Strictly Come Dancing Stars Form Ultimate Boy Band of Dance for Theatre Show ‘Rip It Up’
Sunday 21st October 2018
Shows at 2.30pm and 8pm
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Sunday 21st October 2018
Shows at 2.30pm and 8pm
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Turn on, tune in, drop out…Rip It Up will be singing and dancing through the ‘60s
READ WHAT THE BOYS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SHOW BELOW
READ WHAT THE BOYS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SHOW BELOW
Strictly Come Dancing champions Harry Judd and Louis Smith MBE and people’s champion Aston Merrygold have announced they are to tour together as the ultimate boy band of dance in the jukebox theatre show ‘Rip It Up’.
Following the smash hit success of Rip It Up’s 1950s-themed debut tour in 2017, which sold over 50,000 tickets across the UK and was widely acclaimed as the most exciting Strictly Come Dancing spin-off tour ever, the 2018 Rip It Up tour promises to bring the fabulous soundtrack of the 1960s to life in an explosion of song and dance.
Harry, Aston and Louis dance their way through many of the defining and most everlasting hits from the decade that changed not just (y)our generation but the world; from Mersey Beat, Motown and Mod to West Coast and Woodstock.
Backed by the exceptional Rip It Up live band and a stunning supporting cast of singers and dancers, the Strictly champions will dance to songs from British legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, the Bee Gees, Small Faces and The Kinks, and American superstars such as The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, The Doors, The Mamas & The Papas and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Mix in a bit of Dusty Springfield, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Phil Spector with soul classics from Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Motown legends Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes, and Rip It Up celebrates some of the most iconic sounds, sights and events from that tumultuous ten-year period which transformed the 20th Century; from Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, the deaths of JFK, Marilyn Monroe and Martin Luther King, The Berlin Wall to James Bond, Doctor Who, the pill, the Mini Skirt, bell-bottoms, the emergence of Mary Poppins, the rise of Beatlemania and England winning the World Cup.
Following the smash hit success of Rip It Up’s 1950s-themed debut tour in 2017, which sold over 50,000 tickets across the UK and was widely acclaimed as the most exciting Strictly Come Dancing spin-off tour ever, the 2018 Rip It Up tour promises to bring the fabulous soundtrack of the 1960s to life in an explosion of song and dance.
Harry, Aston and Louis dance their way through many of the defining and most everlasting hits from the decade that changed not just (y)our generation but the world; from Mersey Beat, Motown and Mod to West Coast and Woodstock.
Backed by the exceptional Rip It Up live band and a stunning supporting cast of singers and dancers, the Strictly champions will dance to songs from British legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, the Bee Gees, Small Faces and The Kinks, and American superstars such as The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, The Doors, The Mamas & The Papas and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Mix in a bit of Dusty Springfield, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Phil Spector with soul classics from Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Motown legends Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes, and Rip It Up celebrates some of the most iconic sounds, sights and events from that tumultuous ten-year period which transformed the 20th Century; from Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, the deaths of JFK, Marilyn Monroe and Martin Luther King, The Berlin Wall to James Bond, Doctor Who, the pill, the Mini Skirt, bell-bottoms, the emergence of Mary Poppins, the rise of Beatlemania and England winning the World Cup.
Q&A with Louis Smith
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What's it like making your return to the all-new ‘60's-themed Rip It Up tour?
It's a lot less daunting because I did the full stage production the year before, so I half know what to expect, so there won't be so many surprises as to what the tour entails. Can you compare the training for the Rip It Up tour to competing for gymnastic competitions such as the Olympics? It was so much harder than training for the Olympics - it was by the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! It's ten times easier training for the Olympic Games than it was getting ready for the Rip It Up tour, for sure. In terms of effort, I would rather prepare for the Olympic Games (laughs). |
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You and Rip It Up newcomer Harry Judd have each won Strictly, while Aston sadly didn't stay in the competition very long. Will you Harry be taunting and teasing Aston because he was robbed?
