Buddy's back for Sunderland and York

DUE to phenomenal demand for tickets and with more dates still to be added Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story has announced it will play at least an additional 23 theatres next year, including the Sunderland Empire and the Grand Opera House, York.

Wednesday, September 7, would have been Buddy Holly’s 80th Birthday, and this show tells the enduring tale of the musical icon’s meteoric rise to fame and his final legendary performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic and untimely death at the age of 22. In 18 short months the Texas-born boy revolutionized the face of contemporary music influencing everyone from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen.

The production boasts a phenomenally multi-talented cast comprising of Newcastle performer Glen Joseph and Alex Fobbester (who alternate the role of Buddy Holly), Miguel Angel, Joe Butcher, Celia Cruwys-Finnigan, Jordan Cunningham, Josh Haberfield, Kerry Low, Thomas Mitchells, Matthew Quinn, Tom Sowinski and Alex Tosh. Together they present two hours of music with more than 20 of Holly's greatest hits, including the timeless classics That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy and Rave On.

Seen by at least 22 million music fans since it opened in London’s West End in 1989, Buddy’s widow, Maria Elena Holly, says of the show: “When we opened the show we never imagined Buddy’s music and story would still be rocking stages and entertaining audiences around the world week-in week-out 25 years later."

* Sunderland Empire: Thursday, February 9 and Saturday, February 11. Box Office: 0844-871-3022. or atgtickets.com

* York Grand Opera House: Tuesday, March 21 to Saturday, March 25. Box Office: 0844-871-3024 or atgtickets.com

Viv Hardwick