A short tour in February 2000.
Locations
| Coventry Belgrade Theatre | Thurs 10th – Sat 12th Feb |
| Manchester Opera House | Sun 13th Feb |
| Bristol Hippodrome | Mon 14th – Tues 15th Feb |
| Hayes Beck Theatre | Weds 16th Feb |
Running Order
 |
1. Overture – Maurice Merry Band 2. Meet Your Host – Ted Rogers 3. Ken Wood – TVs Star Ventriloquist 4. Safire – World Famous Illusionists 5. Ted Rogers 6. The Roly Polys – A Ton of Fun 7. The Maurice Merry Band 8. Beryl Johnson – International Singing Star 9. Cannon and Ball 10. Goodnight from ‘Palladium Nights’ |
Souvenir Programme
Cannon and Ball
Cannon and Ball Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball are Britain’s funniest and most successful double act. In a career spanning over 25 years they have achieved a string of honors that includes them among the all-time greats of showbusiness.
On television they have starred in their own series practically every year since 1979. They have also ‘guested’ on all the major shows including ‘Wogan’, ‘Parkinson’, ‘Des O’Connor’, ‘Sunday Night at the Palladium’ and several Royal Variety Shows. They featured in a BBC Documentary ‘Funny Business’ based on double acts, which also included footage of comedy legends Martin and Lewis, Laurel and Hardy, and Morecambe and Wise.
To add to their pedigree, they remain the only act to have won three separate National Club Awards and be named as the Variety Club ‘Personalities of the Year’. Their feature film ‘The Boys in Blue’ in addition to its cinema success, has gone on to become best-seller. The boys have also been the subject of This is Your Life’!
During the 1970’s they built a strong reputation around the UK cabaret club circuit for being a great live act. They also toured extensively in the hotel circuits of Australia and South Africa. #
Tom and Bob have broken records in theatres all over the UK, including London. In 1981 they played a six-week season at the Dominion Theatre. Every seat was sold before the show opened, and in 1988 their pantomime ‘Babes in the Wood’ broke all previous pantomime records at the world famous London Palladium, where Cannon and Ball created the record for the largest box office amount taken in one week in British theatre history.
‘Rock with Laughter 96’ fulfilled Tommy and Bobby’s ambition to star in their own Rock ‘n’ Roll spectacular, their first Summer Season for Producers AMG.
After an extensive Autumn Tour and a trip to Israel, the boys played The Chinese Policemen’ in ‘Aladdin’ at the Theatre Royal Newcastle – a role the boys reprised again at The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton last Christmas.
They have appeared on many major T.V. shows including The Des O’Connor Show’, ‘Noel Edmonds’ House Party’, ‘Talking Telephone Numbers’ and The Generation Game’.
In the Spring of 1999 the boys appeared at various theatres across the country starring in “An evening at the Music Hall” whilst continuing their tour of “An Audience With”.
The boys played full houses at their Summer Season at the Blackpool Grand Theatre this year, the season was one of the most successful summers Blackpool has ever had!
Even after nearly 30 years of making people laugh, Tommy and Bobby are still enjoying every minute and are looking forward to entertaining for many years to come.
Ted Rogers
Ted Rogers has carved a unique place for himself in showbusiness. He is one of a handful of domestic comedians, who has cracked it in America, where he is very much in demand for appearances.
Fast talking Ted has established himself, in no uncertain terms , as the luckiest comedian in the business, whose material is as bang up-to-date as the morning newspapers and on many occasions a lot more topical.
From 1977, Ted was the host on Yorkshire Television’s outstandingly successful show “3-2-1”.
Ted was born in Kennington, London, a few hundred yards from the birthplace of the great Charlie Chaplin. At fifteen, he left school to become a clerk and in his spare time entered talent contests, which invariably he won. After a BBC radio talent series, in which he had done particularly well, he received several offers to turn professional, but at this stage decided against it. National Service in the Royal Air Force proved to be the turning point, and he left the RAF with his sights set firmly on a showbusiness career.
After a spell at Butlins, he toured extensively in revue (including a season with George Formby), gradually working his way up the ladder until Christmas 1958 when he understudied Tommy Steele as Buttons in ‘Cinderella’ at the London Coliseum.
