Our Gracie, a new music hall style play that pays tribute to Gracie Fields is currently being premiered at the Oldham Coliseum.
The story of the straight-talking Lancashire lass who conquered the world and whose morale boosting war-time work led to Hitler labelling her an ‘enemy of the Third Reich’, has been written by Coliseum regular Philip Goulding (Wake up Little Suzie!, Feels Like the First Time).
Set in the 1960s when the Rochdale-born star returned to the UK from semi-retirement on the Italian island of Capri to promote her autobiography Sing As We Go, the piece involves Fields returning to the Oldham Coliseum to present a stage version of her life.
Another Rochdale-born artist, Sue Devaney, takes on the central role of the formidable entertainer. Devaney who recently completed an international tour playing Rosie in Mamma Mia! has had an extensive television and theatre career.
The actress has featured in a number of popular shows including Dinnerladies, Casualty and Coronation Street, and she has previously appeared at the Oldham venue in a number of productions including Goulding’s own Wake Up Little Suzie! Her other theatre credits include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton.
The six-strong supporting cast (Liz Carney, Fine Time Fontayne, Matthew Ganley, Jonathan Markwood, Ben Stock and David Westbrook) play members of the Coliseum’s repertory acting company who in turn play people from Fields’ professional and personal life.
Our Gracie is directed by the Coliseum’s artistic director Kevin Shaw whose recent credits at the venue include UK Theatre Awards 2015 nominee The Mist in the Mirror and the 2014 Manchester Theatre double award-winning Chicago.
The Oldham Coliseum Theatre and New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme production has been designed by Celia Perkins and will run until 26 March.
Angela Thomas
www.coliseum.org.uk/plays/our-gracie
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