BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York
Pick Me Up’s production of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story – had audiences clapping, singing and dancing in the aisles as the energetic cast powered their way through the classic songs that have made the show such a massive hit.
Simon Radford – Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf in our 2014 production of Into The Woods – returned to give a truly stellar performance as Buddy Holly. One reviewer said “Simon oozes talent”, and the York Press said: “Simon Radford has the singing chops, the guitar playing, the Lubbock, Texas, accent and the combination of cheek, balls and uncompromising bullishness for the role of Buddy, his energy levels going up and up the more the show progresses.”
The show charts the story of the 18-month rise to fame of the rock and roll legend from his first hit with The Crickets, That’ll Be The Day, until his tragic death at the age of 22 on “the day the music died”.
It features Buddy’s greatest hits including That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Everyday, Oh Boy, Not Fade Away, Heartbeat, Rave On and Raining In My Heart.
Jess Gardham wowed audiences with a “stonking” version of Shout, George Wissen got everyone singing along in party mood with the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace, and Sam Hird as Ritchie Valens had eyes popping as he swivelled his hips through La Bamba.
Audiences roared their approval at the end for cast and band, led by music director Barbara Chan.
August 5-12 2015
CREATIVES
Book by
Alan Janes
Music by
Buddy Holly
Directed by
Robert Readman
Musical Director
Barbara Chan
Choreography
Claire Pulpher & The Girls
Lighting Design
Adam Moore
Sound Design
Ian Thomson
Hair and Make-Up
Sam Owen-Smith
CAST
Buddy
Simon Radford
Cricket – Joe
Chris Mortimer
Cricket – Jerry
James Wood
Maria Elena
Steph Bolsher
Lead Hayrider, DJ KRWP,
DJ W WOL
Ryan Hirst
Hipockets, Clearlake MC
Martyn Hunter
Radio Engineer, DJ KSP
Lewis Douglas
Cricket – Tommy
Sam Baxter
Vi Petty
Grace Winpenny
Norman Petty
Bryan Bounds
Apollo DJ, DJ WCLS
Conor Mellor
Ritchie Valens
Sam Hird
Decca Producer, Murray Deutch,
Jack Daw, British DJ, Clearlake MC
Craig Kirby
The Big Bopper
George Wissen
Marlena Madison
Jess Gardham
Mary Lou Sokolov, Hayrider, Frigo Girl, Snowbird
Hayley Bamford
Shirley, Hayrider, Frigo Girl, Snowbird
Claire Pulpher
Hayrider, Frigo Girl, Snowbird
Holly Surtees-Smith
Peggy Sue, Hayrider, Frigo Girl, Snowbird
Kelly Stocker
Keyboard
Barbara Chan
Guitar One
Neil Morgan
Guitar Two
Rhys Evans
Double Bass
Georgia Edwards
Drums
James Wood
Viola/Alto Saxophone
Jessica Douglas
Tenor Saxophone
Sam Johnson