AN old-style variety show featuring comedy legend Freddie “Parrot Face” Davies will help boost funds for Barnard Castle arts centre.
The show has been put together by the town’s Funny Way To Be Comedy club and will feature two-and-a-half hours of non-stop music, fun and laughter at The Witham on Saturday, October 8.
MC for the evening will be comedian and radio presenter Alfie Joey, while also on the bill will be some of those artists who have delighted visitors during The Witham’s summer festival of weekend lunchtime music sessions.
However, the star of the show will be Freddie Davies. Now in his 80s, his career has taken him from the tough workingmen’s clubs of the north to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He has shared the London Palladium stage with Cliff Richard, worked on TV with the legendary Judy Garland and toured the world with his stand-up comedy act.
He was most recently seen on TV appearing as the father in The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.
In a career spanning more than 50 years in show business he has seen the demise of music halls, variety and the night club circuit – but the variety show will see the genre revived for one night.
After the show the audience can meet Freddie Davies as he signs copies of his autobiography, “Funny Bones: My Life In Comedy” .
Local headline performers will be the Euphoria Choir singing upbeat choral versions of classic songs.
Other acts confirmed on the bill so far include Lizzie, Singer Of The Lakes; up and coming singer songwriter Robin Popps; Hop Skiffle Jump, bringing the authentic sound of 1950s music and telling the story of Skiffle; and Oui Bee, a Barney-based songsmith with a breathtaking voice.
Organiser Peter Dixon said: “We love to have an opportunity to bring real comedy legends to Barnard Castle and a variety show such as this very much fits in with that idea.
“In fact we have two in this show with local hero Alfie Joey, who is a one-man show in his own right, and the TV favourite Freddie Parrott Face Davies.”
He added: “The Summer Festival at The Witham was a great opportunity for us to see some of the best musicians performing in our area.
“We are delighted that at least four of those best acts have agreed to join us on this bill. They will be performing a variety of styles of music including opera, folk, skiffle, choral and acoustic rock.”
Tickets are on sale for £10 and £8. The show, which starts at 6pm, will be suitable for all ages.
For more details and to book tickets, contact The Witham box office on 01833 631107 or go to www.the witham.org.uk and www.fun nywaytobe.com.
