Su,
along with numerous other well
known names, is lending support
to a wonderful cause: The 2009
Celebrity Paws in aid of Cats
Protection.
It’s back! Following in the
footsteps – or should that
be hand prints? – of the
first two events, a clutch of
feline-friendly celebrities have
donated their own personal
‘paw prints’ to help us
raise vital funds for the cats in
our care.
Our kind-hearted celebrity
supporters were simply asked to
draw around one of their hands
and then decorate and sign the
result to create a unique item to
become part of our Celebrity Paws
auction.
The auction, which is run through
the site eBay, opens on 1 October
2009 with the hammer coming down
on 10 October 2009.
Su Pollard: Su
is best known for her roles in
the 1980s BAFTA-winning sitcom
Hi-de-Hi! but made her first
television appearance in Two Up,
Two Down in 1979. She was also in
the cast of You Rang,
M’Lord? and Oh, Doctor
Beeching! during the 1990s. Well
known for her flamboyant dress
sense, Su has also appeared in
several West End productions and
released two albums.
Bidding starts tommorrow
Please click here to find out more
about who is taking part and how
to bid.
An interesting
interview with Su was published
in the 'Belfast Telegraph'
earlier this week:
People Have Slagged Off
My Clothes, But My Style Reflects
My Personality:
Starring in Annie in Belfast
This Week, Su Pollard Tells
Maureen Coleman Her Eccentric
Fashion Secrets and Why She'll
Never Play That Chalet Girl Again
It's not everybody who could
handle coming second to a singing
Jack Russell dog in a television
talent search. But then Su
Pollard's not exactly the type to
throw a diva tantrum or let a
music-loving mutt hold her back
from pursuing her dreams.
From the age of six,
when she played an angel in the
school nativity play, Su knew she
wanted to act. Even when she fell
through a cardboard box while
announcing the arrival of the
Angel Gabriel, the laughter of
the audience didn't put her off.
Quite the opposite - - she loved
the attention and was certain
she'd found her calling.
Some 10 years later, she began
singing in charity shows and
working men's clubs, before
landing an apprenticeship with
the Arts Theatre in her home town
of Nottingham. Then came her
now-infamous appearance on
Opportunity Knocks, when her
rendition of I'm Just A Girl Who
Can't Say No was upstaged by a
certain pup.
Undeterred, Su went on to make a
name for herself on both stage
and screen. Her first comedy role
was in a BBC series called Two
Up, Two Down, which in turn, led
to the role for which she is best
known -- chalet maid Peggy
Ollerenshaw in Hi De Hi!
Su has fond memories of her time
on that show and doesn't mind
that the public still confuses
her with her scatty alter-ego.
"Oh, I still get called
Peggy to this day," she says
cheerily.
"In fact, I was just outside
WH Smith yesterday and someone
called out 'Hey, Peggy'. It
happens all the time.
Annie: Grand
Opera House, Belfast
By Andrea Clarke
Annie shines at
the Grand Opera House
As I sat in the Grand Opera
House, Belfast for the opening
night I was surprised to see so
many young children eagerly
awaiting the curtain call.
For many watching Annie as a
child is a rite of passage that
is passed down from generation to
generation and is still as
magical today as it was in 1982.
The story of Little Orphan Annie
is a classic tale of an unloved
child finding happiness in a
world filled with hopelessness
and despair.
And although set during the Great
Depression in America, the
message of Annie still rings true
today. Having watched the film at
least once every Christmas since
I was a child, I was excited to
finally see it on stage – it
didn’t disappoint. As soon
as the children belted out Hard
Knock Life I was hooked.
From the opening bars of Maybe
– my favourite song from the
musical – young actress
Lydia Tunstall had my full
attention. Playing the title role
with confidence, humour and
innocence, Lydia’s Annie
dazzled the audience with her
sincerity.