When Tommy was ill, Ted took over and played the role so successfully – that when the production was re-staged in Bristol the following year, he got the part.
Following several highly successful theatre seasons, Ted appeared on ‘The Billy Cotton Show’ on BBC Television. He subsequently appeared on 21 shows I the series, culminating in his own show for the BBC, ‘And So To Ted’.
Since then, Ted has starred in all the major television and radio shows – topped the bills at theatres and clubs all over Britain and, of course, appeared with great success internationally.
Ted starred in ten seasons at the London Palladium, twelve seasons at the exclusive Savoy Hotel, London, and has appeared in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and of course, America – with seasons in New York, Las Vegas and Miami. He has also been the comedy star for such superstars as Tom ]ones, Lena Home, Englebert Humperdinck, Jack Jones, Andy Williams and Perry Como.
His crowning engagement came when he was specially requested by the late Bing Crosby to star with him at the London Palladium in 1977. The show was such a success that he was invited by Bing Crosby to star with him at the London Palladium in 1977. The show was such a success that he was invited by Bing to star in his show at the Uris Theatre in Broadway and the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas. When Bing returned to the London Palladium, he again personally requested Ted to be the comedy star of his show. On Bing’s last appearance in Britain, Ted again appeared with the legendary crooner.
Now firmly established as one of the most successful entertainers in the country today, Ted Rogers regularly appears in cabaret all over Britain and travels many thousands of miles every year; completing a hectic schedule of commitments which have also included summer tours, private functions and after dinner speaking engagements.
Ted has made numerous guest star appearances on many of the top-rating T.V. variety shows, including ‘Des O’Connor Tonight’, ‘Starburst’, ‘Blankety Blank’ and ‘Live from Her Majesty’s’. Early in 1986, Ted was the subject of ‘This is your Life’ [Thames Television).
Ted’s pantomime appearances include ‘Aladdin’ in Cardiff, ‘Goldilocks and The Three Bears’ in Torquay; Bournemouth and Northampton , ‘Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs’ in Southend and Buxton, ‘Dick Whittington ‘ in Hayes, ‘Cinderella’ at the Playhouse Weston-Supermarket, ‘Muddles’ in Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs’, at the Forum Theatre, Bellingham and Captain Hook at the Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol.
Roly Polys
The Roly Polys started in 1982 in a Les Dawson T.V. show and since then have got bigger in more ways than one! (All round entertainers).
They are big favourites in pantomime and also very busy in cabaret, summer season, television and commercials.
They have entertained several members of Royalty and also appeared at two Royal Variety Performances.
The Roly Polys cabaret act received the Club Mirror Awards for Comedy Act of the Year and their performances have taken them to many places including South America, ]apan and all over the Continent!
The idea of the act was originated by the late Les Dawson especially for his BBC 2 series, and of the three original members, Mo did an act with her husband; Marie was a choreographer; and Sue had a dancing school. They are now joined by Sandy and Pat. In December 1991 Mo was awarded top accolade of show business by being chosen for TV’s This Is Your Life. They appeared with Michael Barrymore in Aladdin at the Opera House, Manchester. They were an enormous success just as they have been previously in West End, at the Dominion, London.
The Roly Polys are one of the few British Variety acts that perform half the year in Germany, France, Spain and Holland in Cabaret and T.V. and delighted to be part of Palladium Nights. They featured at the London Palladium with Les Dawson in a Royal Command Performance, Which they treasure as the big highlight of their career.
Beryl Johnson
Beryl Johnson has appeared in worldwide cabaret, from famous Nightspots to Liner Cruises with T.V. shows here and abroad and many BBC Radio broadcasts. Every major theatre in the British Isles in Variety, Summer shows and pantomime.
Pops, ballads, songs from the shows are featured in her act, and her outstanding voice and considerable talent is acclaimed throughout the nation for her entertainment value.
Records: ‘Beryl Johnson Sings’, ‘Memories’, ‘My Favourite Songs’. T.V. credits as a straight actress include Emmerdale Farm, Jewel in the Crown and Grange Hill.
She has recently returned from her third visit to the United States in Music Hall at the Spinning Wheel Dinner Theatre in Conneticut. This summer Beryl returns to Blackpool to appear with Danny La Rue at the Winter Gardens, following her success with Danny at the North Pier Blackpool in 1996.
