Autumn Tour

Well we're well and truly back from our Danish trip. Tour buses and dinners at the theatre and free beer all a fading memory.
We hope to go back with the Christmas show.

We have had some days to recover and started back at Aldershot, It was the perfect start to the run up to the end of the year. Such a great crowd and made us realise what we'd been missing, the British sense of humour!

Dorking Halls and Martyn's and Lynn's 38Th anniversary. Nice cake Katy!

On Saturday we played The Langstone Cliff Hotel, Its a venue we've played since the very start of TBTD. The hotel had a survey to find the show which was most requested for their anniversary and we came out tops!

Two nights at Chelmsford and some Christmas rehearsals, Both nights sold out and we went for an after show curry to celebrate.

Tuesday 21st and Manchester Opera House, It took us 6 hours to travel from Chelmsford, The traffic was awful and Man Utd were playing at home, We were a bit frazzled by the time we arrived.
Great crowd (mostly ladies, I wonder why?!?!
When we came out of the theater, two cars had parking tickets and to cap it all the crew car had been broken into, Rear windscreen and passenger window both smashed. The crew had to drive to Crewe with the glass missing.
Bit of a downer on the day (but at least Man Utd won!)

Crewe Lyceum is a fabulous old theatre, a real 'Christmas cake' design and a wonderful atmosphere. We're here for two nights and so more Christmas show rehearsals. Oh yes we are!!!

We're going to try and blog once a week. Not quite as easy as when we're in Denmark but at least we're trying!

Trevor

Day 7

So here we are, last day of the tour and a couple of hours on the bus.
All shows have been 8pm starts but tonight it's a 7.30. We're in Fredericia but didn't get to see much of the town.

Lots of delicious food (we've all put on half a stone!) and then another great night, We didn't want tonight to be an anti-climax after last night so we really went for it!
Half time and we hear England won 5-1.
In the second half when Jodie and Trevor had just finished their 'flowers' duet out Danish bus driver dressed up in his Scottish wig and hat and bought some flowers on stage for Jodie, as he said Trevor hadn't given her any all week!!

A great finish to a brilliant tour. Our crew were terrific, Sam, Tristan and Matt worked really well. Ferdy is always great fun and excelled himself this week, and a big thanks to Natasha Hampton-Street for doing a stirling job with Ferdy on the Followspots.
Caroline's met more locals than we have and as she's out front she gets all the feedback, and tells us it's all positive.

Brian the SHB Tour manager is a lovely bloke and has made sure everything has happened when it should!

So back to Blighty tomorrow, been strangenot driving, but no doubt we'll pick it up again very quickly.
Look forward to our next trip to Denmark, we're off on the plane tomorrow and Nikki is catching the train...... Next stop Aldershot!!

Bring it on.

Day 6

Early start today. The journey to Greve is nearly 5 hours and involves crossing from the mainland of Denmark to the island where the venue is. We're only 9km from Copenhagen but won't be able to visit this time.

The usual wonderful hospitality followed by the best show so far, everyday seems to be getting easier and receiving more reaction.
The promoters asked me to give a short speech before the shows begin and so i stand infront the sponsors and tell them about the show and what they can expect. It makes contact and works, Don't think we''ll be doing it in the UK though.
Some cast members are still recovering from the effects of a football game in the gymnasium but it was great fun.

Can't beleive how quickly the tour has gone, 5 down and just 1 more to go, so it's another early start and back over the bridge tomorrow.

Marks 'Kim Larson' song which he sings in Danish is going down so well. Can we feature it in Aldershot?? Probably not!!!

P.S We had our first traffic jam since we've been coming to Denmark today. Stuck in traffic on a friday afternoon! Feels just like home!!

Trevor

Day 5

WOW!!! What a show at Grenaa tonight!! It was a sell out show and the audience went wild!
We travelled to Grenna today on the tour bus while the crew travelled in a car with our Danish ' Tour Manager' Brian!
We've added some pictures of the bus with Brian and our bus driver Steen!

Also is a photo of our Truck driver Richard 'Ferdy' Jordon, He has the gruelling task of getting the truck from the UK to Denmark via France and Germany!!

Off to Greve next, which is a town very near to Copenhagen right out on the east coast of Denmark, It will take us about 5 hours to drive it Crossing over a 12km long bridge while ferdy puts the truck on to a ferry to save some driving!

Mor epics to follow including some of the very impressive bridge we'll cross on our way to Greve!!

Day 4

The tour bus was waiting with everyone on except for Mr R Dean, who had overslept and will have to pay a forfeit!!

We head off to Vejle, about 3 hours away. It was here that 'Cliff the Musical' came in 2004 and the audience were terrific. TBTD had been here in 2005 and they gave us the same reception.

It's so different from touring in the UK here, we all travel on the tour bus, stay in luxury hotel and enjoy wonderfull food served everyday at 6pm after sound check!

The theatre in Vejle is well equippedand the 'Green' room has a pool table and table football.
Not much else to report except the audience was the best so far and Marks Kim Larson song was a huge success.

The desighn of this theatre is just about perfect, the lighting rig, the PA syatem, the accoustics and seating are all top drawer and we hope to come back soon.

Back to the coast tomorrow and a new venue for us, 'Grena'

P.S We're working on the Christmas show!! Promise!!!!

Day 3

Some stayed up to the not so early hours and missed the best of breakfasts.
Only a 45 min trip today to Frederikshavn where we played 18 months ago. We were early enough to go to Skagen at the very north point of Denmark.
Its a desolate place where the North sea meets the Skagerak waters head on! Two tides collide and the waves crash into each other, it certainly clears the head!

Back to Frederkshavn for soundcheck and a game of rugby and football with the crew.
Showtime was 8pm and the relatively small theatre was a great intimate atmosphere.
The crowd wouldn't go home and an extra encore was demanded and played.

If the Danes like something they give you a slow hand clap which if you're not informed can make you think the opposite of what they mean.
Its polite to let them do this for a while.

Mark sang a song by a national hero 'Kim Larson' which they all loved.

Great show on tho Vejle tomorrow.

Denmark Days 1 & 2

Hi All,

Great Saturday night in Stevenage, A quick gear pack and out truck driver 'Ferdy' was on his way via the channel tunnel to Denmark, He would have to stop at the German border because, being a Sunday no trucks are allowed on the roads (we should try that here, but how could we work??)

We all met up at Stanstead airport ready for a 1.45pm departure. No drama's, but we were minus Nikki who doesn't like flying and so opted to travel by rail, through the tunnel and on through France and Belgium.
We arrived at Billund airport and all got on the tour bus to Aalborg.
Checked in at the hotel and went out to eat some local food, 8.30pm we have a phone call from Nikki, there was arail strike in Belgium and her ticket was cancelled! Hasty re-arrangements were made and she flew in today to Aarhus and took a train to Aalborg.
Most of the cast took a look around the town before all meeting up for soundcheck.

This venue has always been good for us and we'd sold out again! 1500 on a monday night, Hows that!!

The show went very well and received a great ovation. The agency over here were delighted and everyone is relived to get the first show under our belt.
The hospitality here is brilliant. Great food and lots of "after show' drinks too!!

Off to Frederikshavn with confidence tomorrow!!

Autumn Blog 2008

Hi Everyone!

Keep your eyes posted on the Blog from now on!!
We're off to Denmark again on Sunday, so daily updates and pictures will added from the Tour!

Keep Rockin!