The Women
Who Inspired The Dolly Mixtures Looking Forward To Play’s Revival
The Dolly Mixtures
South
Shields Customs House
Wednesday
21 - Saturday 31 August 2019
The
original ‘Dolly Mixtures’ are looking forward to seeing the smash-hit play based
on their hilarious fundraising antics return to the stage. The Dolly Mixtures
is being revived as part of The Customs House’s 25th anniversary
celebrations and will run from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 31 August.
The Dolly Mixtures, written by Tom Kelly, with music by John Miles,
debuted at The Customs House in August 2016, receiving a rapturous reception
and widespread critical acclaim.
 |
The original Dolly
Mixtures: (l-r) Betty Dickinson, Hilda Joyce,
Doris Ashcroft and
Margaret Fleck with playwright Tom Kelly.
|
It
tells the story of eight ordinary women from the north east, who broke the
showbiz mould to raise money for Cancer Research UK in the 1970s and 1980s. They toured the region’s male-dominated
social clubs with their variety show for over 14 years, raising laughs and £100,000
in the process.
Five
of the original women remain – Doris Ashcroft, 79, Margaret Fleck, 77, Hilda
Joyce, 84, Betty Dickinson, 74, and Sylvia Nichols, 72. The others – Jean Smith,
Joan Lumsdale and Liz Errington – sadly died before their remarkable story was
turned into a musical.
Betty
said: “I think we were all hoping that it would be brought back.”
Margaret
added: “It’s testament to how good it was first time around. It was joyous and
amazing. We always thought it was, but the fact it is coming back proves it
really. The first time round we were
excited, but apprehensive.”
The
women were inspired to raise money for cancer research after Margaret’s husband
and Hilda’s brother, Ken, died from bowel cancer, aged just 34.
Hilda
said: “We were determined to raise as much money as possible for cancer
research and that is what kept us going.” Doris
added: “It’s amazing when you think about how much energy we must have had then
compared to how we feel now!”
The
women juggled their commitments as The Dolly Mixtures with work and family
life. The show is littered with anecdotes and skits based on real-life events
and the challenges the group came up against.
Doris
said: “Every scenario in the play is true. We had some amazing times.”
They
made their own costumes, created their own props, sourced their own music,
arranged their own transport and organised bookings themselves. Betty
said: “We were the only female group on the circuit and we were viewed with
suspicion when we walked in, but by the end of the night we had standing
ovations. We only ever walked out of one club.”
The
women are looking forward to once again working with West End star Mina Anwar,
who will direct and choreograph the latest production, having been assistant
director and choreographer during the original run.
Six
members of the original cast are also returning – Georgia Nicholson will play
Doris, Victoria Holtom will play Sylvia, Kylie Ann Ford will play Liz,
Christina Dawson will play Joan, Sarah Boulter will play Margaret and Patricia
Whale will play Jean. The
new faces are Natasha Haws as Hilda, Zoe Hakin as Betty and Steven Lee Hamilton
as Ken.
 |
| The
cast: Top L-R: Christina Dawson, Natasha Haws and Zoe Hakin; Middle L-R: Sarah Boulter, Victoria Holtom and Steven Lee Hamilton; Bottom L-R: Patricia Whale, Georgia Nicholson and Kylie Ann Ford. |
Bucket
collections will be held after each performance to raise money for Cancer
Research UK. Hilda said: “I hope everyone comes to see the show and supports
the show because it will all help cancer research. That is what we have worked
for all our lives.” During
the original production, Cancer Research UK presented The Dolly Mixtures with a
Lifetime Achievement Award on stage.
Tickets:
Tickets
for The Dolly Mixtures are priced from £16 and performances start at 7.30pm,
with a 2.30pm matinee on Thursday 22, Saturday 24, Thursday 29 and Saturday 31
August.
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