Safire
Safire are a unique, spectacular illusion act with a difference. Since their inception, hard work and enthusiasm has produced a professional, exciting and amusing live show, winning them three major awards at the International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention including most original and entertaining Magical Act in Great Britain.
After touring for six years with The Ken Dodd Laughter Show and appearing on many Variety Bills they have performed at over one hundred and fifty British Theatres including Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Chichester Festival Theatre, Richmond Theatre London, Birmingham Hippodrome and the Manchester Palace.
Their 1998 summer season included seven weeks at Blackpool’s North Pier Theatre in The Big Big Laughter Show with mlck Miller and Johnny Casson.
Safire have appeared in numerous Summer Seasons including the New North Wales Theatre Llandudno, Futurist Theatre Scarborough, and two summers at the prestigious Blackpool Opera House, where they were invited back to perform at the World’s Magic Convention with Wayne Dobson. They have also worked with Jeremy Beadle, Richard Branson, Jimmy Cricket, Bobby Davro John Inman, Rory Bremner, Danny La Rue, Cannon and Ball, Bernie Clifton, Bucks Fizz, the Roly Polys, Linda Nolan, Grotbags, Phil Cool, Hinge and Bracket, Billy Pearce and Kim Wilde.
Having appeared at Granada’s Camelot Theatre Park for five years, Thorpe Park London for two years, Mercedes Car Launches, Top Corporate Events, The Lakeside Country Club, N.E.C., Manchester G-MEX, Granada Studio’s Tour, and various Holiday Centres, including Butlins, Pontins, Haven and Warners, Safire are suitable for almost any venue. By Royal invitation Safire had the Honour of performing before Prince Lutipold of Bavaria, and recently appeared for one month at Germany’s famous Hansa Theatre in Hamburg.
This year the Pantomime Season took Safire to the Bellingham Forum, where they appeared in Duggie Chapman’s Red Riding Hood with Keith Harris and Orville playing to capacity audiences. In previous Pantomimes Safire have performed at the Embassy Centre, Skegness, Rotherham Civic and Doncaster Civic in Jack and the Beanstalk with Ian Lavender.
Television appearances include: Pebble Mill, The Pyjama Party, On The Road with Gaz Top, The Quest, Sooty with Matthew Corbett and Top Banana. They also performed on Granada Tonight’s Christmas Special – The Crusaders, with Noddy Holder (SladeJ, the cast of Coronation Street and Magically produced Warrior, star of the hit T.V. series The Gladiators’
Ken Wood
Ken Wood is a talented entertainer with an unusual act which combines comedy, impressions, and ventriloquism and is equally successful in theatre, cabaret or television.
With the assistance of Galloping Claude and Jim the Cheeky Chimp, Ken has a superb speciality act which has taken him all over the world, including Australia and New Zealand.
Ken has performed in most of the top cabaret clubs and variety theatres, including the highly successful Seaside Special at The Pavilion Theatre, Cromer and has toured with top names including Ken Dodd, Norman Wisdom, Little and Large, Max Bygraves, Jimmy Tarbuck, Ronnie Corbett and Bruce Forsyth, just to name a few. He has had his own television series and is considered to be a master of his art.
His summer seasons have included the John Inman Spectacular at Britannia Pier Yarmouth and Pavilion Bournemouth, Central Pier in Blackpool, The Russ Conway Show and Billy Dainty Show in Eastbourne, the Pavilion Show at Weymouth, The Ken Wood Show in Jersey, The Showboat in Skegness and The Grand Hotels Tour at Llandudno Scarborough.
Ken has toured in Variety with Ronnie Corbett, Ken Dodd, Norman Wisdom, Jimmy Tarbuck, Little and Large, Jimmy Cricket, Bruce Forsyth, Max Bygraves, The Black and White Minstrel Tour (Australia and New Zealand), The Bachelors, Frankie Howerd, The White Heather Club, Roy Orbison, Morecambe and Wise.
Appearances on Cruise Liners include QE2, World Renaissance, Ocean Islander, Jupiter World.
Television appearances include: Roger and Co, Little and Large, Talk of the Town, Roy Hudd, Nationwide, London night Out, Tom O’Connor, Starburst, Jamieson Tonight, Guys and Dolls, T.V. Commercial, Walkers Ruffles’ Crisps.