Me and Aston grew up together, our parents were in the same neighbourhood and friends growing up, so if there is any teasing going on with Aston it won't be that - it will be allsorts!
Do you think Aston should have won the Glitterball Trophy on last year's series of Strictly?
Yes, he was robbed. He definitely deserved one. Aston is an extremely talented dancer.
The new Rip It Up show is based on the hits of the 1960s. Who are you favourite artists of the time?
I love all the Motown and swing music, so it blends into last year’s 1950s theme. There's a lot I like from Elvis Presley, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations…all of that music is right up my street, so I’m really looking forward to rocking it out.
Are you singing on stage this year?
I don't know if I am singing. I want to get my stamp on the show and I am sure they are going to try and persuade me.
What are the show’s outfits going to be like?
Being focused on the ‘60s, I think they are going to be a bit more garish than last year!
As a young boy could you have imagined you would be touring as a dancer?
No, not at all. I have always loved performing and challenging myself, but never would I have thought I would be on stage performing in a UK dance tour. It is mind-blowing and I don't take it for granted. I have always appreciated it, and been grateful for the amount of hard work my Mum put in to me and helped me get to where I am. She is an angel.
How have your fans reacted to the news that you are back for Rip It Up this year?
It's been very positive. I am glad people are happy to have me coming back, and that they are excited by the new cast as well. I think Aston and Harry are an absolutely incredible addition to the show.
How have people responded to you being so open about your anxieties and difficulties as a child?
I have to really rein it in and try and focus on what I am doing with the ADHD. It has a very good part to play too, in that I get a lot of support and I have lots of parents asking me for advice about kids in similar situations, in both health and sport. It's nice that people reach out to me and ask for advice. I share my story and you never know who you might affect and who you might inspire.
What's been your strangest approach from a fan?
One lady asked me to sign her boobs in Peterborough when I was turning on the Christmas lights when there were loads of kids about. I had to say “I can't do that”. Usually, though, I just get asked to dance. I was at a wedding the other day and a lot of the mums and the ladies kept asking “can we have a little dance?”, and they wanted to be put in ballroom hold. That's usually quite a popular one.
Did you find your Team GB Olympics medal haul overshadowed by your Strictly triumph?
Yes, for a year or two after Strictly. But my Mum always says, “Gymnast first.”
How do you balance work and dating?
I am in a new relationship and it is easy. It's the most relaxed relationship I have ever been in my life. I don't treat celebrity like I need it. I don't do something to become more famous. If I am doing something it is either for a good cause or it seems like good fun.
Me and Aston grew up together, our parents were in the same neighbourhood and friends growing up, so if there is any teasing going on with Aston it won't be that - it will be allsorts!
Do you think Aston should have won the Glitterball Trophy on last year's series of Strictly?
Yes, he was robbed. He definitely deserved one. Aston is an extremely talented dancer.
The new Rip It Up show is based on the hits of the 1960s. Who are you favourite artists of the time?
I love all the Motown and swing music, so it blends into last year’s 1950s theme. There's a lot I like from Elvis Presley, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations…all of that music is right up my street, so I’m really looking forward to rocking it out.
Are you singing on stage this year?
I don't know if I am singing. I want to get my stamp on the show and I am sure they are going to try and persuade me.
What are the show’s outfits going to be like?
Being focused on the ‘60s, I think they are going to be a bit more garish than last year!
As a young boy could you have imagined you would be touring as a dancer?
No, not at all. I have always loved performing and challenging myself, but never would I have thought I would be on stage performing in a UK dance tour. It is mind-blowing and I don't take it for granted. I have always appreciated it, and been grateful for the amount of hard work my Mum put in to me and helped me get to where I am. She is an angel.
How have your fans reacted to the news that you are back for Rip It Up this year?
It's been very positive. I am glad people are happy to have me coming back, and that they are excited by the new cast as well. I think Aston and Harry are an absolutely incredible addition to the show.
How have people responded to you being so open about your anxieties and difficulties as a child?
