Nina Kristofferson's BILLIE HOLIDAY STORY to Kick Off UK Tour, April-May 2014

The multi-talented British singer, actress and writer, NINA KRISTOFFERSON, debuted her passionate and exhilarating, self-penned, one-woman show 'Billie Holiday Story' in 2011 at the Edinburgh Festival. Following a sellout season at London's Charing Cross Theatre in the spring of 2013, Nina will now be hitting the road in April and May 2014, taking her critically acclaimed show about the life of Lady Day to audiences around the UK.

Nina Kristofferson's 'Billie Holiday Story' (photo left by Eric Richmond) is an engaging, moving and intimate piece of musical theatre performed by Nina in the title role with an outstanding band of jazz musicians led by MD/pianist Allan Rogers and featuring Martin Shaw on trumpet, Albert Gaza on tenor sax and clarinet, Phil Donnelly on double bass; (drummer to be announced).

A potent, rejuvenating and exotic theatrical cocktail of songs and stories from Billie Holiday's extraordinary but tragically short life, the show stirs up haunting memories, harrowing stories and glorious comic and uplifting moments from Holiday's journey from poverty to stardom. It also features some of Billie's greatest songs: Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child, Lover Man, Don't Explain, All of Me and many more.

Nina Kristofferson's Billie Holiday STORY on tour in 2014:
April 1st Aylesbury, Waterside
April 8th Bromley, Churchill Theatre
April 9th London, New Wimbledon Theatre
April 16th Grimsby, The Auditorium
April 17th York, Grand Opera House
May 1st Woking, The New Victoria Theatre
May 8th Birmingham, New Alexandra Theatre

All show times: 7.30pm. Tickets: £26.90 - £39.90 (Concs and group bookings available). http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/nina-kristoffersons-billie-holiday-story/ or call: 0844 871 7615 Twitter @nkbillieholiday. Facebook: Nkbillieholiday. For more, go to www.ninakristoffersonsbillieholidaystory.com.

About Billie Holiday: Billie Holiday (1915-59) lived through some appalling times in her life - as a victim of abuse, rape, prostitution, drug abuse and endemic prejudice made it all the more incredible that she would emerge as a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing with her innate sense of musicality and an untrained voice that thrilled audiences and fellow musicians alike. She was unafraid of tackling racism in her music and Strange Fruit, the most political of all, became part of her live set and eventually sold over a million copies. Her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, was made into a movie in 1972 with Diana Ross in the lead role.

Says Nina Kristofferson "I first heard Billie Holiday on the radio when I was very young and immediately fell in love with the song 'God Bless the Child'. I remember singing along with her using my hairbrush for a mic!"

"Then came my first opportunity at drama school to sing some jazz so I chose 'Strange Fruit'," she continues. "I wanted to know all there was to know about Billie Holiday and the more I learned the more I loved her. I studied her voice, tone, emotions, breathing, mannerisms, relationships and her look. The research helped me to understand her, feel her, and act the part more truthfully. I love Billie Holiday because despite the heartache and the pain she went through, she still had a passionate love for life. She touched my soul deeply through the good times and the bad. Billie was a survivor, a strong woman, beautiful, graceful, emotional, delicate and vulnerable with a great sense of humour."

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