Taking on the role of evil Miss
Hannigan is the wonderful Su
Pollard. Although not as sinister
as Carol Burnett in the film
adaptation, Pollard’s
portrayal of the drunken
orphanage owner is both comical
and entertaining.
Miss Hannigan’s attempts to
make it to Easy Street add light
relief but the audience is more
than pleased when she gets her
comeuppance along with her
conniving brother Rooster and his
lover Lily St Regis.
Tuesday
29th September - Saturday 3rd
October: Orchard Theatre,
Dartford
Tuesday 13th October - Saturday
17th October: Town House,
Hamilton
Tuesday 20th October - Saturday
24th October: Festival Theatre,
Malvern
Tuesday 27th October - Saturday
31st October: Venue Cymru,
Llandudno
Monday 2nd November - Saturday
7th November: Grand Opera House,
York
Tuesday 10th November - Saturday
14th November: Millennium Forum,
Derry
Tuesday 17th November - Saturday
21st November: Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
"She's a lovely old person.
Many say she’s just evil,
but I think she has been
misunderstood,’’ says
Su Pollard about Miss Hannigan,
the tyrannical orphanage monitor
who hates children.
"She’s had this
terrible life looking after these
wayward kids, the worst of which
is Annie.
"They make terrible noise
and dangle dead mice in front of
her and all she wants to do is
shut them up, so she just drinks
day and night."
This is Su Pollard’s second
time playing Miss Hannigan on
tour and she is delighted to
reprise the role – even if
it does mean she is working with
children and animals.
"The awe factor is
tremendous. There is one little
character called Molly who always
manages to melt the
audience’s hearts. And then
we have Sandy the dog, who in
real life is called Danny, and
audiences just go berserk for
him."
Danny the dog has been in the
show for 10 years and is a firm
favourite with audiences and the
young cast.
"Danny is very much a diva
and loves the theatre life. He
loves the part and knows it
backwards. He’s just comes
in, does his part and then goes
to sleep. He has a bowl of water,
a few dog biscuits and loves
sausages as a treat. He gets very
spoilt."
The musical Annie is based upon
the popular Harold Gray comic
strip Little Orphan Annie, that
first appeared in 1924.
The 11-year-old red-head’s
adventures from Miss
Hannigan’s orphanage to the
luxurious home of Oliver
Warbucks, is a story that has
been told all over the world for
decades.
"The musical is so
sentimental. It’s just
lovely when people can leave the
theatre having enjoyed a happy
ending."
Read the full Su interview at
'Irish News Online' here.
Su will
guest on Loose Women at
the beginning of October, to help
celebrate 10 years of the ITV1
show. Please click below to visit
the Loose Women website.
Loose Women
: ITV1 - Friday 2nd October
:12.30pm
Olivia Newton-John and Su Pollard
join loose ladies Kate Thornton,
Lisa Maxwell, Carol McGiffin and
Sherrie Hewson for the finale of
Loose Women's tenth birthday
week.
.Snow
White & The Seven Dwarfs -
Panto Flyer
.Saturday
19th September, 2009 • Thanks to
Mark Whitney...................................Theatre
A sneak-preview of
the new flyer/leaflet for Snow
White & The Seven Dwarfs.
Snow White - The Pavilion
Pantomime
Saturday 5th Dec 2009 to Sunday
3rd Jan 2010
Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth
We are pleased to announce that
this year's fabulous family
pantomime will be the classic
tale of Snow White - directed by
and starring CBeebies favourite
Chris Jarvis as Muddles and
Hi-De-Hi's Su Pollard as the
Wicked Queen.
Expect magic, music and fun for
all ages in an enchanting
production that will make your
festive season one to remember!
There will be over 40 performaces
of the show during the festive
season.
Please click on the picture for a
larger version. Go here for further info on
the panto.
This show may get
trotted out over and over, but
that’s because it works.
There isn’t a bad song, the
cheesy premise delivers on all
levels and it is suitable for
kids too. Su Pollard has
opportunity once again to prove
that, whacky as she may seem off
stage, on it she is a pro, and a
pro with a sensational voice.