I have to really rein it in and try and focus on what I am doing with the ADHD. It has a very good part to play too, in that I get a lot of support and I have lots of parents asking me for advice about kids in similar situations, in both health and sport. It's nice that people reach out to me and ask for advice. I share my story and you never know who you might affect and who you might inspire.
What's been your strangest approach from a fan?
One lady asked me to sign her boobs in Peterborough when I was turning on the Christmas lights when there were loads of kids about. I had to say “I can't do that”. Usually, though, I just get asked to dance. I was at a wedding the other day and a lot of the mums and the ladies kept asking “can we have a little dance?”, and they wanted to be put in ballroom hold. That's usually quite a popular one.
Did you find your Team GB Olympics medal haul overshadowed by your Strictly triumph?
Yes, for a year or two after Strictly. But my Mum always says, “Gymnast first.”
How do you balance work and dating?
I am in a new relationship and it is easy. It's the most relaxed relationship I have ever been in my life. I don't treat celebrity like I need it. I don't do something to become more famous. If I am doing something it is either for a good cause or it seems like good fun.
Q&A with Harry Judd
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What most appealed to you about joining the new Rip It Up show?
I chatted to Louis (Smith) and Aston (Merrygold) and it all seemed good, and we get on. I thought “this will be fun, let's do it”. It's pretty simple, really. It just felt right and I didn't hesitate. Could you have imagined that you would be starring in a show like his when you were growing up? 100% no. For Aston, maybe his answer would have been different because he can actually dance, so this would have been viable for him. Having done Strictly Come Dancing, it feels a bit more normal to me now, though, as I can actually say “I can dance”. But, now, this is something I have wanted to do since winning Strictly. |
How different do you think the touring side of Rip It Up will be compared to touring with McFly?
It’s going to be a big challenge. Louis said doing Rip It Up’s debut tour last year was harder than doing the Olympics - that says it all, really!
What can we expect with the new ‘60's themed show?
It's two hours long and has so much more content than you learn on Strictly. I think it is going to be one of the toughest things I have ever done, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
How are your fitness levels, and what do you do to keep in shape?
It is very important to keep in shape. I exercise four or five times a week, so it's not so much the fitness I am worried about, it is more the dance content. I think I will be physically fit enough, but the mental exhaustion is more of a challenge.
Did you grow up going to see shows with your family and hearing the music of the 60's?
Yes. I was at boarding school, so I wasn't around the whole time, but I certainly grew up listening to a lot of music from the ‘60's era, so it feels very natural for me to be tying into that music. I’m really looking forward to it because I love ‘60's music.
Do you have a favourite band from that period?
I love The Beatles and The Beach Boys; they are my two favourite bands from back then.
Apart from the dancing, this show will have live music. Can fans expect to hear you sing, and what are your vocals like?
Well, I always played drums! We will see, though; I am up for trying all sorts of things out for the show.
The line-up featuring the three of you looks like a supergroup. Do you think there could be a spin-off as a new band following the Rip It Up dates?
At the moment we’re just concentrating on the tour and we will see how that goes. I am excited about this project and it could be something we explore for next year as well, so we will just have to wait and see. I think it is just one step at a time.
How has the reaction been from the fans?
It’s been so positive. I think people had heard of McFly but didn't really know much about the individuals in the group, so Strictly definitely helped me branch out to a new audience.
Who gave you the best career advice?
Roger Daltrey of The Who. I was about two years into my career and he came in to listen to my drumming in the studio when we recorded a song with him for a charity record, which he sang on. He said he has tinnitus and told me to protect my ears. He said, “Whatever you do, make sure you wear ear protectors when you are drumming.” I am so glad I wear ear protectors now. Roger’s was definitely a solid piece of advice. I can still hear!
You and Louis Smith are both Strictly winners, while Aston has unfinished business after his shock early exit on the last series. Will you be taunting and teasing him with your glitterballs?
Yes! We already have! Aston going out when he did was a joke, really. He has got some unfinished business on the dancefloor, so he will be showing everyone who comes to see us on this tour exactly what they missed in the later stages of Strictly. There is no doubt he can do it. He is a great mover.
