MAD ABOUT MUSICALS to Come to Canterbury This Month

Audiences are invited on a whistlestop tour of London's theatreland and New York's Broadway in Mad About The Musicals, coming to Canterbury later this October.

The critically-acclaimed show, now in its 10th anniversary year, stars Gareth Gates and Michael Courtney alongside a West End cast, and features a host of favourite numbers from the pen of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Boublil and Schonberg.

It's a welcome return to The Marlowe Theatre for Gareth - he starred in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty in 2012/13 and said: "I had a great time in Canterbury a few years ago when I played Prince Charming in pantomime and I'm looking forward to returning with Mad About The Musicals. It showcases the best songs from musicals throughout the years and includes many of my favourites."

Gareth rose to fame in the inaugural Pop Idol TV show in 2001/2. He became a household name making it to the most memorable of these finals, when he went up against Will Young. He went on to sell more than five million records worldwide and have hits across the globe. His version of Unchained Melody sold over a million copies in the UK and is the third best-selling single of the Noughties, whilst Anyone Of Us was an international hit. He is also the youngest ever-male solo artist to debut at number one.

More recently Gareth has had a hugely enjoyable and successful career in musical theatre and has appeared in Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In 2014 he picked up his skates again to appear in the last TV series of Dancing On Ice. This finale bought back show winners and viewers favourites to compete for one last time. He also found time to join a band and become part of the second series of the Big Reunion, in the super group 5th Story, alongside Dane Bowers, Adam Rickitt, Kenzie and Kavana. This newly formed boy band will play arenas across the country this autumn with Blue, 5ive, Damage and 3T. Next month (November) Gareth will be taking a totally different show on the road, with his acoustic band set up, playing all the old hits together with new songs.

Michael Courtney has produced and directed the UK tours of the critically-acclaimed Mad About The Musicals, Love Changes Everything, Waterloo, Shakin All Over, Its D'Lovely, A Night Of Musicals, more than 30 UK Pantomimes and was nominated as the UK Producer of The Year by Encore Magazine.

Mad About The Musicals is at The Marlowe Theatre at 7.30pm on Sunday 18 October. Tickets, priced £24.50 and £29 (concessions available; booking fee applies) are from the Box Office on 01227 787787.

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