An afternoon with
The Show Choir
The Palace Theatre
13th March 2016
The Show Choir
The Palace Theatre
13th March 2016
The Show Choir was formed three years ago by Paul Day and Steve Morgan as a community choir with a strong focus on Musical Theatre. Starting off with just one venue in Leigh-on-Sea, it gradually found its membership getting bigger and bigger and within just 5 months, they were forced to add two more venues in Ashingdon and Thorpe Bay.
Steve’s original vision was to have over 100 voices on stage at a local theatre venue, showcasing their vocal talents. This afternoon that vision was well and truly brought to life.
Now, proudly boasting well over 100 members The Show Choir finally got to show off the results of weeks and weeks of rehearsals, in their first official theatre concert at The Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea.
With David Elcock taking on the role of MC for the afternoon’s entertainment, the show began with three medleys from Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera; and if anyone had any doubt as to what to initially expect from The Show Choir, then these medleys were the perfect choices to let the audience know that they really meant business. It’s easy to say that you are ‘blown away’ by what you hear but I honestly, really was. Les Mis always gets me emotionally but by the time the choir had finished the first medley I was discreetly trying to wipe away a tear and wondering how on earth I was going to get through the rest of the show without becoming a blubbering wreck. ‘Think of Me’ and ‘Angel of Music’ from Phantom were also particularly good. Music has that power to evoke so many emotions and when it’s sung so beautifully and with such wonderful harmonies, you can’t help but be swept along by its force.
I really enjoyed the Priscilla Queen of the Desert number, ‘Colour My World’ (one of my favourites) which really put a smile on my face and Hairspray’s ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ with its tongue-twisting lyrics was another feel-good song. Watching Steve Morgan in the orchestra pit, bouncing his way through the MD’ing of this number was actually rather entertaining in itself!
Steve also took to the stage to sing the Josh Groban/Westlife hit, ‘You Raise Me Up’, with The Choir providing backing vocals which was a real hit with the audience and something that I’d definitely like to see more of.
The Choir also performed songs from Blood Brothers, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and the Lion King with Chris Wood doing a fabulous turn on the African drums in ‘The Circle of Life’.
There were also guest appearances from members of Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society with a showcase of their next production, Made in Dagenham which will be at the theatre in May and Little Theatre Company, whose production of Legally Blonde is coming to The Palace Theatre next month - both shows looking like they definitely shouldn’t be missed.
With everyone coming on stage together at the end for a rousing rendition of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, the performance came to its climactic conclusion with every single one of The Show Choir giving it their all to the full house and leaving the audience with nothing but huge smiles on their faces.
The encouraging thing about watching The Show Choir is seeing such a diverse range of ages - men and women from teenagers to pensioners - all merging to create such an amazing sound. Music really is a great way of bringing people together.
Quite poignantly, one of the numbers that is sung in the show is the Barry Manilow hit, ‘One Voice’. The meaning behind this song, we are told, is that it only takes one person to inspire and lead others in the right direction. Well, as far as The Show Choir is concerned, it has been two people - I take my hat off to Paul Day and Steve Morgan who have done themselves proud in leading the members of their Show Choir to perform on the Palace Theatre stage to an extremely appreciative audience. The Show Choir appeared to be very much at home, despite a fair few of them having never appeared in front of an audience of that size before. A huge amount of respect goes to these two guys who have worked tirelessly and tremendously hard to put on this show and who both must be absolutely chuffed to bits with what they have achieved.
I can't wait for the next show!
Steve’s original vision was to have over 100 voices on stage at a local theatre venue, showcasing their vocal talents. This afternoon that vision was well and truly brought to life.
Now, proudly boasting well over 100 members The Show Choir finally got to show off the results of weeks and weeks of rehearsals, in their first official theatre concert at The Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea.
With David Elcock taking on the role of MC for the afternoon’s entertainment, the show began with three medleys from Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera; and if anyone had any doubt as to what to initially expect from The Show Choir, then these medleys were the perfect choices to let the audience know that they really meant business. It’s easy to say that you are ‘blown away’ by what you hear but I honestly, really was. Les Mis always gets me emotionally but by the time the choir had finished the first medley I was discreetly trying to wipe away a tear and wondering how on earth I was going to get through the rest of the show without becoming a blubbering wreck. ‘Think of Me’ and ‘Angel of Music’ from Phantom were also particularly good. Music has that power to evoke so many emotions and when it’s sung so beautifully and with such wonderful harmonies, you can’t help but be swept along by its force.
I really enjoyed the Priscilla Queen of the Desert number, ‘Colour My World’ (one of my favourites) which really put a smile on my face and Hairspray’s ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ with its tongue-twisting lyrics was another feel-good song. Watching Steve Morgan in the orchestra pit, bouncing his way through the MD’ing of this number was actually rather entertaining in itself!
Steve also took to the stage to sing the Josh Groban/Westlife hit, ‘You Raise Me Up’, with The Choir providing backing vocals which was a real hit with the audience and something that I’d definitely like to see more of.
