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The Sooty Show
Salford
August 2014
Reported by Geoffrey Newton
It
was the time of year when parents of school children throughout the land were
looking for activities to take the youngsters to. One such opportunity for those
in the Greater Manchester area was The New Sooty Show when it arrived on Sunday
3rd August 2014 at the Quays Theatre in the Media City area of Salford Quays,
playing to two full houses.
I caught up with Richard Cadell amid his check shirts and Slater’s blazer in
Salford on the tour, between Consett and Ilfracombe. In fact Sooty will be
appearing at 104 theatres this year. Not only does Richard keep the road wheels
turning but the camera reels too. In the pipeline for next year at the moment
are 2 DVD’s where Sooty teaches literacy skills but on a light hearted basis
more a ‘laugh and learn’ type of thing where the message is delivered without
the formality of the classroom discipline. Also in 2015 a full length movie is
to be filmed for the big screen for release in 2016. Sooty really does have
endless energy for a 66 year old!
Let’s look at the current show, it runs in two 45 minute halves, offers superb
value for money and excellent content no matter whether you are today’s child or
an adult who remembers the original version with Harry Corbett. From my seat in
the centre of the front stalls I could clearly see the adults were enjoying it
as much as the children. It is a high action presentation full of the timeless
slapstick, magic and mayhem which Sooty and Co are famous for. There were two
characters new to me Ramsbottom and Butch who with dry humour kept
‘interrupting’ the proceedings with great appreciation from the audience. Mr
Slater’s impending appearance (which never happens) keeps everyone on their toes
and no one is safe from Sooty’s water pistol!
Sooty Sweep, Soo and Richard will be appearing at the Pavilion theatre
Bournemouth as part of the British Ring convention along with Jeton, Mr Terry
(Terry Herbert) and Mel Harvey on Saturday 27th September at 10.30am. Tickets
for this special performance (Sooty and Friends Magic Show) are only available
from the theatre box office and as it is already being marketed to the public,
if you wish to attend to support the society may I suggest you contact them on
0844 576 3000
www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk online booking
www.bhlivetickets.co.uk.
Until next time, ‘Bye Bye everybody, Bye Bye’.
© Geoffrey Newton, August 2014