Are your family excited about your involvement in the Rip It Up tour?
Yes, my Mum and Dad love the ‘60's, so they will definitely be coming to the show - and they are always happy to see me being happy doing what I love. I think for them the dancing was particularly a revelation, as they weren't expecting that ever. They really loved Strictly (2011) and have enjoyed seeing me dancing since then.
It’s going to be a big challenge. Louis said doing Rip It Up’s debut tour last year was harder than doing the Olympics - that says it all, really!
What can we expect with the new ‘60's themed show?
It's two hours long and has so much more content than you learn on Strictly. I think it is going to be one of the toughest things I have ever done, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
How are your fitness levels, and what do you do to keep in shape?
It is very important to keep in shape. I exercise four or five times a week, so it's not so much the fitness I am worried about, it is more the dance content. I think I will be physically fit enough, but the mental exhaustion is more of a challenge.
Did you grow up going to see shows with your family and hearing the music of the 60's?
Yes. I was at boarding school, so I wasn't around the whole time, but I certainly grew up listening to a lot of music from the ‘60's era, so it feels very natural for me to be tying into that music. I’m really looking forward to it because I love ‘60's music.
Do you have a favourite band from that period?
I love The Beatles and The Beach Boys; they are my two favourite bands from back then.
Apart from the dancing, this show will have live music. Can fans expect to hear you sing, and what are your vocals like?
Well, I always played drums! We will see, though; I am up for trying all sorts of things out for the show.
The line-up featuring the three of you looks like a supergroup. Do you think there could be a spin-off as a new band following the Rip It Up dates?
At the moment we’re just concentrating on the tour and we will see how that goes. I am excited about this project and it could be something we explore for next year as well, so we will just have to wait and see. I think it is just one step at a time.
How has the reaction been from the fans?
It’s been so positive. I think people had heard of McFly but didn't really know much about the individuals in the group, so Strictly definitely helped me branch out to a new audience.
Who gave you the best career advice?
Roger Daltrey of The Who. I was about two years into my career and he came in to listen to my drumming in the studio when we recorded a song with him for a charity record, which he sang on. He said he has tinnitus and told me to protect my ears. He said, “Whatever you do, make sure you wear ear protectors when you are drumming.” I am so glad I wear ear protectors now. Roger’s was definitely a solid piece of advice. I can still hear!
You and Louis Smith are both Strictly winners, while Aston has unfinished business after his shock early exit on the last series. Will you be taunting and teasing him with your glitterballs?
Yes! We already have! Aston going out when he did was a joke, really. He has got some unfinished business on the dancefloor, so he will be showing everyone who comes to see us on this tour exactly what they missed in the later stages of Strictly. There is no doubt he can do it. He is a great mover.
Are your family excited about your involvement in the Rip It Up tour?
Yes, my Mum and Dad love the ‘60's, so they will definitely be coming to the show - and they are always happy to see me being happy doing what I love. I think for them the dancing was particularly a revelation, as they weren't expecting that ever. They really loved Strictly (2011) and have enjoyed seeing me dancing since then.
Q&A with Aston Merrygold
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As a little boy could you have imagined all your achievements to-date would include the success of your band JLS, becoming a new father and landing a leading role in the hotly anticipated new 60's-themed production Rip It Up?
I am always one to set goals. Before we went on X Factor, myself and the JLS boys made a list of what we wanted to achieve. As we started ticking those things off of the list it started to become evident that if you put these goals out there in the atmosphere and you strive towards specifics then these things can happen. I have ticked off a lot of those goals. Rip It Up is definitely something that leapt out to me. And having a family…it's just all at the right time. |
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You really wowed audiences with your run on Strictly Come Dancing but it was cut short. Is that another reason Rip It Up was so appealing?
100%. It’s unfinished business. That’s the best way to put it. My run on Strictly felt like it was cut a bit too short for myself, just because there were certain things I expected from myself and wanted to achieve. I also wanted to try and learn. This way I get the best of both. With Rip It Up I get to perform every single night, and I only have to do one lot of rehearsals and wrack my brain a little bit.
