Enjoy Double the Fun at Bolton Octagon with Blonde Bombshells of 1943

Key Highlights :

1. A production of Blonde Bombshells of 1943 offers double the fun, and is an unashamedly nostalgic, warm and hugely enjoyable evening.

2. The cast is excellent, and the writing of Alan Plater is well-suited to the music hall genre.

3. The humour is often self-deprecating, and the cast is very northern in its humour.

4. The play is staged "in the round", and the cast often has to perform an intricate ballet as instruments are swapped and also as they carefully navigate a hole in the floor of the rehearsal room.

     The Bolton Octagon Theatre has had a fabulous season, and it's set to end with a bang with the revival of Alan Plater's musical comedy, Blonde Bombshells of 1943. This unashamedly nostalgic and warm production is the perfect summer treat, offering an evening full of fun, friendship and strong women making the most of a world in turmoil.

     The cast of Blonde Bombshells of 1943 is excellent, and you'd willingly pay the ticket price just to see them perform as a Big Band. This talented group of actor-musicians can play a range of instruments, from saxophone and trumpet to ukulele and piano. Their singing is also wonderful, with close harmonies that evoke memories of the Andrews Sisters and the Big Band era.

     The Bombshells are led by the indomitable Betty, beautifully played by Georgina Field. She needs some new recruits to the band for that night's broadcast, and one by one, the most unlikely replacements arrive for audition. Lauren Chinery is splendidly naive as the schoolgirl, Gleanne Purcell-Brown is hugely enthusiastic as the nun, and Stacey Ghent is hilarious as Miranda, a frightfully posh army 'gel'. Then there's Pat the drummer, who turns out to be Patrick, desperate to avoid being called up to do his duty. Rory Gradon is great as the token male in the cast, and the rest of the stellar line up consists of Verity Bajoria as May, the acerbic piano player; Alice McKenna as bass-playing Grace; and Sarah Groarke as the world-weary Vera, trumpet player extraordinaire.

     Blonde Bombshells of 1943 is very northern in its humour, and the women are all women that we recognise today. They overcome difficult circumstances with humour, and they show friendship by taking the mickey out of those close to them. Director Zoe Waterman has brought together a remarkable team of performers, and the writing of Alan Plater is also a blessing.

     The production is staged ‘in the round’, and the cast often have to perform an intricate ballet as instruments are swapped and they navigate a hole in the floor of the rehearsal room, the result of a recent German bombing raid. There are some serious points being made, but that’s not the real purpose of this play. That comes in the second half when the Blonde Bombshells arrive for their live radio broadcast and really let rip.

     As the Big Band concert gets the Octagon swinging, everyone is up from their seats and dancing along. The spirit of Ivy Benson is very much present in Bolton! Blonde Bombshells of 1943 is at the Octagon Theatre Bolton until Saturday, July 1. Don't miss out on this double the fun production - get your tickets now from www.octagonbolton.co.uk.

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