Sunday Night At: Prepare to be blown away by a stage packed full of talent! For one night only, Theatre Royal Brighton plays host to stars of stage and screen
Rob Reaks, Max Fulham and Ryan Heals, Rockinghorse CEO
Variety shows, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, are performances made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, comedy, magic and ventriloquism. The variety format made its way from Victorian era stage to radio and then television. Variety shows were a staple of television from the late 1940s into the 1980s, and continue to this day with possibly the most famous Variety Show of all, The Royal Variety Performance.
This charity gala performance, in the presence of The Deputy Mayor of Brighton and Hove and the High Sheriff of East Sussex, celebrates 50 years of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and will be raising money for Sussex Giving for Sussex Charities. Rockinghorse launched an anniversary appeal to provide £500,000 worth of funding split between 10 children’s centres and pediatric services in Sussex.
Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (The Alex) and the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. Other charities benefiting from the 50th year fundraising activities this year include Chailey Heritage Foundation based in Lewes and the Chalkhill Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, Finches Short Breaks Centres and The Connor Saunders Foundation.
Directed by West End and touring theatre Director and Choreographer Carole Todd and produced by Rob Reaks and David Bell, the show on Sunday 24th September is sponsored by locally-based businesses including Brighton and Hove Buses, Juice 107.2fm, Reveries Events, Lloyds Banking Group, Malmaison, Latest 7 and The Best of Brighton and Hove.
Rob Reaks told Latest: “We are so grateful to Ambassador Theatre Group, who own Theatre Royal Brighton, and our Show Partners, without their support a one-night show on this scale would be impossible. We are hoping for a full house and some great fundraising on the night!”.
£500,000 worth of funding split between 10 children’s centres and pediatric services in Sussex
Starring the UK’s leading female impersonator the fabulous Ceri Dupree; X Factor heart-throb, singer and model Sam Callahan; Eurovision’s Nicki French; Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Eva Iglesias; Jan Hunt; Jodie Jacobs; Jon Moses; Allan Jay; Mark Williams; Max Fulham and Brighton’s Singing Barber, Peter Joannou, this show has something for everyone.
Marc McBride, Musical Director, leads a seven-piece live band, the show also stars children from the Brighton School of Theatre Excellence and The Gay Men’s Dance Company, choreographed by Dean Brown.
David Bell, Rob Reaks, Max Fulham (and Eugene), Sam Callahan, Jan Hunt
Rockinghorse fundraising events have taken place throughout Sussex this year and culminate in this Gala Performance followed by a glamourous Fundraising Ball in October at The Grand, Brighton.
Rockinghorse CEO, Ryan Heals, said: “this show is a wonderful and unique opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate our anniversary, have a great evening and raise much needed funds for our appeal. The money raised will make a huge difference to sick children across Sussex.”
The beautiful Theatre Royal, Brighton has a long and illustrious history. The Theatre that we know today was originally granted Royal Assent by the Prince of Wales and constructed in just 10 months from the summer of 1806. The Theatre opened on Saturday the 27th of June 1807 with a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet with the famous Drury Lane actor Charles Kemble in the lead role.
Theatre Manager, John Baldock, added: “We are delighted to be hosting this very special show, and hats off to local producers Rob Reaks and David Bell for putting this show together, it’s no small undertaking and takes an enormous commitment of time and effort. Bravo.”
Sunday Night at Theatre Royal Brighton, 24 September, 7.30pm, £15-£35
Tickets can be purchased from the box office or online at www.atgtickets.com/brighton
