United Kingdom Summer Holiday The Musical: Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 29.7.2026. (MC)
Summer Holiday The Musical has all the ingredients for audience success: a timeless, feelgood story that audiences can relate to or dream about, captivating characters brought to life by a talented cast, and one hit-parade pop song after another.
In 1963, fledgling film director Peter Yates gained attention with the smash-hit film Summer Holiday, starring Cliff Richard, the young pop idol who had burst onto the scene in the late 1950s. Richard played Don alongside The Shadows, and the actors included Lauri Peters, Ron Moody, David Kossoff and Una Stubbs. A stage version of Summer Holiday was premiered at The Grand, Blackpool in 1996 starring Darren Day. Freshly adapted by Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan, this new touring production proved a perfect fit for Blackpool’s famous theatre.
The story follows Don and his three fellow bus-depot mechanics. Meeting in a café, they decide to take a double-decker to the South of France, but after encountering pop group Do-Re-Mi en route, they change course for Athens. Congratulations to co-directors Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti excelling with this fast-moving and easy to understand production. Unlike too many productions, the action didn’t start to sag in the second half. Time just flew by!
Amanda Stoodley’s effective set was a 50s/60s coffee bar in brown-and-cream later reworked with colourful psychedelic wallpaper on flats, while retaining a roof terrace for the backing musicians. Stoodley kept things simple with bright, colourful period summer clothing and minimal technical gimmickry. A remote-controlled, child-sized model solved the challenge of staging the double-decker, drawing laughter whenever it appeared.
Lead singer of the group was Don a dark tousled haired singer a role taken by George Jones. Without ever trying to mimic Cliff Richard (which would be quite impossible) Jones made the role his own. His effective singing was matched by boundless energy and dedication to the role. Jim Duah impressed as Edwin, combining multiple talents with a calm, assured stage presence. Robin Harris brought appealing vocals and a calm, likeable presence to the reliable Steve. As Cyril, Elliot Mackenzie showcased his lead-guitar skills and, with his long hair, beard and boundless energy, quickly became an audience favourite.
Touring pop group Do-Re-Mi impressed with its strong vocals and committed performances. Conspicuous in her wide red trousers, Trudy Ward brought energy and reliability to Mimsie, while Nis Raza Hamilton gave Angie a serious edge and played clarinet and trumpet. As Al Matthew James Hinchliffe combined assured acting and stage presence with effortless switches between tenor sax and flute. Played by Fanta Barrie, who can forget the performance of Barbara (Bobbie) a professional cabaret singer wearing a sparkly cocktail dress. Audience favourites and rightly so Jane McCarry as Stella, Barbara’s mother and Damian Humbley as Jerry Barbara’s agent had their comedy routines splendidly honed. The pair were equally effective in their other roles, especially as French gendarmes and Spanish flamenco dancers.
Overall, it was hard to fault this versatile cast, who acted, sang and danced, with most switching between two instruments. Providing backing throughout from the balcony the musicians Isaac Savage (music captain: keyboard, accordion) and Ava Duncan (drums, guitar) were major assets. The number of chart-toppers in Summer Holiday The Musical is quite remarkable, with audience members of all ages singing along to a torrent of hits including In the Country, Summer Holiday, Bachelor Boy, Move It, The Young Ones and On the Beach. Enjoyable, too, were the pop group’s dance steps, simpler than those The Shadows would later perform.
On opening night at the Grand Theatre, Summer Holiday The Musical revealed its special gift for delighting audiences of all ages, delivering fun and entertainment from start to finish. It was great to see how the large audience danced, clapped and roared approval for the production.
Michael Cookson
A co-production between Blackpool Grand Theatre and Sheffield Theatres. Currently running ubtil Saturday 8th August and for further information click here. Suitable for audiences from ten years old.
Creatives:
Adaptors – Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan
Co-Directors – Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti
Set and Costume designer – Amanda Stoodley
Musical Director and Additional arrangements – Richard Reeday
Movement director – Lesley Hutchison
Lighting designer – Rory Beaton
Sound designer – Tom Marshall
Associate director – Eilidh Gibson
Backing musicians – Isaac Savage (music captain: keyboard, accordion), Ava Duncan (drums, guitar)
Principal Cast:
Don – George Jones
Edwin – Jim Duah
Cyril – Elliot Mackenzie
Steve – Robin Harris
Barbara (Bobby) – Fanta Barrie
Mimsie (Do-Re-Mi) – Trudy Ward
Al (Do-Re-Mi) – Matthew James Hinchliffe
Angie(Do-Re-Mi) – Nis Raza Hamilton
Stella – Jane McCarry
Jerry – Damian Humbley