All the Fun of the Fair - New Wimbledon Theatre
Feature by Lizzie Guilfoyle
The musical All the Fun of the Fair, co-written by and starring David Essex, will visit New Wimbledon Theatre from February 3 to February 7, 2009.
Previously Posted: The musical All the Fun of the Fair has now become a reality, with a three-month tour scheduled to commence at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, on September 12, 2008.
Set against the backdrop of a travelling funfair and packed with dazzling stunt sequences and hilarious crafty cons, the show features many of Essex’ hits such as Winter’s Tale, Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You a Star, Me and My Girl Nightclubbing, Silver Dream Machine and Rock On.
All the Fun of the Fair is co-written by Essex and Jon Conway (Boogie Nights) and sees Essex as funfair owner Levi Lee, a man not only coming to terms with the loss of his wife but also struggling to deal with his rebellious teenage son. And if that isn’t enough, there are the attentions of a newly-divorced woman…
Following Bromley, the tour will continue to Darlington, Stoke, Brighton, Southend, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Glasgow, Bradford, Woking, Dartford and Cardiff. Although further dates are expected for 2009, there’s no news of a West End transfer.
Previously Posted: According to reports in the Daily Express newspaper, David Essex is writing a new musical, All the Fun of the Fair which will feature many of his hit songs.
The article goes on to say that his aim is to take the production on tour prior to a West End transfer in 2008, and that he intends to play one of the show’s characters – an ageing Jack the Lad involved with a touring fun fair.
Essex has enjoyed a remarkable career; one that has combined records, theatre, composing, film and television – all with amazing success.
Yet it was on stage that he shot to fame – playing Jesus in the original London production of the musical Godspell. He subsequently starred as Che in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original cast of Evita.
Other notable roles include Tony Lumpkin in Sir Peter Hall’s 1993 production of She Stoops to Conquer (opposite Miriam Margolyes and Donald Sinden) both on tour and for seven months at the Queen’s Theatre; and Fletcher Christian in his own musical Mutiny! (co-written with Richard Crane) which played at the Piccadilly Theatre for 16 months.
His film credits include That’ll Be the Day with Ringo Starr, the sequel Stardust with Larry Hagman and Adam Faith, and Silver Dream Racer alongside Beau Bridges.
Essex has regularly been courted by Hollywood but has always returned to the UK where he has undertaken numerous nationwide sell-out solo tours. He is currently touring with fellow pop veterans David Cassidy, The Osmonds and Showaddywaddy in the Once in a Lifetime UK tour, in which he actually sings All the Fun of the Fair.
He was last seen in the West End last summer playing the Reverend Shaw Moore in the hit musical Footloose; and from August 2007, will star in a touring production of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love. A stint as Peter Pan‘s Captain Hook in Northampton over the 2007/08 Christmas season is also planned.
In 1999, Essex was awarded an OBE in recognition of his services to charity, especially to VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas).