Children In Need Event At Princess Theatre Hunstanton

Never work with children or animals (in this case a splendid pantomime cow) they say -  and I usually don't. But they're wrong of course and it was a blast taking part in this genuine old time variety show. Lots of heartwarming talent - I think the big rock choir hymning Cohen's 'Hallelujah' behind the Victims of Time was a real getting out of yourself moment, as was joining in on Brian's Lyin' Eyes. All the glitz of showbiz of the dancing troupes, dance studios and the stage schools; the really polished Frank Sinatra routine, the multi-talented Rollasons with their amazing stage presence and basically everything. I hope I haven't left anyone out. I never expected to sing Queen (whom I cordially loathe!) in a full company at the end either and I even enjoyed that. All the stage technicians and managers who worked so hard and of course Gemma Parsons the director and the excellent compere Steve Knowles. (It was a world away from the last work Steve and I did together, playing Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry VIII in 'Tom and Harry'.)  So much hard work behind the scenes to make it go with a swing and raise that money for the cause.  And a lovely appreciative audience joining in and clapping along. Very proud to have been involved. 

To help this wonderful charity, I will be transforming from the mild mannered clean-shaven middle of the road citizen you see above to the mediaeval apologist for King John you see below.

Here's the running order of the full show.

It looks like a lot of fun!

CHILDREN IN NEED – FRIDAY 18^TH NOVEMBER 2016

RUNNING ORDER

ACT 1

JAE Dance Studio Adults 

Too Darn Hot (TAP)

Steve Knowles – (In front of Reds) - Welcome and Introduction

Rock Choir 

Introduce Rock Choir

Rock Choir  - 15 min set

Finishing with Proud – Anna Hallard

Reds Down Rock Choir Exit

Steve Knowles – Introduce Brian

Reds Up (Ist Cow)

Brian – Acoustic Guitar (10 mins)

Steve Knowles - Introduce JAE Dance Studio

JAE Dance Studio – Evergreen (start offstage)

Reds Down 

Steve Knowles Introduce Cliff

Cliff Rat Pack Set (13 mins)

Steve Knowles Introduce JAE Dance Studio

JAE Dance Studio – Windy Washing Day (start offstage)

Steve Knowles to introduce Victims of Time announce end of Act 1

Victims of Time

Close House Tabs

END OF ACT 1

ACT 2

Leela - Trapeze Routine

Steve Knowles Welcome Back

Tommy Rollason 

      Juggling Act

Steve Knowles – Introduce Rollason Stage School Street Class promote Panto

Rollason Street Dance Routine

Lucy Rollason and Cow – Promoting Panto with Script

Lucy Rollason – Songs from Panto

Interlink into

Rollason Stage School – Mary Poppins etc.

Reds Down

Steve Knowles Introduce Gareth Calway

Gareth Calway – The Ballad of Badass KingJohn  (hear it on this link)

Steve Knowles introduce Sean ‘Rollo’ Rollason

Sean ‘ Rollo’ Rollason

10/15 mins Act

Rock Choir – 15 min set

Dance With Me Tonight (Hand Jive) Finale and Bows – ALL ON STAGE TO DO HAND JIVE  

Steve Knowles -  Thank Yous and Goodnight

Full Company - Don’t Stop Me Now with RC

Close House Tabs

END OF SHOW

Children In Need 2016

BOOK TICKETS 

Once again the Princess Theatre is proud to be supporting Children In Need – We have a great cast of local artists to entertain you with comedy, music and dance in our special variety show

Friday 18th November 2016 - 19:30

HIs Badness

Happy 100th Birthday Frank Sinatra - Dec 12 2015

It's Frank's 100th birthday (and you are the 110+ reader of this blogpost).   Steve Knowles and I wish him all the joy he bought us...

Hear The Voice, our tribute here

It's also the 50th anniversary of the last Beatles live concert tour date in Britain. Which I'm also celebrating with a little help from my friends...  See next blog post. Both events are introduced here

Sinatra described 'Something' as the greatest love song of 50 years - and he's sung a few - the best thing Lennon-McCartney her wrote. Except of course it was written and sung by George Harrison, sounding remarkably like John and Paul at once. We luv you Frank!

