Liam Rudden - Fringed Out March 2009

Published on Tuesday 10 March 2009 11:58

The quirky real-time on-line diary of the Entertainment Editor of the Edinburgh Evening News

Thursday, March 26: 2.20pm

25% LEITH

Received an e-mail from independent radio producer Turan Ali today. His company, Bona Broadcasting Ltd, is producing a new BBC Radio Scotland show called 25% Leith. Recording begins next Monday and he's looking for an audience – 70 people who are free at lunchtime.

The recording is the first in a series which finds comedian Chris Neill trying to get in touch with his 25% Leith heritage and discovering how having a grandfather from Leith has made him the man he is today... and how much of him is still Scottish?

Described as "a hilarious mix of stand-up comedy, spoof travelogue and real but clumsy family tree explorations" 25% Leith allows Neill to trace distant relatives, walk in the footsteps of his ancestors, doing the jobs they did, while asking the advice of the good people of Edinburgh and Leith about how to get in touch with his Scottish 25%.

In the week before the recording Neill rolled up his sleeves for a shift at boilermakers George Brown and Sons, on The Shore, where his great grandfather worked 120 years ago as well as training with Leith Athletic football club. How will a gay man who gets giddy at the thought of kicking a ball and doesn't even possess a pair of football boots manage at his try out to join them?

Guess I'll find out on Monday lunchtime. I've got my tickets – even know their numbers, 33 and 34.

If you want to join me, free tickets available by e-mailing [e-mail], allocated on a first come first served basis.

Friday, March 13: 2pm

GHOSTS OF THE PAST

There's something really freaky about seeing yourself, 20-odd years younger, on the big screen for the first time.

Last night, Made In Edinburgh, a new project to showcase Edinburgh on the big and small screen, launched at the Filmhouse with a showing of the Restless Natives, introduced by writer Ninian Dunnet.

Check out my memories of being an extra for a day in my column in The Guide today.

It was great to see an Edinburgh free of traffic chaos once again and that the screening attracted an almost capacity turn out.

Get your tickets early for next months event, an episode of Rebus.

Thursday, March 12: 2.45pm

40 IS THE LUCKY NUMBER

In tomorrow's issue of The Guide, rolling off the printers as you read this, West End impresario Bill Kenwright celebrates his 40 year as a producer, Finley Quaye, Ruarri Joseph and The Fusiliers all talk about their plans for the future and comedian Alex Horne goes Birdwatching.

Plus win 's worth of DVDs including the Natalie Wood Boxset.

Get your copy free with tomorrow's Evening News.

Thursday, March 12: 2.35pm

ANIMATED FUN

I've been to Bikini Bottom. Met SpongeBob SquarePants and Mr Krabbs and sang along with the most camp pirate in the world.

SpongeBob SquarePants – The Sponge Who Could Fly, opened at The Festival Theatre last night, much to the delight of its biggest fan, the venue's press officer, the lovely Ruth – she's smiling but she's not happy.

For sheer high energy fun it's hard to beat, even if bringing animated characters to life is never going to be as successful as the producers might hope.

Not that the lucky kids who got to meet SpongeBob (where did you get those false drag queen eyelashes?) noticed. They were in their element. A great night out if you've got rug-rats under 12.

You have until Saturday to catch it.

Tuesday, March 10: 16.38pm

EASTENDERS V BROOKSIDE

Shaun Williamson aka EastEnders' Barry Evans and Philip Olivier aka Brookside's Tim O'Leary are to team up in Never Forget, the hit musical with the songs of Take That, when it returns to the Edinburgh Playhouse next month.

For those yet to experience it, Never Forget is a feel-good romantic comedy about triumph over adversity. Join the ride of a lifetime as Ash and his mates take a roller coaster journey of fame, fortune and friendship on the way to realising their dreams... as a Take That tribute band.

Williamson, also known for his self-depreciating appearances (as himself) in Ricky Gervais' Extras will play rock manager Ron Freeman, while Olivier (unintentionally hilarious in Celebrity Come Dine With Me with Chris Biggins) will play band member Dirty Harry.

Expect to sing-a-long as the show is packed with Take That classics including the smash hits A Million Love Songs, Could It Be Magic, It Only Takes A Minute, Do What You Like, Love Ain't Here Anymore, Relight My Fire, Pray, Back For Good, Babe and, of course, Never Forget.

Never Forget plays the Edinburgh Playhouse from April 21 to May 2.

Tuesday, March 10: 10.02am

WENDY RICHARD RIP

Meant to say, there was a lovely touch as the curtain fell at the end of Dreamboats and Petticoats last night. As the audience filed out, the auditorium was filled with the strains of Mike Sarn's 1962 hit, Come Outside.

Are You Being Served? and EastEnders' legend Wendy Richard, whose funeral was yesterday, was just 18 when she contributed the comic backing 'vocals' to the track, which spent two weeks at No1.

Don't believe me, Just 'go and ask Lil'.

Tuesday, March 10: 9.46am

DOOP DOOP

I wasn't even born in 1961 – yes, I know, I must have had a hard paper round.

Last night however, at the Edinburgh Playhouse I discovered that I knew just about every lyric of the rock'n'roll soundtrack that accompanied Bill Kenwright's latest musical, Dreamboats and Petticoats.

The story of three budding young songwriters, Norman, Bobby and Laura, and the trials and tribulations of teenage love, the tale is as old as time itself.

Boy meets girls, girl falls for boy, boy falls for other girl etc, etc... until eventually the course of true love runs smooth.

Same old, same old? Maybe, but all-round believable performances and a sharp script from Birds Of A Feather creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran guarantee a great evening out.

X Factor star Scott Bruton is perfectly cast as Bobby, the shy, unassuming hero of the piece and boasts an impressive vocal range, as does ex-Emmerdale mechanic Ben Freeman, who plays Norman with all the pelvic gyrations of a hyperactive Elvis – his comic timing is spot on too.

Hollyoaks' Jennifer Biddal is fantastically flirtatious as tarty Sue, and coped brilliantly on opening night when her mic failed just before her first big number, but it's Daisy Wood-Davis as Laura who steals the show, with the musical's most emotional moments to portray.

There's a Birds of A Feather connection too – other than the writers, that is. David Cardy, who plays the older Bobby was the first actor to play Chris Theodopolopodous, husband of Pauline Quirk's Sharon.

That said, the songs are the true stars... come on, let's twist again...

Thursday, March 5: 4.47pm

THE GUIDE

Don't miss Emmerdale's Ben Freeman in The Guide tomorrow.

Thursday, March 5: 4.47pm

BACK WITH A BANG BANG!

News just in. Due to popular demand Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will return to the Edinburgh Playhouse for three weeks only in the summer of 2010.

Last time around, Christmas 2006/7, Chitty kept Edinburgh entertained for 12 weeks and broke all box office onsale records, taking more than a quarter of a million at the box office in one day – a record to this day.

By the end of that run it had taken more than 5million at the box office with more than 180,000 people going away believing that a car could fly.

Tickets for Chitty's return (May 20-June 7, 2010) are on sale now, 15-39.50, from 0844-847 1660