The Choir also performed songs from Blood Brothers, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and the Lion King with Chris Wood doing a fabulous turn on the African drums in ‘The Circle of Life’.
There were also guest appearances from members of Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society with a showcase of their next production, Made in Dagenham which will be at the theatre in May and Little Theatre Company, whose production of Legally Blonde is coming to The Palace Theatre next month - both shows looking like they definitely shouldn’t be missed.
With everyone coming on stage together at the end for a rousing rendition of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, the performance came to its climactic conclusion with every single one of The Show Choir giving it their all to the full house and leaving the audience with nothing but huge smiles on their faces.
The encouraging thing about watching The Show Choir is seeing such a diverse range of ages - men and women from teenagers to pensioners - all merging to create such an amazing sound. Music really is a great way of bringing people together.
Quite poignantly, one of the numbers that is sung in the show is the Barry Manilow hit, ‘One Voice’. The meaning behind this song, we are told, is that it only takes one person to inspire and lead others in the right direction. Well, as far as The Show Choir is concerned, it has been two people - I take my hat off to Paul Day and Steve Morgan who have done themselves proud in leading the members of their Show Choir to perform on the Palace Theatre stage to an extremely appreciative audience. The Show Choir appeared to be very much at home, despite a fair few of them having never appeared in front of an audience of that size before. A huge amount of respect goes to these two guys who have worked tirelessly and tremendously hard to put on this show and who both must be absolutely chuffed to bits with what they have achieved.
I can't wait for the next show!
Ask the Audience
Paul Esser, 61, Southend-on-Sea
“I thought it was wonderful. It was as if it were actually in the West End.” “I really enjoyed Steve’s solo - it had a real impact. You can tell that all the hard work at rehearsal and the build-up of all their efforts has really paid off.” “I enjoyed the LODS and LTC showcases - I’ll think about coming to those now.”
Maria Davies, 66, Westcliff-on-Sea
“My daughter, Lauren, is in the Choir. I really enjoyed Circle of Life, I thought that was really good and I enjoyed watching the Made in Dagenham piece, I think I’ll be coming to see that. I got quite emotional at the beginning with the Les Mis songs.”
Fred Davies, 66, Westcliff-on-Sea
“My favourite was the California Dreaming mash up and the Hairspray song was great too!”
The Show Choir are:
Sopranos
Allison Small, Beryl Brown, Catherine Wood, Claire Luxon, Debbie Bamber, Diana Holmes, Edna Smith, Edwina Kinch, Eirian Gooch, Emma Fearnley, Everlyn Gray, Hennie Chilvers, Irene Platt, Jackie Gardiner, Janine Fitzpatrick, Jean Pearmain, Jill Cheshire, Jo Stallon, Jo Twyman, Julie Butler, Kate Fitzpatrick, Kathy Brinklow, Lauren Davis, Linda Jessen, Linda Morgan, Lisa Copsey, Lisa Cornish, Liz Durham, Louise Higginson, Lynda Norman, Margaret Harle, Maria Haskew, Marilyn Edwards, Melinda Miller, Nathalie Henderson, Pat Fitzpatrick, Patsy Allen, Pauline Sear, Penny Down, Sally Scott, Sheryl Daglish, Sophie Macdonald, Steph Maddocks, Sue Astle, Suzanne Worland, Suzi Bolton, Teresa Shipley, Veronica Daniels and Vivien Finch
Altos
Alain Fern, Angela Martin, Ann Rayner, Ann Shepherd, Anne Maunders, Anneliese Sanderson, Beryl Cave, Beverley Banbury, Brenda Goodhind, Carole Magrath, Clover Stewart, Dee Oxbrough, Diane Clarke, Elaine Taylor, Frances Nicholson, Georgina Barret, Helen Salkin, Jan Dewitt, Janice Wrenn, Jean Nicholls, Jeanne Kennet, Jen Read, Jo Childs, Joyce Esser, Julie Fraser, Kate Baily, Kathryn Kelly, Lisa Hatch, Lorraine Starr, Luci Clark, Lyn Andrassy, Lynn Bolton, Maggie Summerfield, Maxine Watson, Michelle Matthew, Pam Gibson, Pam Little, Pam Smoothy, Pat Soward, Pat Wall, Patricia Mitchell, Rachael Marshall, Rose Martin, Sarah Lord, Sarah Peppiatt, Sarah Withams, Shelley Milner, Shirley Lough, Sue Diggers and Therese Tahann
Tenors
Alexander Bailey, Bob Kennett, Brenda Tempest, Cecilia Pullman, Chas Browne, David Willis, George Lockhart, Ken Brown, Lynne McEwan, Malcolm Clark, Marie Gould, Marilyn Crawford, Rob Norman, Ron Brown, Sharon Kimpton and Sue Browne
Bass
Alan Willis, Anton Daniels, Bob Anderson, David Dearle, Geoff Rhodes, Harry Warren and Len Sellers
If you would like to join the choir contact [email protected] or call 07802 813497