The Last Gin

Gin Trap Folk ran every last Tuesday of the month from September 2010 until January 2015. It was hosted by Steve Knowles - the singing Landlord - and Cindy,  seen here performing their duet 'What A Wonderful World' (and it certainly was)

 

 

 



and managed throughout with unfailing benign aplomb by Adrian Tebbutt (white sweater and folk beard below)

 

 

Perhaps prime amongst its unique features were the sing-arounds and shanties often led by Adrian, 'Jolly' Roger and Katie Fullilove's Fried Pirates, pictured here supporting yet another 'Gin Trap Virgin'

 

 

Nothing could stop this juggernaut of a folk club - except the closure of the pub - and in fact not even that as 'Gin Trap Folk' will phoenix from the winter chill at The Black Horse Castle Rising on Tuesday February 24th. Same time and vibe, different place. 

 

The Gin Trap song - words by this blogster; music by Show of Hands, performed by the Fried Pirates.

Sixteen silly seasons, four years at the Gin,

Forty eight nights gathered/ to play and laugh and sing

Pirates Jolly Roger, Adrian and Kate

Steve the Singing Landlord; Phil and Al his mate.

Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

        Em                                        G

      Thanks for all you’ve given, You gave more than enough

            D                                      G

      We spent the time together, In laughter and in love

         Em                                G                       D

      Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

Sitting by the fireplace

Digging every tune:

Robin like an Eagle

Above a cliff in June,

Beatle Al who ‘Can’t Do That’

But does - and makes it rock;

Dave who makes the banjo dance

Like a Grandfather clock.

Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

        Em                                        G

      Thanks for all you’ve given, You gave more than enough

            D                                      G

      We spent the time together, In laughter and in love

         Em                                G                       D

      Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

Let’s not forget the Virgins,

You know we’ve had a few,

Some Sue-i-tably violet

Some shouting shocking blue;

You don’t forget your First Time,

We all were virgins once:

Sick weeks anticipating,

Nine after-glowing months.

Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

        Em                                        G

      Thanks for all you’ve given, You gave more than enough

            D                                      G

      We spent the time together, In laughter and in love

         Em                                G                       D

      Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

The whole pub singing shanties,

An England not quite gone,

The mental chiming Christmas bells,

The drones and harps and trumps and gongs,

The instruments unheard of,

The many shapes and cries

Big Jim and Long Tall Vince and Joan

‘A woman half his size.’

Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

        Em                                        G

      Thanks for all you’ve given, You gave more than enough

            D                                      G

      We spent the time together, In laughter and in love

         Em                                G                       D

      Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

There’s Lou Reed Al, Paul Simon Dave;

There’s Gifted, Old and White;

The list of course is endless

But songs can’t last all night;

There’s teenage Billie Holidays

Dave’s vintage real ale folk;

And there’s you we’ve failed to mention…(call your name here)

And there’s Mike, our Prior bloke!

 Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

        Em                                        G

      Thanks for all you’ve given, You gave more than enough

            D                                      G

      We spent the time together, In laughter and in love

         Em                                G                       D

      Thank you all for coming, Thanks for turning up

Back here in the old place

I hope I still belong

Less of where I’m heading

And more of where I’m from

I burned too many bridges

It’s time to make amends

Raise a glass to all that’s past

To my family and my friends.

 

 



 

Mike Prior 

Lynn and Terry

Peter Smith and Son

 

Half the audience enjoying Crooning Al

(the other half of the audience is round the bend) 

Bluegrass Al

Crooning Al

Lynn of Wootton

Warwick Jones premiering 'The Ballad of Turnip Townshend'

Vince

David

Roy

John Fincher of London

 

 Me telling 'Our Long Tall Island Story'

 

Thanks to Mrs Warwick for the pix

 

The Gin Trap Folk Club September 2010-January 2015