... The sign of the times When a big name band, British or otherwise, tours this country nowadays it is no surprise to discover that the operation is organised with military precision. There is sure to be an entourage of people following close on its heels, not to mention all kinds of sound and lighting equipment etc. Amazing then, that in March 1958 Buddy Holly and the Crickets travelled the ...

... Imelda Staunton Donmar Warehouse The diva has landed, announced Imelda Staunton at the beginning of the third and last part of the Divas at the Donmar season--an indication that her show was going to be good fun, if nothing else. Staunton enjoyed being tongue in cheek about her appar ent lack of diva qualities, and her comments about simply being a London Equity member working this week ...

... SCREEN RIVALS REGIONAL This was the first in a group of discussions under the heading 'Rivals', and it was something of a relief to come back to earth after the mindbending aspects of the previous sion. A reminder, too, that two-thirds of the population does not have satellite or cable TV at present and that most of Britain's pop ulation lives outside London and expects to see its own areas ...

... Tony gets the right formula Bracklesham Bay/Touring Tony Jacobs: The Sinatra Years This world premiere, which is most definitely not a run of the mill, copycat piece, points to a winning formula. At Pontin's South Downs Holiday Village the material was tailor-made for an audience which obviously loved it. Understandably, because it is classy and extremely stylish entertainment. That the ...

... Blackpool is not the last resort BY LISA MARTLAND When I joined The Stage, almost six years ago, there was enough summer season entertainment across the country to deserve a special pullout supplement of profiles and listings--now only a few pages are necessary. And yet among those resorts the paper still features, there is one particular location of which plenty can always be written about ...

... Guaranteed to lift your spirits The former St Matthew's Church in Brixton, which has staged a number of the atrical performances as the Brix, has now been conv erted into one of London's larger clubs. There are two rooms, each with a capacity of 500, which have Nexo Alpha sound systems, the first such installations in the UK, with a third acoustic- room of 1 50 capacity, coming into use in ...

... Entertainment is its number one priority St Annes Board Mill Social Club--an intimate venue in Bristol--has an ever-expanding waiting list for new members. Derek Wayland explains why Since opening its doors way back in 1952, many changes have been made to the intimate St Annes Board Mill Social Club in the smart Bristol suburb of Redfields. At the outset, club members worked at the mill, ...

... Top night--in the right light COMPILED BY PETER HEPPLE The Shannon Centre's programme has diversified over recent years--Mike Martin provides an update The Shannon Centre, a members club at Seven Kings, near Ilford, is potentially an excellent venue for live entertainment. In the past, it specialised in presenting Irish-style acts, mainly in the Brendan Shine mould, but in recent years it ...

... Stairway to the Stars Torquay If ever one had any doubts that well established talent shows had run their course, this was knocked sideways by the tenth Stairway to the Stars at the Riviera Centre. Sponsored by Torbay Herald Express, it was produced and compered by the enthusiastic and dedicated Chns Chambers, a great performer himself. With a panel of knowledge able judges chaired by Nina ...

... National Street Arts Festival Covent Garden Piazza Sunshine and heavy showers were forecast but as this showcase of street theatre got under way. blue skies prevailed. There were three perfor mances, the first of which was the truly dire Bedlam, presented by Undercover, a co-commission between the festival. Circus Space and Covent Garden Market. The fact that Circus Space would want its name ...

... Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival Colne A record number of visitors, estimated at around 40,000, congregated in this sleepy little northern mill town for an annual celebration of some of the best blues sounds from both sides of the Atlantic. More than 750 artists appearing on a dozen stages forced the ever growing status of this four day event as a first-rate attraction for live music ...

... Jokers Wild Wakefield When veteran Yorkshire-based gagsters Jokers Wild took the stage on home territory at Wakefield City Club a full house gathered to see them in action. This three-man act begins with a long-suffering frontman try ing in vain to introduce the other two, who are supposed to per form a string of impressions. The laughs come when they manage to mishear his instructions from ...