Eurobeat - Almost Eurovision
Photo Credit: Alan Martin/AMSI
Reviewed by: Patricia Connor on 18 Feb 2015
Venue: Greenbank Theatre Southport
Date: 17 - 21 Feb 2015
Type of Production: Musical
Music by Craig Christie and Andrew Patterson
Directed by Stephen Hughes-Alty
Musical Director: Sarah Nicholson
Choreographer: Jackie Morris
This was my first experience of Eurobeat - Almost Eurovision by Craig Christie and Andrew Patterson which is not your usual musical comedy show, it is actually an original musical pastiche and a glittering musical homage to the biggest annual song contest in Europe the Eurovision Song Contest. It is fast-paced and features all the things that we all love or loath about Eurovision.
In Eurobeat we are transported to Sarajevo where the contest is being held and the show is hosted by Boyka (Jen Corcoran) a former Olympic pole vaulter and co-host Sergei, (Lee Butcher) a superstar of Bosnian-Herzegovinian children's TV.
The performance begins with a welcome from your BBC host Ceiriog Llewellyn ( Chris Baker) followed by an endorsement projected onto a screen from Terry Wogan who for many years hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for the BBC. The show follows the same format of the real contest however in this case there are ten countries competing, each country producing a performance in the style that we have come to expect from them which include a Russian boy band, a pastiche of Byork, Hungarian folk singers and an Abba-esque group from Sweden among others. A big mention must go to the fantastic ensemble cast who played multiple roles and performed with lots of energy, enthusiasm and also worked as a team producing some very funny characterisations.
There was superb Choreography by Jackie Morris which along with some impressive vocal talent guided by Musical Director Sarah Nicholson resulted in a great party atmosphere. The audience cheered waved the flags of the competing nations which they had been given on arrival and generally made lots of noise throughout clacking their clackers enjoying themselves immensely. When the final entry had performed the audience were invited to get out their mobile phones and text vote for their favourite acts. As we waited for the votes to be counted we were treated in true Eurovision style to a Bosnian-Herzegovinian spectacular from our hosts. When all the votes are counted, we are whisked across Europe ’live via satellite’ to each of the participating countries, where the results are announced on screen by some very funny characters all played superbly by Corinna Davies and Peter Forshaw.
Because the audience chooses the winner the end of the show changes every night which means the production is reinvented for each performance and once the winner is identified they return to the stage for a triumphant reprise of their winning entry.
Costumes were very colourful, well thought out and added to the comedy. It is clear that this is a very technical show so a very big well done to the sound, lighting and stage crew as they were crucial to the success of this production. There is a great deal of audience participation in this show and in this case they all appeared to be enjoying a great party night out.
Congratulations must go to Stephen Hughes-Alty and to all involved in this production including front of house and thank you for inviting my husband and I we had a very enjoyable evening.
From The Champion - Local Press
There was 'talent in abundance'
LOVE it or hate it (and I love it!) the Eurovision Song Contest draws millions of viewers to their television screens each year.
In this hilarious send-up Stephen Hughes-Alty has captured all the attributes of the event with his outstanding direction, ensuring that his multi-talented team enjoy themselves – thus transferring their enthusiasm to the audience.
The cabaret-style seating set the party atmosphere with goody bags for everyone. We were taken back to our childhood as we frantically found horns, clackers, bracelets and flags (for us to wave!) from each of the ten countries who had reached the final – Italy, Poland, Iceland, Russia, Hungary, Ireland, Greece, Germany, UK and Sweden.
This is probably the only show you will go to where you are actually asked to leave your mobile phones switched on because later in the evening the audience is asked to vote for their favourite act – the votes then being added to those of the participating countries.
Whisking across Europe to Sarajevo we were introduced to our hosts – Boyka (Jen Corcoran) and Sergei (Lee Butcher). There was even real video footage from Sir Terry Wogan (himself!) as he paid homage to Eurovision and wished us all a happy evening.
But happy is such an understatement! The atmosphere was pulsating and the show was terrific. Jackie Morris surpassed herself with the innovative choreography and musical director, Sarah Nicholson, added all the oomph and oompah-pah. Full marks, too, for the show-stopping costumes!
A team of ‘international’ judges (deliciously comical performances by Corinna Davies and Peter Forshaw) gave their scores which were added to those from the audience before the winning act was crowned Champion.
In true Eurovision style the UK entry – Rayne and Sheiner (Emily Meadow and John Delahunty) did not win.
By popular demand it was ... Poland!
Jenny Robson – The Champion Arts Critic
Score: 10/10 - talent in abundance
From The Southport Visiter - 18 Feb 2015
Eurobeat almost Eurovision a triumphant extravaganza
I absolutely adore the Eurovision song contest, the spectacle, catchy songs and downright weirdness of it all makes me smile from ear to ear, so when the chance to see the 'Eurobeat almost Eurovision' came around I snatched the tickets from my editors hands.
The show is the latest effort from award-winning musical theatre group Southport Spotlights and it provided all I was hoping for and more.
As soon as my friend Rebecca and I entered Greenbank High School we were transported into a world of Eurovision madness, with sparkly party boppers and European flags galore.
Our hosts for the evening Sergi Puukolisto (Lee Butcher) and Boyka (Jen Corcoran) hailing from Sarajevo were hilarious and at times incredibly realistic.
All of the ten countries represented in the show performed incredible routines and songs that Rebecca and I were singing all the way home.
Our particular highlights included Poland, Russia and Iceland, who had us laughing all night with their saucy lyrics and dance moves providing great satirical representations.
The atmosphere in the auditorium was electric, with all of the audience joining in waving their flags and getting into the Eurovision spirit by cheering for their adopted country.
On arrival we were given party bags, with the flag of our adopted country inside. After all the acts had performed we were encouraged to text in with our votes, which would be counted during the interval.
The interval show was in keeping with Eurovision tradition - a bit bonkers, with patriotic performances provided by our two hosts.
Before we knew it the results were in and my nerves for my adopted country (Germany) were growing as I was determined to beat Rebecca (Sweden).
The vote count was also incredibly realistic and credit is due to those who ensured the slick production of this part of the show, with the backstage scenes raising a smile.
Both I and Rebecca, previously a Eurovision sceptic, were cheering on our adopted countries and I was genuinely saddened when Germany placed second bottom, coming just behind Sweden. Poland were worthy victors however.
Eurobeat almost Eurovision is a triumph. Any fans of the contest will love this show but equally sceptics would also find it hard not to be entertained.
Sophie McCoid and Rebecca Koncienzcy - Southport Visiter Reviewers