Preview: Showtime Spectacular, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Tuesday, October 10, to Saturday, October 14, with a Saturday matinee (From York Press)

Preview: Showtime Spectacular, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Tuesday, October 10, to Saturday, October 14, with a Saturday matinee

2:32pm Friday 6th October 2006 in

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IT WAS an era of glitz, glamour and showbiz - and thanks to Bev Jones, it will soon return.

Producer Bev and his company, the Northern Musical Theatre Company, will bring the showbiz magic of bygone days back to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre with their Showtime Spectacular.

According to Bev, it could not have happened at a better time.

"Over the last ten years or so, various societies and companies have been cutting back on costumes and things like that, " he explains.

"I decided that, after a concert we did at the Grand Opera House last year that 2,000 people came to see, we would go back to the glamour. We've got some fabulous costumes on the stage, songs, dance and comedy.

"There will be 20 on stage and we've got some young people, 16 and 17-year-olds. The audience will know 95 per cent of the songs and the majority will probably sing along."

The review will feature everything from Elton John and Barry Manilow to music from the 1920s.

There will be numbers from Chicago and Les Miserables too.

Bev won't be singing this time, but we might not have to wait too long before he does. He's always helped others to take the stage, but was a bit reluctant to take the limelight again himself last year.

"Before I Got The Music In Me (Bev's show at the Grand Opera House last year), I hadn't sung in public for about 15 years, " he said. "I thought I'm getting past it - it's a young person's game.

"My wife, Lesley, almost forced me into singing. I kept saying to her 'but the audience will not remember me'. But they did. It was very humbling."

Bev and Lesley are working 12 to 14-hour days to bring the show together. "She's the engine really, she's brilliant, " he said.

"She's so organised."

The company has also acquired the licence for York's first production of Les Miserables.

The school edition of Boubil and Schonberh's epic musical will be staged at the Grand Opera House next July.

Bev's energy for producing and performing is limitless, he says.

"Physically I'm 66, but mentally I'm about 18 or 19. I have as much enthusiasm now as I did 30 or 40 years ago, " he admits.

"I love putting things together and I love to see an audience enjoying what I did. I think it's a wonderful thing to be in music.

I've loved every minute of it and long may it continue."

Showtime Spectacular, Tuesday, October 10, to Saturday, October 14, with a Saturday matinee.

Tickets from York Theatre Royal on 01904 623568, or by phoning Bev on 01904 708825.