Sid Lester’s Christmas Special
Move over Santa Claus and bon voyage Ebenezer Scrooge, there’s a new kid on the Christmas block! In the days of yore, old time vaudevillian, tap dancer and acrobat Sid Lester helped make variety great. Now – with the help of Brighton-based theatre maker Sue MacLaine – he’s back for another shot at the limelight with a special run of Christmas shows at Brighton Dome Studio Theatre on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December 2013.
Sid Lester’s Christmas Special finds the man, the legend, in his natural habitat; top of bill, name in lights, conductor and constructor of his own showbiz universe. Christmas is a time for family and friends, and for these special performances Sid is resentfully assisted by his daughter Valerie along with other old muckers from the business we call show; including song and dance supremo Liz Aggiss, aerial antics by Vic McManus, taptastic duo Janine Fletcher and Helen Rogers, and Greg Mickelborough on piano accompanied by the trilling vocals of Milly Roberts (NB. This year, Chancer the Reindeer will be played by Ronnie Barker the family dog).
Having rubbed shoulders with all the big names in showbiz; including Tommy Trinder, Arthur Askey, Roy Castle, Danny Kaye and of course the all time Christmas Special great Val Doonican, Sid Lester has learnt from the best and certainly knows how to throw a party.
Thrown in are talking birds, proffered toffees, a game of ‘Name that Tune’, balloons, crackers, a Christmas grotto, old school patter, nifty footwork, festive family dynamics, an elf and a couple of surprises to boot!
Sue MacLaine is a theatre-maker, performer and playwright. Her solo piece Still Life: An Audience With Henrietta Moraes was shortlisted for a Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Festival 2012 and received high praise from both critics and audience. She is a member of the National Writer’s Group at the Royal Court and appeared this year at the Almeida Theatre in a new work by Tim Crouch and Andy Smith. A new work is in development funded by Arts Council England.
Sue first met Sid Lester in a launderette in 2008. She became fascinated with his show-biz stories and ever since has been determined to help fulfil Sid’s dream of returning to perform at The London Palladium. Sue and Sid would like to thank the Brighton Dome for this opportunity.
Sid Lester’s Christmas Special
Friday 13–Saturday 14 December
Brighton Dome Studio Theatre
7.30pm, £12 /£10.
