Kyle Minogue will be digitally joining the cast of I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical, when it comes to Wales Millennium Centre from next Monday 27th November as part of its UK tour. Incidentally, the opening night is already sold out
Kylie in any form is an absolute musical treat but to see her digitally appear throughout the show as a specially created character unique to the musical will be fantastic.
Kylie said:
“I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining Stock Aitken Waterman in presenting the new musical, ‘I Should Be So Lucky’! It is the music that inspired a generation (plus my first five albums!) so to have all the SAW hits in this original story will make for a compelling, funny and heartfelt show. Let’s enjoy the magic all over again!”
One look at the trailer below and I guarantee you’ll be grabbing those tickets – HERE.
If anyone can tell us about this show and the music which inspired it, it has to be the man who wrote all those amazing hits, PETE WATERMAN.
Pete is one of the original working class heroes. From humble beginnings in Coventry, he has travelled the world and rubbed shoulders with some of the 20th Century’s most influential people.
Author, DJ, and television presenter, Pete is recognised as one of the most influential and prolific music moguls of a generation, being the man behind more than 100 Top 40 UK hits. Worldwide, Pete has achieved more than 500 million record sales and has worked with a who’s who of artists across the music spectrum including Kylie Minogue, Donna Summer, Rick Astley, Paul McCartney, John Travolta, The Specials, Cliff Richard, Bananarama and Steps.
He is perhaps best known as one third of the hugely successful music production and song-writing partnership, Stock Aitken Waterman and for his world-famous PWL label. Many of us also remember Pete from his TV roles, including presenting ‘The Hitman and Her’, being a judge on ITVs ‘Pop Idol’ and ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ and his appearances on comedian Peter Kay’s hilarious spoof talent show ‘Britain’s Got The Pop Factor… And Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly On Ice’.
As the most successful producer-songwriter in UK history, he has won dozens of awards, including multiple Ivor Novellos and being named the Music Industry’s ‘Man of the Year’. All in all, not bad for someone who left school unable to read or write.
So, plenty to talk about we reckon. We put a Zoom call in to Pete to chat about all those incredible tunes, and of course the new musical, I Should Be So Lucky…….
Now before I tell you more about the show I do have a little bit of Stock Aitken Waterman – Kylie & Jason history.
Many years ago I got the chance introduce the two stars on stage as part of a Hitman Roadshow tour. There was also Sonia, Sinitta, Big Fun, The Reynolds Girls, Mel & Kim and so many more (YouTube those you don’t know). I mention it because what was so great about the tour back then is it was like one big family, which is exactly what this new musical will be.
In the on-stage cast, Bonnie will be played by Kayla Carter (The Color Purple, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), Spencer will be played by Jamie Chapman (Nativity! The Musical, The Mousetrap) and Ivy will be played by Jemma Churchill (Guys and Dolls, Nativity! THe Musical). Matthew Croke (Wicked, Aladdin) will be playing Nadeem, Jessica Daley (Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables) will be playing Britney, and Gary Davis will be playing (Annie, Oklahoma!) as Big Mike.
They will be joined by Melissa Jacques (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Mamma Mia!) as Shelley, Scott Paige (The Great British Bake Off Musical, Made in Dagenham) as Michael, Billy Roberts (Rock of Ages, Titanic The Musical) as Nathan, Giovanni Spanò (Jesus Christ Superstar, Bat Out of Hell) as Ash, Lucie-Mae Sumner (Mary Poppins, Guys and Dolls) as Ella and Anna Unwin (Aspects of Love) as Olivia.
The cast is completed by Tegan Bannister, Ralph Bogard, Elliot Broadfoot, Emma Crossley, Kade Ferraiolo, Sydney Isitt-Ager, Joe Kelly, Aidan Nightingale, James Willoughby Moore, Lauren Woolf and Louie Wood.
Ella and Nathan, a young couple, hopelessly in love and about to take the biggest step of their lives – marriage. Until it doesn’t go quite to plan. Will they be together forever, or will he make her cry and say goodbye? The wedding’s off, but the honeymoon is on! Head from the aisle to the isles in the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical featuring the soundtrack of a generation with music from pop royalty including Kylie Minogue (I Should Be So Lucky), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Jason Donovan (Too Many Broken Hearts) and Bananarama (Love In The First Degree).
Speaking about the musical Mike Stock Said…….
“We have been approached many times over the years to authorise a musical using the songs from the Stock Aitken Waterman catalogue and have always resisted, until now! What Debbie, Jason and the team behind the show have created is a truly original and shamelessly enjoyable rollercoaster ride through our hits.”
I remember going to the Hit Factory studio in London to interview Curtis Stigers a long while back. I have new=ver seen as many gold and silver award discs in my life. The huge walls were covered from floor to ceiling with plaques to recognise sales of some of the biggest hits of the decade.
But there in pride of place, was an award for Stock Aitken Waterman’s very first number one hit – if you don’t know what it is, I think the answer will surprise you. Go to the bottom of this feature where we’ve put the video for this classic number one floor-filler.
Hilarious and heart-warming, I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical is about family, friends, love and great times. Soaring anthems, classic pop tracks and dazzling dance sequences come together in a musical featuring no less than 10 Number 1 singles and over 30 songs from the Hit Factory whose music defined an era.
I Should Be So Lucky: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical is written and directed by Debbie Isitt (the hit NATIVITY! franchise), choreographed by Jason Gilkison (Creative Director of Strictly Come Dancing), with orchestrations and musical direction by George Dyer, set and costume design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, sound design by Ben Harrison, casting by Anne Vosser and production management by Simon Marlow. It is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions.
The music in the show speaks for itself. Knock yourself out with one of the best soundtracks we’ve heard for a while……
Writer/Director Debbie Issit said…..
“The music of Stock Aitken Waterman has been the soundtrack to both my life and the lives of all my friends. Their songs range from wonderful ballads to real pop anthems to dance floor classics, which are all perfect for an original musical.”
And Graeme Farrow, Wales Millennium Centre’s Artistic Director, who is clearly a Stock Aitken Waterman fan, told us….
“Plenty of those Hit Factory songs we can’t help but love, on stage in a brand new musical – plus Kylie to boot. I can’t wait!”
I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY: The Stock Aitken Waterman Musical gets to the Wales Millennium Centre from Monday 27th November through to Saturday 2nd December. Tickets, which start at just £16 are available now from HERE.
And that very first Stock Aitken Waterman number one single – here it is…….
