On the back of an incredibly successful 30th year anniversary tour, smash hit rock & roll musical BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY is back and visits the New Theatre in Cardiff from tomorrow.
It’s an incredible testament to the power of the talent of Buddy Holly and indeed the storytelling in this musical, both of which have endured for decades.
Buddy has enjoyed phenomenal success, having played a record-breaking 4668 performances over 580 weeks on tour in the UK and Ireland, as well as 5822 performances over 728 weeks in London’s West End. It’s one of a small number of iconic musicals including Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Miss Saigon, Evita and Cats in reaching a phenomenal three decades on stage.
CHRISTOPHER WEEKS is pulling on those iconic glasses to play Buddy at certain performances. Chris himself has quite a musical pedigree having played in Buddy back in 2019 on the 30th Anniversary National Tour. He’s also been Jamie in Catch Of The Day, Johnny Gustafson, Cilla (2 National Tours); Guy Haines in Strangers on a Train, Frinton Summer Theatre. And the list goes on.
A few days before Buddy rehearsals began we caught up with Chris for a chat about the show and why he loves it so much. Ironically, our interview took place on the 64th anniversary of the the plane crash which killed Buddy, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.
Loved by critics and audiences alike, BUDDY tells the enduring story of the musical icon’s meteoric rise from his Southern rockabilly beginnings to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic and untimely death at the age of just 22. In 18 short months the bespectacled boy from Lubbock, Texas, revolutionised the face of contemporary music, and would influence everyone from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones.
Boasting a multi-talented cast of actor-musicians, Buddy presents two terrific hours of music with over 20 of his greatest hits, including the timeless classics That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Everyday and Rave On. With the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace and Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba, and rip-roaring versions of Shout and Johnny B. Goode completing a stellar musical line-up, Buddy is a not to be missed evening of family entertainment.
Writer/Producer Alan Janes told us……
“We are so excited to be back on tour and to see our audiences – aged 8 to 80 – dance in the aisles every night to our story of a young man whose musical career spanned an all-too-brief period, but whose music will be remembered forever.”
Since its inception, Buddy has inspired a generation of multi-million selling jukebox musicals including Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You yet remains the true original and a musical phenomenon. Seen by more than 22 million theatregoers since it opened in London’s West End in 1989, Buddy speaks an international language and continues to have audiences rockin’ in the aisles across the globe!
The tour returns to the New Theatre in Cardiff from tomorrow, Thursday 14th – Saturday 16th September. For more details and to book tickets go HERE, or call the Box Office on 0343 310 0041.