What is the stand-out appeal of the Rip It Up show?
It was the team around the show and the performers. I mean, Louis (Smith) and Harry (Judd) are two former winners of Strictly. I had to jump at the chance because I think it looks like more fun than other, regular shows.
How well do you know your co-stars?
I have known Harry from within the music industry and I have known Louis since before I can remember. Our parents went to school together, so it is just funny that we are now doing a show together.
Do you think this will be like working with your brothers?
Definitely. I've learned over the years that camaraderie is important for any show. I've been lucky enough to be with JLS, which turned into a real family unit; they are considered the closest of family. If the chemistry isn't really there with the other acts and the people behind the scenery it just isn't really worth doing.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you doing the Rip It Up tour?
I think it will probably be the fact that it is a dance show and that everyone presumes that I am a trained dancer and that I can dance, when I am as rough around the edges as anyone else out there. I've never had any formal kind of training. Strictly was my first ever sample of training ever. People get training and experience mixed-up. No one has told me “this is right” and “this is wrong”. Before, I just got up on stage and did it.
Will your fiancé Sarah, a trained dancer, give you some help behind-the-scenes?
Yes, definitely,100% - and she was a big part of the Strictly process. As much as I had Janette (Manrara), Sarah was there when I took the video home, and she's got a killer eye for that. She is probably one of the most incredible dancers in the commercial dance industry, so I'm just lucky enough that she's my partner at the same time.
You are new parents to little Grayson Jax. Is he showing any talents for throwing some great shapes yet?
A. Oh yes, the energy has already been shown! I think me and Sarah are going to be in for a bumpy ride (laughs). He responds really well to music.
Do you get stressed or anxious before the show and, if so, how do you deal with that?
Before a performance you have those little butterflies, which for me is more excitement, and I’m good to go. There shouldn't be any form of stress before a show - that's a no-go zone.
Who gave you the best advice for performance when you were starting out?
I think the best advice we were ever given was from Seal. He sat myself and the JLS boys down and he said, “No matter what you do, just enjoy it. Take a minute, sit back, look around and enjoy.” I think this industry - and especially this generation - is always so busy flying around that we don't do that. Too many strange people stress about one thing that won't matter in an hour and don't stop to look around them and enjoy the moment. Seal just said, “Sit back and enjoy the ride. You only get one go at it.” And that's always stuck.
Rip It Up will feature the sounds of the ‘60s. Do you have any favourite tunes that you'd like to do in the show?
Listen, anything by James Brown is always going to be good. I will definitely be trying to do a couple of my James Brown moves. I will be reaching for that and saying we have to put a few of those tunes in. For me, that's the life and soul of the ‘60s.
And will it be the lycra of Strictly or the slick ‘60s fashion suits that you hope to be wearing on the Rip It Up tour?
It's all about the slick and suave stuff all the way now. None of that Strictly glitter for this!
Is there anything you wish you could do better, anything you would admit being not so good at?
Anything articulate and theoretical might need more work. I am a more practical person, I think (laughs).
100%. It’s unfinished business. That’s the best way to put it. My run on Strictly felt like it was cut a bit too short for myself, just because there were certain things I expected from myself and wanted to achieve. I also wanted to try and learn. This way I get the best of both. With Rip It Up I get to perform every single night, and I only have to do one lot of rehearsals and wrack my brain a little bit.
What is the stand-out appeal of the Rip It Up show?
It was the team around the show and the performers. I mean, Louis (Smith) and Harry (Judd) are two former winners of Strictly. I had to jump at the chance because I think it looks like more fun than other, regular shows.
How well do you know your co-stars?
I have known Harry from within the music industry and I have known Louis since before I can remember. Our parents went to school together, so it is just funny that we are now doing a show together.
Do you think this will be like working with your brothers?
Definitely. I've learned over the years that camaraderie is important for any show. I've been lucky enough to be with JLS, which turned into a real family unit; they are considered the closest of family. If the chemistry isn't really there with the other acts and the people behind the scenery it just isn't really worth doing.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you doing the Rip It Up tour?
