Hottest acts promise sizzling theatre season (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Hottest acts promise sizzling theatre season

5:00pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News

SOME of the hottest acts in showbiz are heading to the Sunshine Coast as Clacton’s theatres unveil their sizzling autumn programmes.

Both the Princes and West Cliff have the best line-ups for years with big-name stars coming to the resort.

The West Cliff sees appearances by tribute trio The Rat Pack Is Back – hailed as “fantastic” by Dannii Minogue – later this month, followed by Sixties chart legend Raymond Froggatt and then The ELO Experience.

Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown turns the air blue in October in what promises to be the comedian’s rudest and crudest tour to date.

Billed as strictly adults-only, the “world’s most outrageous comic” is too blue for TV as political correctness is crushed into a quivering pulp.

Genial rocker Joe Brown makes a welcome return to Clacton after racking up more than half a century of touring, and for those looking for something more exotic there are the thundering rhythms of Mugenkyo’s huge taiko drums.

Later in the season the West Cliff plays host to Irish star Dominic Kirwan, Jacko tribute show Jackson Live in Concert, Richard Digance, The Voice of Roy Orbison, pop greats Shakatak and award-winning comedian Marcus Brigstocke.

Over at the Princes, there is the best of war-time music hall with Pack Up Your Troubles, followed by the Searchers at the end of September.

The theatre has landed a real coup to open October with a show by the truly legendary entertainer Des O’Connor.

Jive Talkin’ present a Bee Gees live in concert night, and there are more tributes with the Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show.

For outrageous comedy, don’t miss madcap funnyman Freddie Starr with his mayhemic Back From the Jungle tour, or for a change of pace there is the London Swing Orchestra followed by the Vienna Festival Ballet’s Coppelia.

One of the highlights for autumn and a must-see for all soap fans is Soap Opera – The Play. The big-name cast stars Leslie Grantham, The Bill’s Graham Cole, Brookside’s Louis Emerick, EastEnder Michelle Gayle, Red Dwarf’s Hattie Hayridge and Lee Otway from Hollyoaks.

For full theatre listings visit tendringdc.gov.uk and westcliffclacton.org.