Berkshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1.jpg" alt="Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-49347" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Strictly-Ballroom-The-Musical-UK-tour-The-Hexagon-Reading1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. It’s not your average cheesy musical…</h2>



<p>If you&#8217;re missing the <em>Strictly</em> glitterball in your life. Buckle up for a musical that makes the BBC show look like kindergarten for ballroom. <em>Strictly Ballroom The Musical</em>, adapted from the 1992 film, is a explosion of fake tan, feathers and sequins with a side order of backstabbing, rule breaking, and dark comedy. Set in Australia, it’s almost a <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>-style tale of two people from different gangs, without the tragic ending of course. Frumpy Fran is from a very strict Spanish family whose dance tradition is flamenco and Scott Hastings is from the world of ballroom – chasing the Pan Pacific Grand Prix title since the age of six. Trouble is he wants to perform crowd-pleasing steps and it&#8217;s not strictly regulation. There&#8217;s scandal, a love story, great dancing and a lorra laughs.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10.jpg" alt="Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour The Hexagon Reading Kevin Clifton and Maisie Smith" class="wp-image-49340" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/4-10-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. It’s got star power</h2>



<p>If there was ever a musical with pedigree, this is it. Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann and screenwriter Craig Pearce adapted their 1992 award-winning film, <em>Strictly Ballroom</em>, for the stage. Now the show is on its first UK tour, directed and co-choreographed by <em>Strictly</em> judge and all round dance diva Craig Revel Horwood and co-choreographed by Strictly creative director Jason Gilkison. The stars? Well, <em>EastEnders</em> actress and <em>Strictly</em> star Maisie Smith plays Fran. Yes, we are still smarting that Bill Bailey stole the glitterball from her manicured mitts. Former <em>Strictly</em> pro Kevin Clifton plays Scott Hastings, but sadly won&#8217;t make it for the Reading performances has he will be nurturing his new production – the birth of his first child with Stacey Dooley. His replacement has yet to be announced, but it&#8217;s you can be sure they&#8217;ll be top notch. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6.jpg" alt="Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-49343" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/7-6-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. …You’ll know loads of the music</h2>



<p>The music is a fabulous flashback to your childhood. If you&#8217;ve seen Baz Luhrmann&#8217;s 1992 film, you&#8217;ll know you&#8217;re in for a retro musical treat. The playlist includes<em> </em>hits <em>Love is in the Air</em> by John Paul Young, the sultry tones of Doris Day&#8217;s <em>Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps</em> and Cyndi Lauper&#8217;s iconic 80s track <em>Time After Time.</em> It&#8217;s basically a homage to the school disco, with a sprinkling of new music from artists including Sia, David Foster and Eddie Perfect. We are here for it. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5.jpg" alt="Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour The Hexagon Reading Craig Revel Horwood director and co-chorographer" class="wp-image-49345" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/9-5-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>But this is not about the music… it&#8217;s ALL about the dancing which is snappy and precise. Would you expect anything less from Craig Revel Horwood and his co-choreographer Jason Gilkison (<em>Strictly</em>&#8216;s creative director)? “You’re going to see huge dance numbers and fantastic duets, with tunes that people know and love, as well as new music written specifically for the show which is equally brilliant. It’s mixing the old and the new,” Craig revealed in the fake tan booth.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5.jpg" alt="Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour The Hexagon Reading" class="wp-image-49344" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/8-5-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. It’s loosely based on a real dance couple</h2>



<p>Baz Luhrmann loosely based Scott Hastings and Fran on Jason and his dance partner Peta Robey. &#8220;We were rule-breakers ourselves,” the former Australian Latin champ recalls. &#8220;Baz had lots of questions about our attitude towards the industry, the industry’s attitude towards us, what it was like coming from dancing families. I did loads and loads of interviews with Baz leading up to the making of the movie. It was great to see my life story inspire him as he cut his teeth in the film industry on a movie – a low-budget, little ballroom movie – that would go on to bring him great success.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9.jpg" alt="Strictly Ballroom The Musical UK tour The Hexagon Reading Kevin Clifton" class="wp-image-49342" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/6-9-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-it-s-only-on-for-six-days">5. It’s only on for six days!</h2>



<p>If you want to bag your seat, you’ll need to be quick – the tour is stopping at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jersey-boys/aylesbury-waterside-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hexagon Theatre in Reading</a>&nbsp;for just six nights, from&nbsp;<strong>16-21 Jan</strong>. There are matinee performances at 2.30pm (Mon-Thu) if you fancy making a day of it, or evening performances at 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) if you want to catch a little pre-theatre dinner beforehand – <a href="https://www.bluecollarstreetfood.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Collar Corner</a> is a stone’s throw from the theatre for pre-theatre drinkies and delicious street food. For cocktails and a quick bite, head to <a href="https://thebotanist.uk.com/locations/reading" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Botanist</a> on King Street or the <a href="https://www.bluegrass-bbq.com/reading" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Smokehouse</a> on Gun Street.</p>



<p><em>Watch&nbsp;<strong>Strictly Ballroom The Musical&nbsp;</strong>at The Hexagon Theatre in Reading, 16-21 Jan 2023. Tickets start at £27.50 –&nbsp;<a href="https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/baz-luhrmanns-strictly-ballroom">book here</a></em>. You;ll find all the UK tour dates, <a href="https://strictlyballroomtour.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"></h2>


5 reasons to watch Strictly Ballroom at The Hexagon Reading

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