ISLAND-born theatre impressario, Jake Oldershaw, has teamed up with local artists JC and Angelina, Richard (Spats) White and renowned actor Nick Tigg to bring to life the story of one of Britain’s best loved crooners.
Al Bowlly’s Croon Manifesto plays at Quay Arts on Thursday and tells the rags to riches tale of the UK’s best-loved singer of the 1930s.
While stock markets crashed, war loomed and the world moved faster than ever before, Al Bowlly was redefining singing into the tender, expressive style that paved the way for pop.
The show tells his story in a fast-paced and funny way and is as liberal with the truth as the man was himself.
The production is a long-term ambition fulfilled for Jake who has worked with internationally acclaimed Stan’s Cafe Theatre since leaving the Isle of Wight in 1997.
His solo work has seen him tour from Canada to Russia and this is the first show under the banner of his new Birmingham-based company, United Artists.
Jake said: "The idea of making a show with JC and Angelina has been knocking around for years. I’ve been a bit of a groupie since I was about 15, their musicianship and style is perfect for this type of theatre and deserving of a wider audience. Working with jazz aficionado Spats White has lit up their sound, and our short Midlands tour prior to the Isle of Wight date was a great success, with promoters already looking to book the show in 2011."
Reporter:
jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk