SOUTHEND THEATRE SCENE
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
  • COMING UP
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
    • David Streames Interview
    • Daniel O'Donnell
    • Matt Wycliffe Interview - Million Dollar Quartet
    • Ian Anderson - Jethro Tull
    • Tony Stockwell Interview
    • Priscilla Queen of the Desert Tour - Interview with Emma Crossley
    • Phil Walker - Guitar Heroes
    • Rock for Heroes Review
    • Once the Musical - We interview Daniel Healy & Emma Lucia as we are invited to watch the cast rehearse!
    • The Overtones 2019
    • Derren Brown - Showman
    • Stephen K Amos Interview
    • Geoff Norcott INTERVIEW
    • Diversity and Kev Orkian Interviews
    • Giles Cooper talks about Nigel Slater's TOAST
    • Kristian Lavercombe - Riff Raff - Rocky Horror Show
    • Dan Partridge & Martha Kirby talk Grease the Musical
    • Village Green Festival 2019
    • Lee Mead, David Streames & Richard Foster
    • Craig Revel Horwood
    • Jenny Gayner
    • Nigel Slater
    • Alex Bourne Interview - Annie Tour 2019
    • Beverley Craven Interview
    • Gary Barlow and Tim Firth Interview - Calendar Girls
    • Tom Stade 2019 Interview
    • Karen Gibson - The Kingdom Choir
    • AJ Pritchard
    • Jonathan Wrather - The Picture of Dorian Gray - Tilted Wig Productions
    • Kevin Clifton & Graziano Di Prima Interview - Burn the Floor
    • Elesha Paul Moses Interview - Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
    • Juliet Mills & Maxwell Caulfield Interview
    • Juliet Mills Interview
    • Holly Liburd - The Bodyguard
    • Alexandra Burke - The Bodyguard
    • Janine Duvitski Interview
    • Matthew Kelly & David Yelland
    • Aled Jones Interview
    • Quadrophenia Live Interview with Doug Freeman
    • Diversity's Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo, Perri Kiely & Terry Smith
    • Ali James & James Cranfield
    • Ed Speleers, Mairi Barclay & Adam Lilley
    • Rachel Lumberg & Faye Christall Interview
    • Rain Main - Mathew Horne & Ed Speleers
    • Charles Sharman-Cox
    • Matt Terry & Antoine Murray-Straughan
    • Collabro Road to the Royal Albert Hall Interview
    • Steve Michaels - Elvis
    • Paul Young Interview
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Jersey Boys Interview
    • Colin Blunstone - The Zombies
    • Dave Kelly - The Blues Band
    • Clive John - Johnny Cash Roadshow
    • Paul Opacic & Richard Walsh
    • Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace
    • Alexander O'Neal Interview
    • Kevin Whately - Our Finest Hour
    • Jenny Eclair - Grumpy Old Women Tour
    • Séan Aydon - Great Expectations
    • Joe McElderry Live in Concert
    • Nichola McAuliffe Interview
    • Natalie Anderson & Jonathan Halliwell
    • Geoff Norcott Interview
    • Mark Steel - Comedian Interview
    • Debra Stephenson & Alice Barlow
    • Dr Feelgood's Kevin Morris
    • Ali James Interview - Oh Yes It Is!
    • Tom Stade Interview
    • Sarah Earnshaw - Nativity the Musical
    • Karina Jones - Wait Until Dark
    • The Stylistics
    • Tom Chambers & Charlotte Wakefield
    • Jessie Wallace - Deathtrap
    • Paul Bradley - Deathtrap
    • George Kemp - The Wipers Times
    • Joe McElderry - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    • Ian Hislop & Nick Newman - The Wipers Times
    • Chris Simmons, All or Nothing the Musical
    • Caroline Flack, Tom Chambers Interview
    • Ruth Madoc
    • Scott Reid - Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
    • Samuel Clemens, Director
    • Elizabeth Elvin
    • Ray Cooney - Out of Order
    • Susie Amy
    • Sue Holderness
    • Shaun Williamson
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher & Oliver Ormson
    • Geoff Norcott
    • Navi - King of Pop
    • Damian Williams Interview
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher Interview
    • Samantha Womack Interview
    • Les Dennis Interview
    • Clive Mantle - The Verdict
    • Stephen Bailey Interview
    • Steve Hackett Interview
    • Alastair Whatley - The Original Theatre Company
    • Paul Carrack Interview
    • Janine Johnson - Back to Bacharach Interview
    • Lewis Griffiths - Dirty Dancing
    • Ben Portsmouth Elvis Tribute
    • Paul Nicholls - Shawshank Redemption
    • Anne Odeke - Night Must Fall
    • Elaine Paige
    • Jimmy Osmond - Christmas Extravaganza
    • Brian Conley & Gok Wan
    • Jonathan Kiley - Qdos Pantomine Producer
    • Lee Mead - Some Enchanted Evening
    • Maximum Rhythm & Blues
    • Joe McElderry - Northern Light Tour
    • Carol Harrison - All or Nothing
    • Paul Cattermole - The Rocky Horror Show
    • Tommy Steele
    • Cheryl Baker - Formerly of Bucks Fizz
    • Gabrielle Cocca from Cats the Musical
    • PJ Proby Interview
    • Ashleigh & Pudsey - Mission ImPudseyble
    • I'm Cold - Alex Thorn
    • Mon Amie - supporting Jason Donovan
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
    • Richard Ede - The 39 Steps
    • Collabro
    • The Searchers
    • Fanny Galore
    • Paul Carrack
    • Rose Marie
    • Gary Wilmot, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson
    • Megan Terry
    • Sharon Rose - Little Eva in West End's Beautiful
    • Roy Chubby Brown - Britain's Rudest Comedian
    • Fascinating Aida's Dillie Keane
    • Ben Portsmouth - Elvis Tribute Artist
    • Ugly Sisters, Martin Ramsdin & David Robbins - Cinderella
    • Lauren Hall (Cinderella)
    • Michael Harrison, West End Producer
    • Brian Conley
    • Sharon Rose - X Factor
    • The Bodyguard - Zoe Birkett Interview
    • Alex Bourne (Daddy Warbucks)
    • Michael Corbidge Royal Shakespeare Company
    • Ashton Moore - Samson
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Phill Jupitus
    • Michael Sharp Playwright
    • Ray Cooney OBE
  • MUSIC
  • YOUTUBE
    • Lockdown Show Time Introducing
  • Features
    • Echoes From Essex
    • Immersive Actor Training
    • Afternoon Tea at the Cliffs Pavilion
    • N-Act Theatre Stage - Village Green
    • Chameleon Productions
    • Sheku Kanneh-Mason
    • Aladdin - Panto Cast Announcement
    • Sounds Familiar Music Quiz
    • N-Act Theatre in Schools
    • Ray Cooney comes to see Lindisfarne perform his play
    • Theatre Etiquette
    • Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society's Backstage Crew
Picture
REVIEW
​The Bluejays
​Rock and Roll Revolution
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
Friday 15th February
8pm
Picture
The Bluejays returned to Southend’s Palace Theatre almost a year to the day that they last performed the Rock and Roll Revolution show that they have toured the length and breadth of the UK with since they formed back in 2013.

