Review: Dreamboats & Petticoats @ S'land Empire

There’s nothing quite like live music, the sound, the feel and the power that comes along with it, I can’t help but adore it. Now usually, if you go and see a musical at the theatre, the performers stick to the stage, and the musicians are confined to the bad pit down below. But not in this show…

The creative people behind Dreamboats and Petticoats like to do things that little bit differently. It’s an interesting idea that I quite like. Each of the cast members not only act, sing and dance, they play all of the music, live on stage. So not only do these guys have lines to learn, choreography to perfect and singing to practice, there’s the added pressure of playing a variety of instruments, recreating some of pop music’s biggest, catchiest and most popular hits ever.

The story is admittedly a bit flimsy, and I’d guessed how the story was going to pan out from the outset. The geeky girl likes the boy, who pretends not to be interested, but secretly is scenario. But never the less this show isn’t about the story, it’s all about the music, and this show never fails to live up to the music it’s showcasing.

It was interesting to see that the bassist for the show is north east born and bred. Chris Coxon trained at Newcastle College’s Performance Academy and after graduating from stage school in London, he’s now living his dream, performing in sell out shows every night. It’s nice to know there are opportunities for performers from the North East.

A special mention should also go to the production designers; the show was a spectacle to watch, lighting was dazzling, as were the sets and the costumes. I really would like a go of the dodgems that make several appearances throughout J

Dreamboats and Petticoats is a fun filled, rollercoaster ride through the hits of the 1950s, based on the million selling albums of the same name. The music is timeless and I’m sure the musical will be too.

Oh and my Nanna, who came along with me was singing and dancing and clapping to heart’s content.

Featuring songs from ROY ORBISON, THE SHADOWS, EDDIE COCHRAN, BILLY FURY, CHUCK BERRY and many more, including Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Three Steps To Heaven, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Sleepwalk, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, What A Wonderful World, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Let’s Twist Again and many more hits from music’s golden era!

Relive the greatest days of your life with the spectacular Dreamboats and Petticoats musical at the Sunderland Empire, 3^rd- 8^th May 2010.