAKE IN A PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW WITHOUT AGONISING DISCOMFORT HE APPEARED ON THE JONATHON ROSS SHOW IN 2007, SHOWING THE CHARMING AND AMUSING SIDE THAT BEFORE THE PROGRAMME, WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. GARETH IS NOW A QUALIFIED COURSE INSTRUCTOR, BUT STILL HAS TO WORK ON HIS SPEECH ON A DAILY BASIS.
IN 2008 GARETH DONNED THE SEQUINS AND LYCRA TO TAKE PART IN DANCING ON ICE, EVENTUALLY COMING FOURTH. NOT BAD FOR SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T EVEN STAND UP ON THE ICE AT THE BEGINNING! HE THEN TOOK THE LEAD ROLE IN JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT, AND ALSO STARRED IN CINDERELLA, A ROLE HE AGREED TO TAKE DUE TO THE OUTSTANDING CAST INCLUDING ALISTAIR MCGOWAN, AND JOANNE PAGE. IN 2009 GARETH ACCEPTED THE ROLE OF MARIUS IN THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR OF LES MISERABLES. THIS MAMMOTH 10 MONTH TOUR WILL END ON 2ND OCT WITH 22 SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AT THE SHOW'S ORIGINAL HOME. THE REST OF 2010 PROMISES TO BE AN EXCITING TIME FOR GARETH WITH OFFERS FLOODING IN, AND JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THEM ALL!
For those interested, here is my blog of the show;
sportales.com/sports/100-year-celebration-of-new-wimbledon-theatre/
We had 10 minutes to spare to get into our seats, we only had balcony seats, as the tickets were expensive. I have not sat in the balcony at Wimbledon before, and have to say it was very steep. I suffer from fear of heights, and had to really discipline myself to look down whilst holding onto Keith's arm, but after a while I got used to it.
It was a really good evening, great stars, much humour, and fantastic singing too. I felt especially proud when Shane Richie introduced Gareth. Before he even came on Shane explained to us that he had already had the pleasure of working with Gareth on several occasions, and what a great guy he was. He also said ( jokingly) that he was robbed in Pop Idol.
I assumed that most of the fans were at Wiltons, but there were quite a few there because Shane did the old trick of reminding them that their heart throb would be on soon, and encouraging the screaming.
He introduced him as ""the young man who has won rave reviews all around the country for his part of Marius in Les Mis, see my report. Gareth got tumultuous applause both before and after he sang. He looked wonderful in the grey suit. His voice was as beautiful as ever, and his performance so moving, as he really acts out what he sings.
It was strange to see Gareth at the beginning of a show, he is always at the end normally, and I must admit I did miss seeing him at the finale. Having said that I think it's wonderful that Gareth gave his support to 2 shows in one evening, and I am sure by the time he finished at Wilton's he must have been really tired, and only too pleased to get to the bar for a quiet drink and a wind down.
This was written about Gareth in the programme.
IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT GARETH HAS STRUGGLED WITH HIS SPEECH, SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR HIM FOR MANY YEARS,HE DECIDED TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION AND ENROLLED ON THE MCGUIRE PROGRAMME, WHICH CHANGED HIS LIFE BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. FROM BEING UNABLE TO PARTAKE IN A PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW WITHOUT AGONISING DISCOMFORT HE APPEARED ON THE JONATHON ROSS SHOW IN 2007, SHOWING THE CHARMING AND AMUSING SIDE THAT BEFORE THE PROGRAMME, WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. GARETH IS NOW A QUALIFIED COURSE INSTRUCTOR, BUT STILL HAS TO WORK ON HIS SPEECH ON A DAILY BASIS.
IN 2008 GARETH DONNED THE SEQUINS AND LYCRA TO TAKE PART IN DANCING ON ICE, EVENTUALLY COMING FOURTH. NOT BAD FOR SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T EVEN STAND UP ON THE ICE AT THE BEGINNING! HE THEN TOOK THE LEAD ROLE IN JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT, AND ALSO STARRED IN CINDERELLA, A ROLE HE AGREED TO TAKE DUE TO THE OUTSTANDING CAST INCLUDING ALISTAIR MCGOWAN, AND JOANNE PAGE. IN 2009 GARETH ACCEPTED THE ROLE OF MARIUS IN THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR OF LES MISERABLES. THIS MAMMOTH 10 MONTH TOUR WILL END ON 2ND OCT WITH 22 SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AT THE SHOW'S ORIGINAL HOME. THE REST OF 2010 PROMISES TO BE AN EXCITING TIME FOR GARETH WITH OFFERS FLOODING IN, AND JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THEM ALL!
For those interested, here is my blog of the show;
sportales.com/sports/100-year-celebration-of-new-wimbledon-theatre/