Annie was good too, as were all
the kids and even the dog. But
top marks go to Daddy Warbucks,
whose voice thundered through the
theatre making the hairs stand on
all our necks. 4/5
It is believed that musicals
always do well in a period of
economic downturn. How strange
that a show, set in the Great
Depression of the late
twenties/early thirties, should
be celebrating its thirtieth
anniversary tour, eighty years on
from the first significant
depression in living memory.
On paper it can look slightly
mawkish - yet I'd dare any man,
woman or child to resist the
feelgood factor of this latest
production.
Sure, it is in the safe hands of
Su Pollard as Miss Hannigan, head
of the New York City Municipal
Orphanage and a sleazy, pitiful
character.
Ms Pollard gives her an air of
likeable desperation, a harridan
of sorts. It is her fourth stint
in the role and has made it her
own.
The open scenes reveal a feisty
set of orphans and It's A Hard
Knock Life and Maybe kick the
show off in style. It is truly an
ensemble piece - the whole cast
give their all.
Sure there are cheesy moments but
they're deliberate.
In contrast, numbers such as We'd
Like To Thank You take a bitter
swipe at the politicians partly
responsible for the economic
crash.
Annie exists in this underworld
until she is recruited to spend
time with billionaire Oliver
Warbucks. David McAlister is a
polished and hugely entertaining
Warbucks with something of
Patrick Stewart about him.
He shines, notably in the second
half.
Miss Hannigan's errant brother
Rooster and his girl Lily St
Regis attempt to defraud Warbucks
of both Annie and a huge reward,
aired on the hilarious Oxydent
Radio Show, a riotous send up of
old style radio commercials.
It is these little asides that
make Annie what it is - a
beautiful piece of theatre.
The standouts are James Gavin as
the nimble, shifty Rooster,
Simone Craddock's Grace Farrell,
the future Mrs Warbucks, and
Chris Molloy, who has a plum of a
role in butler Drake. The
cuteness of the dog, the dancers
from Marcia Jones School Of Dance
and an enthusiastic orchestra
under John Donovan's direction,
all add to the fun and frolics.
Poignant, warm, sometimes sad --
a wonderful night of
entertainment. Don't miss it.
It is with great
sadness we report the death of
Felix Bowness. Felix played
jockey Fred Quilly in all 58
episodes of Hi-de-Hi!
and was also seen as grocer Mr.
Pearson in You Rang, M'Lord?
and as relief guard Bernie
Bleasdale in Oh Doctor
Beeching! Aside from his
career as an actor Felix was a
legendary figure within the
television industry as the
warm-up man for over 5000 shows
for BBC and ITV during the golden
age of television from the 1960's
to the 1990's. As well as his
appearances in David Croft
comedies Felix appeared in such
shows as Porridge, 321,
Jim'll Fix It and as
Bert the Bugler in Noel's
House Party. He will be
greatly missed.
Su Online's Features
Library - An archive of Su
interviews, reviews, and articles
- is beginning to take shape.
We mentioned this last month and
thought you would like a
sneak-peak-preview of how the
section will look.
The archive will be divided into
years, and will include items
from throughout Su's career. We
will also add to it as and when
new content becomes available.
The Features Library, along with
a new-look Gallery, will be
online in early November, to
coincide with Su's 60th birthday
celebrations.
.Big
Issue Scotland - Su Pollard:
Letter To Younger Self
Su was interviewed
at the beginning of September by
'The Big Issue In Scotland':
Happy camper tells us
about growing up larger than
life..
When I was 6 I was in a
Nativity play and from then on I
knew what I wanted to do.
At 14, we had to write an essay
at school about where we wanted
to be in 10 years. I wrote that I
wanted to be singing at the
London Palladium, and when I was
24 my dream actually came true!
I had many heroes growing up, but
they didn’t have to be pop
singers or be famous.
