The Strictly-flavoured Here Come The Boys will now play its first West End season at the London Palladium for ten days from 25 May 2021.
Following on from a successful UK tour, Strictly Come Dancing professionals Aljaž Škorjanec, Graziano di Prima Pasha Kovalev and Robin Windsor and 2019 celebrity runner-up CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual had been due to bring their club-set show to the Garrick Theatre in March.
The change of venue has also been accompanied by the addition of a special guest star – another Strictly pro-dancer Nadiya Bychkova. Welcoming the chance to step back out on stage again, the Ukrainian double world champion and European Champion in Ballroom and Latin said: “The boys better watch out because here comes the girl! I am delighted to be dancing again with my friends at the incredible London Palladium. I can’t wait to perform to a live audience again… it is going to be a party to remember!”
Directed and choreographed by Gareth Walker, the show showcases the stars’ dancefloor skills as they battle it out to be crowned ‘King of the Dance’ by the audience. With capacity at the London Palladium reduced to comply with Covid-19 secure guidelines the production will turn the stage at the iconic venue into a dance club from 25 May until 9 June.
Commenting on the production’s West End debut, Škorjanec, a 19-time Slovenian champion in Ballroom, Latin and Ten Dance who claimed the Glitterball in his first year on Strictly (in 2013 with celebrity partner, model Abbey Clancy) said: “I am delighted to welcome such an amazing cast to join me in Here Come the Boys. I had such a great time on tour… so to bring this show into the West End is a dream come true. I can’t wait to battle it out with these boys and let the audience decide as there can only be one King of the Dance!
“Seriously though, it’s going to be bigger and better than before and I can’t wait, 2020 was a really tough year for everyone and this is going to be the perfect antidote and start to 2021.”
Kovalev who was a professional partner on the BBC show for eight years, winning the Glitterball in 2014 when partnered with Caroline Flac, said: “I was so upset when the 2020 Here Come the Boys tour was postponed due to the pandemic so to hear that we’re taking it into the West End is truly amazing.
“This show, with the incredible cast of other dancers, is going to blow the audience away. It’s a dance marathon and only one of us will end up as King of the Dance… and of course that’s going to be me!”
A relative newcomer to the Saturday night show, Di Prima who made his Strictly debut in 2018 said: “I was home in Sicily in the middle of the pandemic so I was in need of some good news, then my agent called and I couldn’t believe that I was being asked to star in Here Come the Boys and to top it off play the West End.
“I’d heard how incredible the show was back in 2019 so am super excited to be involved in this brand new production. We’ll be opening in London’s West End with great friends and my lovely fiancée Giada Lini, what could be better?”
Windsor who previously co-starred in the West End in Burn the Floor with fellow Strictly favourite Kristina Rihanoff, commented: “I’d heard how good Here Come the Boys was on tour so when Aljaž asked me to join the cast I didn’t have to think twice.”
Zeroual who will also get to show off the dance skills that took him to 2019’s Strictly finals said: “To be asked to join the cast of Here Come the Boys was so unexpected. To be honest I was a bit nervous at first but with some encouragement from Aljaž I knew I had to do it.
“I’ll be hosting the show, spinning some records and showing off a few of my tricks. I have a few surprises up my sleeve that the audience won’t be expecting. This show has it all… great dance routines, a world champion beatboxer, fantastic music and some audience participation. If you want a good time after a difficult year this is the perfect ticket.”
Angela Thomas
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