If your idea of a great night out involves powerhouse vocals, West End talent and a soundtrack packed with Elvis classics, this one’s for you.
Mark Robert Petty – a West End producer, songwriter and long-time host of sell-out concert evenings at London’s famed Crazy Coqs – is bringing a taste of the capital’s theatre scene to Derbyshire with a brand-new series of concerts at Repton’s 400 Theatre.
Petty, who recently co-created the new musical Tinseled with composer Barry Anderson under the banner Anderson & Petty, joins Arts & Toast’s Kirsty Corbett to discuss his mission to make top-tier theatre entertainment more accessible beyond London.
The first show in the series, The West End Sings… Elvis, lands at Repton School on Thursday, July 24, celebrating the music of The King with a cast of acclaimed West End performers and a live band.
Rather than a traditional tribute act, this is a full-scale concert celebration of Elvis Presley’s remarkable catalogue, performed by stars whose credits include Wicked, Les Misérables, Jersey Boys, The Osmonds and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.
Audiences can expect 26 of Elvis’s biggest songs, from the rock ’n’ roll swagger of Jailhouse Rock to the timeless romance of Can’t Help Falling in Love, plus Suspicious Minds, Burning Love, The Wonder of You, Always on My Mind and If I Can Dream.
The show features:
- Georgia Lennon (An Officer and a Gentleman, The Osmonds)
- Charlotte Anne Steen (Wicked)
- Luke Suri (Jersey Boys)
- Chris Weeks (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story)
- Ollie Wray (Les Misérables)
Backed by a live band, the concert promises soaring vocals, rich harmonies and a hit-packed journey through Elvis’s career, from Memphis to Vegas.
Why listen?
In conversation with Kirsty Corbett, Petty explains why he’s passionate about bringing West End-calibre entertainment to regional audiences and how this new Derbyshire series aims to give local theatre lovers a chance to experience London-quality live performance without the trip down the M1.
The West End Sings… Elvis takes place at Repton School’s 400 Theatre on Thursday July 24. Tickets are on sale now via TicketSource.