Anyone I saw on the street who
was confident enough to be
themselves, wear the clothes they
wanted and had some gumpshun, a
bit of grit and determination
were the people I admired. My
idol was Lucille Ball, she was
just a fantastic comedienne,
gorgeous, stylish, my
inspiration. She was able to take
every day situations and paint
them larger than life. I can
still laugh out loud just
thinking about it.
I didn’t want to be a carbon
copy of her but sometimes
everybody should have a leader,
especially the shy ones who need
to be given permission to be
themselves. But no, I was never
shy, although I was the type that
didn’t push themselves
forward. I would tend to promote
others before myself, but
it’s in everyone’s own
interests to be confident.
My advice would be, take
no notice of the doubters and
don’t have any clingons,
people who are negative, because
they drain you emotionally. They
are good at spotting a chink in
your armour and they dive right
in. I’ve had a few
boyfriends for 2 or 3 years who I
should have finished with as soon
as I heard the voice in my head
tell me it wasn’t working. I
should have given them the
Spanish Archer. (The elbow).
All through school I had
loads of male friends. A
lot of women are men haters but
they do their own sex down. When
they walk past a building site
they think, ‘how dare men
whistle’, but if they
didn’t whistle at me
I’d go back and walk past
again. Male friends are good at
preparing you for relationships
and marriage later on. Flirting
was my favourite extra curricular
activity.
My 16 year old self was
looking forward to having sex
with someone she loved.
When I was 17, I met this boy,
and the inevitable happened. He
had a fabulous smile and we made
each other laugh. BT could have
bought a house with the money I
spent phoning him. When I think
about it now, he was boring as
hell.
Read the feature at 'The Big
Issue In Scotland' website here.
Su was interviewed
earlier this week on Magic 1548
Liverpool. She chatted to Keiron
Fox, who presents the station's Breakfast
Show.
A great interview:
Listen to Su talking about Opportunity
Knocks, her career, Annie,
Liverpool, reviving her singing
career, The Marriage -
25 Years On, the possibility of a
new album and also doing a
low-key stand-up tour, and... not
being able to ride a horse!
Su Pollard, the well known
stage and screen actress from
Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang M'lord?,
recently joined Keiron for a chat
about her role in the musical
Annie which she is currently on a
nationwide tour a with and played
at the Liverpool Empire.
When Little Orphan
Annie, US comic strip heroine of
the Great Depression, finally
made it to the stage in 1976,
some saw it as mawkish
sentimentality for a
Dickensian-style morality musical
to match Lionel Bart's Oliver.
But today, the idea
of an 11 year old storming the
White House (or Downing Street)
with optimism as a cure-all for
economic woes might appear to be
welcome fantasy.
Whatever, Annie (the
musical), complete with its
clutch of New York workhouse kids
chorusing like whistling kettles
still manages to present poverty
sunnyside up.
That is, apart from
the intervention of wicked matron
Ms Hannigan, aka Su Pollard,
reprising the role she played in
Liverpool nine years ago.
She ditched all the
camp tomfoolery of her small
screen Hi-De-Hi persona, to prove
the true worth of a vibrant and
gritty singing voice and all it
takes to play a comedy villain.
The perfect foil, in
fact, for tycoon Daddy Warbucks
(an imposing, if occasionally
vocally-straining David
McAlister), whose cold business
façade is finally breached by
the tiny red-headed wonder (Lydia
Tunstall), storming around more
like an embryonic namesake, Anne
Robinson, well capable of holding
centre stage alone.
If you can possibly
bear that comparison, you can
also enter into the fun elements
of the show, plus the ah-factor
of a docile performing dog
(three-times Crufts qualifying
Danny), who is almost as big as
his infant owner.
The roles of charge
and canine are rostered as
required by law, meaning that the
mainstay remains the
indefatigable Pollard, who
relishes splicing the attributes
of tyrant and self-pitying,
sex-starved drunk.
