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UK Cabaret review Those Were the Days City Varieties Musical Hall- Leeds April ‘23 Cast includes: Andy Eastwood, Chris Ritchie and Helen Farrell Reviewer: Mark Ritchie The pre-show open tabs revealed the welcome sight of all the accoutrements of a live band at this historic and iconic chocolate-boxy musical hall venue. I even spotted the star of the show, Andy Eastwood in the circle, taking photos of the auditorium about ten minutes before the show went up. There was a nice busy matinee house for this show which focusses astutely on the music of the 1950’s and 60’s. I opine about the astute n ..read more

UK-Gay Cabaret On this page we are pleased to publish features, news and details of live entertainment venues which may be of particularly interest to LGBT+ live entertainment fans. This time around we focus on Basil Newby MBE, an entrepreneur and businessman who started his lifetime live entertainment adventure as a Pontins Bluecoat entertainer. After a career opening gay entertainment venues here there and everywhere and receiving an MBE in the 2014 new year’s honours list. Mark Ritchie examines Mr Newby’s career. The expressive phrase of ‘true trailblazer’ could have been coined especiall ..read more

UK Clubland The Viva Cabaret Theatre in Blackpool was the venue the first Club and Institute Union Command Show, which has been reintroduced the replace the former Blackpool Command Shows. The Command show used to be staged for many years at The Horseshoe Bar at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and produced by Blackpool Clubman Alan Pilborough and a Yorkshire agent called Brian Cliff, who is now sadly no longer with us. Nowadays C&IU National Executive Committee member Nathan Clarke is the man pushing the re-establish this cabaret evening as part of the national showcase set-up. Our own editor Ma ..read more

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