Roll Up, Roll Up

Seventies heartthrob, David Essex, stars in his own Jukebox musical which features many of the singer's greatest hits, such as A Winter's Tale, Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You A Star, and Silver Dream Machine. Based on a Romeo and Juliet scenario, the story was written by Boogie Nights creator, Jon Conway with Dave Gilmore taking on the directing responsibilities.

What is All The Fun of the Fair about?

Set in a 1970's travelling fair with dodgem cars, waltzers, a rifle range and candy floss booths, all which have seen better days. Essex plays Levi Lee, the recently widowed proprietor who is struggling to keep his fair afloat, as his star attraction, The Wall of Death, has been closed down. His problems are exacerbated when his troubled son, Jack, falls for the daughter of Harvey (Christopher Timothy), a local unscrupulous businessman, who isn't too happy that his little girl is courting "a pikey".

Love too begins to blossom between Levi and Rosa, the fortune teller, who foresees a storm approaching. Right she is too, as Harvey despatches a mob of his crone thugs intent on destroying the fair and driving Levi and his ragged bunch from the town. Levi has no choice but to stand up and fight for what is his, or lose everything. Will it prove that every cloud has a silver lining?

Did you know?

David Essex is no stranger to musical theatre, having previously taken lead roles in the original productions of Godspell and Evita.