Yet, ultimately,
there is no sympathy, as she is
carted off by the FBI for fraud.
The fact that this coincides with
President Franklyn D Roosevelt
popping in for a Christmas party
definitely over-eggs the pudding.
But by this time,
you'll have been captivated or
cast adrift by this stylish
staging of a very particular
brand of sentimentality.
Another day, another
Annie, another dog.
8/10 Piping
sentiment
.Nottingham
Evening Post - David McAlister
on... Su
David McAlister,
currently starring opposite Su as
Daddy Warbucks in Annie,
was interviewed by the
'Nottingham Evening Post' on
Thursday. He had this to say
about Su:
"Su and I have the same
ideas," says David.
"We don't like things to be
done sloppily. When you are
touring for many months things
can go off the boil. The younger
members of a company might think
it doesn't really matter if it's
only a Wednesday matinee in Hull.
But those people out there are
paying exactly the same money and
we have to deliver. Su and I
think that way. That's why every
member of the company has a
physical and vocal warm-up before
every performance. We don't want
anyone leaving the theatre
thinking the show looks
tired."
Read the full interview with
David at 'This Is Nottingham' here.
Leepin’
Lizards! Annie hits the Empire
Theatre in her true feisty style
this week and the show is upbeat,
fresh and truly nostalgic.
With Hi-De-Hi's Su Pollard
playing the evil yet hilarious
Miss Hannigan, and a fantastic
young cast of little orphan
girls, this was a winning
formula.
There was electricity in the
theatre as the girls burst into
'It's the Hard Knock Life' and
all the memories of that famous
film came flooding back.
As the show progressed we were
carried into the world of the
little orphan who woos President
Roosevelt into her positive way
of thinking, with a fantastic
rendition of trademark song
'Tomorrow'.
There wasn't one weak character
in the show – everybody gave
it their all and did a fantastic
job.
Young Lydia Tunstall who played
the leading role did a great job,
her confidence oozed on stage and
we fell in love with her –
my only criticism was the hair
– we never saw any trademark
curls until the final scenes, and
this was missed throughout the
show.
Su Pollard made Miss Hannigan's
character her own, and with ease
had the audience laughing every
minute.
David McAlister playing Oliver
Warbucks portrayed a new side of
the billionaire, a softer side
from the start, but he did it
with charm, and more smiles from
the old grump were welcome to the
show.
See Annie at the Liverpool Empire
until this Saturday, September 12
– and remember – you're
never fully dressed without a
smile.
Today is Su
Online's 9th birthday. The site
launched way back in 2000, and we
have been bringing you all the
latest Su news, and much more,
since. We receive thousands of
visitors every month and Su and I
would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of you
for dropping by!
Changes!
- Above Left: An early version of
the front page of Su Online.
Above Right: Our current
colourful home page. Stay tuned
as another important birthday
approaches.
.Ulster
Star - Su Ready To Return To The
City She Loves
Another
new Su interview, this one just
published by the 'Ulster Star'.
Su, and Annie, will play the
Belfast Grand Opera House the
week after next.
She's best known for
her role as the ditsy, soft
hearted, Peggy Ollerenshaw in
classic TV comedy Hi-de-Hi, but
audiences at the Grand Opera
House will be seeing a different
side of the flamboyant Su Pollard
when she takes on the role of
Miss Hannigan, the drunken matron
of the orphanage, in Annie.
Su is no stranger to
Belfast and says she is looking
forward to returning to the city
she "loves".
Speaking to the Star, Su
commented: "I love it. I
fell in love with it the very
first time I went; I think I was
with Godspell which was a long
time ago, over 30 years, but it
is marvellous. Even during the
troubles I never, ever saw
anything bad and I was always
very well received there, the
people are very warm and they
love their theatre.
"I love the shops, I love
the culture. I stay at the Europa
when I'm doing the show,"
she said, "I don't drive, so
I like to be able to walk
everywhere and I like
Robinson's."
