“I was so happy to be asked to be part of Six-Five Rock ‘n’ Roll Express as its creator and producer, Alan McLellen, has become a good friend since we met a year and a half ago.
He started off playing drums in a covers band in 1974 and then, after a successful songwriting career and a spell as manager of a football team, he was approached by the BBC in 1989 to create a one-off performance of the Six-Five Special Show. This was originally the first pop programme to appear on TV and a precursor to the likes of Top of the Pops. Alan’s brief was to recreate it in order to mark the 40th anniversary of the Variety Club of Great Britain.
Why am I telling you all this? Well this is what, many years later, led to Alan staging the Six-Five Rock ‘n’ Roll Express musical.
Alan and his wife Pam approached me to get involved in the project when we met at a local arts fair over a year ago. Since then they have worked tirelessly on it and hope to tour Six-Five around various venues.
Having worked on the show I can tell you that it’s fantastically vibrant and features hit after hit from the 1950’s and 60’s – all performed by a live band decked out in authentic outfits from the era. Six-Five also showcases pupils from my stage school Razzamataz in Tonbridge, who’ll be doing a number alongside the London cast as they act out various parts of the story.
The plot primarily focuses on a group of lovestruck teenagers whose weekly dances – and romances – will be doomed if the railway line that unites them from different areas of their fictitious town closes down.
Set to a backdrop of rock ‘n’ roll classics, we see the teens battle it out against the adults and authorities who want the railway shut down. But if you want to know if they’re successful then you’ll have to come along on Friday to find out!
When Six-Five premieres in Tunbridge Wells later this week history will be repeating itself as it will be almost 30 years since Alan brought his Variety Club Six-Five tribute to the Assembly Hall. So if you want to experience a wonderful evening and a little nostalgia then I’ll see you jiving in the aisles!”
To book tickets to see Six-Five Rock ‘n’ Roll Express at the Assembly Hall on Friday July 15 call 01892 530613 or visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
For more information on Dave Mac and Razzamataz visit www.razzamataz.co.uk
