NG14 January/February 2020

Tanya About Town
There’s no business
like show business,
and if the first part of
the year is anything to
go by in Nottingham,
then it looks like 2020
is going to be a great
year for entertainment.
The Kaiser Chiefs kick the year
off in style at the Motorpoint
Arena (Jan 17) along with special
guests Razor Light. Capturing
the unique ABBA sound and feel
with incredible attention to detail,
Waterloo – The Best Of ABBA
will bring a full live cast and band,
stunning costumes and breathtaking
choreography to the stage
(24 Jan) and the stars of last years
Strictly Come Dancing waltz in
after them for their annual glittery
visit to the city (4-5 Feb).
The 1975 stop by (15 Feb) and
James Blunt drops in too (20
Feb). Enjoy the classic sounds
of the Chicago Blues Brothers,
direct from London’s West End
with their 11 piece band, for a
brand new two hour all singing, all
dancing hit parade bringing you
the greatest movie anthems of all
time, performed live in concert (21
Feb) and Michael Ball and Alfie
Boe return to the city for another
visit (28 Feb).
A special, one-of-a-kind tour
visits the arena with a huge allstar
line up. The Blast Off Tour!
features live performances from
top US artists Nelly, Salt N Pepa,
Shaggy, Mya and Blu Cantrell
(3 March) and we also see the
Stereophonics (7 March) and The
Script (9 March) visit the arena.
The entertainment doesn’t stop
there either. Down the road at
the Theatre Royal and Royal
Concert Hall, the world premiere
production of Kay Mellor’s thrilling
new play, Band of Gold runs (14-
18 Jan). Celebrate the life, legacy
and the music of Prince, as a
brilliant show featuring the world
class New Purple Celebration
delivers a non-stop hit packed
extravaganza (29 Jan).
With more glitter than ever before,
one of my favourites, the iconic
musical Priscilla Queen of the
Desert returns starring Strictly
winner Joe McFadden (27 Jan).
A powerful reinvention of the
family favourite, Riverdance also
visits for their 25th anniversary
(16 March). Another act I’ve seen
before who is definitely worth
seeing is Ben Portsmouth, the
World’s number one Elvis tribute
artist in The King is Back, (28
Feb).
There are a few new shows visiting
to look out for as well. Join Diva,
the 50 piece Limelight Orchestra’s
celebration on International
Women’s Day (8 March) as it
shares proceeds in support of
the charity, Nottingham Women’s
Centre. Enjoy the iconic anthems
of female superstars from Shirley
Bassey to Beyoncé as they are
celebrated in this uplifting live
music show. There’s also An
Evening With Whitney: The
Whitney Houston Hologram
Tour! Promising to be an iconic
and awe-inspiring live theatrical
performance, the show celebrates
Whitney’s life, work, and legacy.
The one of a kind holographic
experience will reunite audiences
with the queen of pop using
state of the art technology and
digitally remastered arrangements
of her classic hits – backed by a
live band, singers, dancers – all
surrounded by a spectacular and
cutting-edge stage and lighting
extravaganza. Sounds interesting!
(9 March). But maybe not as
interesting as the live divorcing
and beheading in the musical
‘Six’. Nominated for 5 Olivier
Awards including Best New
Musical, from Tudor queens to pop
princesses, the six wives of Henry
VIII finally take to the mic to tell
their tales, remixing five hundred
years of historical heartbreak into
an 80-minute celebration of 21st
century girl power (24-29 March).
You can also catch one of
Nottingham’s own queens of
the music scene, Georgie. With
her rich Americana soul sound,
Georgie has supported the likes
of Jake Bugg, Blossoms and Jack
Savoretti but will be appearing at
The Metronome (6 Feb).