Viv Hardwick discovers that singer Christina Simone is a woman in love with her Barbra Streisand show heading to Darlington

NEWTON Aycliffe tribute singer Christina “Chrissy” Simone admits to some big nerves about finally bringing her Barbra Streisand show to her home town area for a debut at Darlington’s Majestic Theatre.

“I only usually perform as Streisand about three times a year and I’m thrilled and really nervous that lots of people I know have said they’re coming to see me live,” says Simone, who is based in the North-East but has spent a 20-year career touring outside the region.

She is sharing the stage with Chris James, from Tynemouth, who is performing as Neil Diamond.

“This is a first for us, but we have appeared in shows together for many years. We actually haven’t quite decided who will be performing on stage first,” admits Simone. The two will join forces to sing the well-known Streisand-Diamond duet You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.

James is also looking back at two decades of performing which includes a Matt Munro tribute plus TV appearances in Downton Abbey, made-on-home-turf Vera and the award-winning film I Daniel Blake.

Simone includes stage roles as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You and Nancy in Oliver in her CV and has been voted North-East Vocalist of the Year.

“This tribute show all started when a friend of mine said I sounded like Barbra Streisand and that I should focus on a tribute act to her. I absolutely loved Barbra, but I thought he was just being cheeky because I have a big nose. I tried it out at the Pride Festival in Newcastle and got a really good response

“I’ve done a Barbra Streisand tribute since 2009 and that was about three songs, but I do love her character and I copy her accent which is probably the hardest thing to do next to her mannerisms. It’s difficult when you can’t be yourself and just play a role. I’ve been rehearsing and rehearsing because of the way she behaves. She’s also quite political and I’ll have to think about putting a Donald Trump reference in because she’s been quite out-spoken about him.

“Streisand songs are quite powerful and they are all big numbers. I’ll be on stage for just over an hour and that is quite challenging on your voice so I think it is quite good to talk between songs... and that’s probably why she does it,” says Simone.

“The show has worked its way around England, but I’m also hoping to take the show to Cyprus because I’m half Greek Cypriot and that sounds promising.”

The fascinating side of Simon’s links to Cyprus through her mum is that the island invited her to represent it in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2004.

“I couldn’t go because of work commitments and tried to re-arrange my appearance, but I discovered that the singer had to be there at a set time and unfortunately I missed the opportunity. I’d been chosen because I’d been seen singing in the Four Seasons Hotel on the island and the Eurovision organiser had checked to see if I qualified to represent Cyprus. It’s one of those things and it’s a shame because I know that Cyprus once used to do well in Eurovision on a regular basis. I also recall the comical side of the show where Greece and Cyprus used to give each other top marks,” says Simone. Lisa Andreas ended up singing Stronger Every Minute for Cyprus, with history being made when Turkey voted for the entry, and finished 14th.

Two local dance schools have also become part of the Majestic Show with Simone delighted that South Durham School of Dance with principal Caroline Race and Macadam Dance Studios with principal Diane Macadam have agreed to take part.

“I’m really pleased that we’ll have little dancers as cats when I’m singing Memory. They’ll look really cute,” says Simone.

  • Saturday, April 15. An Evening With Streisand and Diamond. Majestic Theatre, Bondgate, Darlington. Box Office: 01325-482848 or majestic-tickets.co.uk