Despite the band only being in their twenties and early thirties themselves, their heroes are clearly the rock and roll icons that revolutionised the music scene of the 1950s; an era which brought us the likes of Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Johnny Cash to name but a few.  Cliff Richard, who would invent his stage persona from the Little Richard and Elvis, was a forerunner of the British rock and roll movement and also receives his due recognition in this rock and roll musical montage.

The Bluejays’ frontman is Ollie Seymour Marsh.  His theatrical credits include Carl Perkins in Million Dollar Quartet, Buddy in the Buddy Holly Story and the UK tour of Dreamboats and Petticoats and he is joined on stage by Dan Graham on drums, Chris Reid (bass, double bass), Dan Criscuolo on guitar and Matt Wycliffe - Jersey Boys (Bob Gaudio) and Buddy Holly Story (Buddy Holly) - providing vocals and some knockout piano playing skills.  They are joined by saxophonists and backing singers, Emma Jane Morton and Rachel Nottingham.

Musical theatre has obviously been a predominant factor in the band’s formation; in fact all of the band originally met whilst performing together in various rock ’n’ roll theatre shows and it must have been inevitable that through their affection of the rock ’n’ roll musical genre and their love of performing, they would go on to form what would eventually become The Bluejays.  They are now the UK’s Premier Rock ’n' Roll band and have performed all over the world, including a memorable performance, on what would have been Buddy Holly’s 81st birthday, at the Buddy Holly Centre in Lubbock, Texas (Buddy’s hometown) to an audience which included guitar legend, Duane Eddy.  They were joined that night by Buddy’s wife Maria Elena who sang backing vocals to Not Fade Away with them.

The band take you through the decade with hit after hit including Rock Around the Clock, Folsom Prison Blues, Roll Over Beethoven, That’ll Be the Day, Move It, Be-Bop-A-Lula, Jailhouse Rock, Great Balls of Fire and lots, lots more!  There are over 47 songs played in this show - you certainly get your money’s worth.

The guys are joined by Amelia Rendell, who gives a feisty show of things with strong vocals that actually probably don’t need a mic as she belts out hits from Peggy Lee, Patsy Cline and Connie Francis, whilst also getting a chance to style out the fabulous fashions of the era too.

Matt Wycliffe impresses with his piano playing in Real Wild Child, Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame and later on in the evening with Great Balls of Fire.  Drummer, Dan Graham gets his chance to show off with the Surfaris’ Wipe Out along with the some nice guitar playing from Dan Criscuolo.   By this time the audience, who have been itching to get up and jive, are on their feet and nothing is going to make them sit back down again!

Ollie Seymour Marsh highlights just how adaptable the band can be when a problem with the piano, at one point of the show, means that they have to change the setlist to a Buddy Holly song.  With various requests from the audience, Ollie picks a couple who tell him that their upcoming ‘wedding song’ is going to be True Love Ways and despite the fact that he confesses he hasn’t played it for a while, goes on to perform a perfect solo rendition of the song accompanied just by his guitar, much to the delight of the audience and not least the couple who’s upcoming nuptials have been made all the more special now by this impromptu request.

Rock and Roll Revolution is a fun night out for any rock and roll fan, which I am sure a group of ladies in the audience calling themselves the Beehives will readily endorse!  All of the band are fabulous musicians and the sound quality of the show is excellent. There’s a real sense of nostalgia and a nod towards what a concert of that type would have been like back in the day.

On one of the clips, that are played on a projector throughout the show, you hear a recording of an announcer talking about a Buddy Holly gig - “These boys are putting on a great show and everyone’s having a swell old time.”  You know what?  I think that pretty much sums it up.

The Bluejays tour continues for more information go to www.thebluejays.co.uk

Our competition winner, Belinda English, had a wonderful time last night and even got to meet the band! 
Here's what she had to say, "Best show yet and I will cherish this photo forever and will never forget the kindness shown to me by the band for their time having their photo taken with me!"
Great photo Belinda!

Picture

Picture
“The Bluejays are the real Rock ‘n’ Roll deal!”
Vintage Rock Magazine
“A rocking show with a big difference… we were blown away!”
Meridian FM
“The audience couldn’t wait to get up and start jitterbugging and jiving!”
Southend Theatre Scene
“Immense… faultless… one fantastic band!”
Yorkshire Times
Our REVIEW from last year's show

Home

About

MUSIC

INTERVIEWS

FEATURES

Copyright © 2015