I think it will probably be the fact that it is a dance show and that everyone presumes that I am a trained dancer and that I can dance, when I am as rough around the edges as anyone else out there. I've never had any formal kind of training. Strictly was my first ever sample of training ever. People get training and experience mixed-up. No one has told me “this is right” and “this is wrong”. Before, I just got up on stage and did it.
Will your fiancé Sarah, a trained dancer, give you some help behind-the-scenes?
Yes, definitely,100% - and she was a big part of the Strictly process. As much as I had Janette (Manrara), Sarah was there when I took the video home, and she's got a killer eye for that. She is probably one of the most incredible dancers in the commercial dance industry, so I'm just lucky enough that she's my partner at the same time.
You are new parents to little Grayson Jax. Is he showing any talents for throwing some great shapes yet?
A. Oh yes, the energy has already been shown! I think me and Sarah are going to be in for a bumpy ride (laughs). He responds really well to music.
Do you get stressed or anxious before the show and, if so, how do you deal with that?
Before a performance you have those little butterflies, which for me is more excitement, and I’m good to go. There shouldn't be any form of stress before a show - that's a no-go zone.
Who gave you the best advice for performance when you were starting out?
I think the best advice we were ever given was from Seal. He sat myself and the JLS boys down and he said, “No matter what you do, just enjoy it. Take a minute, sit back, look around and enjoy.” I think this industry - and especially this generation - is always so busy flying around that we don't do that. Too many strange people stress about one thing that won't matter in an hour and don't stop to look around them and enjoy the moment. Seal just said, “Sit back and enjoy the ride. You only get one go at it.” And that's always stuck.
Rip It Up will feature the sounds of the ‘60s. Do you have any favourite tunes that you'd like to do in the show?
Listen, anything by James Brown is always going to be good. I will definitely be trying to do a couple of my James Brown moves. I will be reaching for that and saying we have to put a few of those tunes in. For me, that's the life and soul of the ‘60s.
And will it be the lycra of Strictly or the slick ‘60s fashion suits that you hope to be wearing on the Rip It Up tour?
It's all about the slick and suave stuff all the way now. None of that Strictly glitter for this!
Is there anything you wish you could do better, anything you would admit being not so good at?
Anything articulate and theoretical might need more work. I am a more practical person, I think (laughs).
Looking ahead to touring with Harry and Louis, Aston says, “I’m so excited to be joining Rip It Up in 2018. I feel like I've got some unfinished business when it comes to dance, and I’m excited to get to work alongside some familiar faces! As always, I'm looking forward to travelling across the UK and putting my own spin on some classic ‘60s moments!"
If you can remember them you can’t have been there, so turn on, tune in, drop out and relive the ‘60s through Rip It Up at the following venues across the UK (*indicated additional matinee performances:
If you can remember them you can’t have been there, so turn on, tune in, drop out and relive the ‘60s through Rip It Up at the following venues across the UK (*indicated additional matinee performances:
Sun 21 Southend Cliffs Pavilion*
Mon 22 Dartford Orchard Theatre
Tue 23 Ipswich Regent Theatre
Wed 24 Guildford G Live
Fri 26 Worthing Assembly Hall
Sat 27 Cambridge Corn Exchange
Sun 28 Yeovil Westlands
Mon 29 Cheltenham Town Hall
Tue 30 Margate Winter Gardens
Wed 31 Chatham Central Theatre
Mon 22 Dartford Orchard Theatre
Tue 23 Ipswich Regent Theatre
Wed 24 Guildford G Live
Fri 26 Worthing Assembly Hall
Sat 27 Cambridge Corn Exchange
Sun 28 Yeovil Westlands
Mon 29 Cheltenham Town Hall
Tue 30 Margate Winter Gardens
Wed 31 Chatham Central Theatre
Tickets from www.southendtheatres.org.uk www.ripituptheshow.com and www.Ticketmaster.co.uk
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