A visit to the local bar will
have to wait until after the
performance, however, despite
Su's portrayal of the alcoholic
Miss Hannigan, she is nothing but
the consumate professional.
"Can you imagine," she
laughed, "'I'm just going
over to research my role'. I said
to my director: 'I think I need
some expenses so that I can go on
a pub crawl.' He told me: 'You
can bloody well use your
imagination'; I didn't get away
with that one. Everyone thinks
you can get away with having a
drink in this role, but I'd be
frightened to death of having a
drink before a performance. I'll
probably be addled in my
imagination by the end of the
tour."
Read the full Su interview at the
'Ulster Star'/'Lisburn Today' here.
.Nottingham
Evening Post - Su Pollard: Queen
Of The Midlands
A great
new interview with Su, from the
'Nottingham Evening Post':
She's zany, colourful, as sparky
as a bolt of lightning. Andy
Smart tries to keep up with
actress Su Pollard as she chats
about Annie, Hi-de-Hi and her
favourite Nottingham pubs
It is such a well-worn cliche,
but where our own Su Pollard is
concerned, it works perfectly:
you can take the girl out of
Nottingham, but you can't take
Nottingham out of the girl.
It was my accent that sparked her
off. Although she left her home
city for London many years ago,
she spotted it straight away.
"Funnily enough, I had
something wrong with my plumbing
... not my plumbing, my house
plumbing, and we had this great
bloke come, John from Pimlico
Plumbers, they're very posh, he
makes them all wear uniforms, and
he comes from Nottingham.
"We were talking about all
the old days in Radford. I used
to love all the dives like the
Variety Club in Radford and I
remember my lovely mate John
Evans, he used to teach drama at
the Arts Theatre.
"I remember we used to go to
the Spread Eagle and the Clinton
Arms, with all the bare-chested
ladies. We used to go in the Bell
Inn. I used to love all those
places. We used to spend about 15
minutes in each pub, just have
half a lager, then we would
de-camp to St Ann's Well Road,
Parliament Street.
"Let's put it this way, we
went to the less salubrious
establishments. Then finish off
with fish and chips where I used
to live at the bottom of Alfreton
Road."
Conversation with Su is a
mesmerising experience, full of
anecdotes, memories and quips.
After one question I am laughing
so loud I miss most of her reply.
Su doesn't care.
Read the full interview at 'This
Is Nottingham' here.
Su news for
July 2009 has now been archived.
Look back at the opening dates of
the Annie 2009 UK Tour,
new Su interviews from 'Sunday
Mail', 'Highland News', 'Press
& Journal', 'Messenger',
'Lancashire Telegraph' and 'City
Life', the release of The
Complete Oh Doctor Beeching!
on DVD, Annie reviews,
and much more.
With a feisty orphan heroine, a
villainous matriarch who gets her
comeuppance, plus a flinty
billionaire who learns the value
of love – not to mention a
big cuddly dog – no
ingredient that could make Annie
anything other than the ultimate
American feel-good drama, was
left on the shelf.
The story follows the fortunes of
11-year-old Annie, the eponymous
orphan plucked from the clutches
of orphan boss Miss Hannigan by
billionaire Oliver
“Daddy” Warbucks.
In Chris Moreno’s production
at the Empire, Su Pollard ditches
the capering chambermaid from
Hi-Di-Hi to reprise the plum role
of Miss Hannigan.
She avoided the pantomime dame
routine, until the end at least,
to inject some entertaining venom
into the role.
Her lament, Little Girls, where
she spits, “How I hate
Little shoes, Little socks,”
was an absolute treat. Her
powerful voice was a revelation.
The raw wind of the Depression
ran right though this production,
starting with It’s A Hard
Knock Life, by the irrepressible
and impressive orphans.
Annie’s other famous song
Tomorrow, which she launches into
on top of Roosevelt’s desk
in the Oval Office – as
they’re being gloomy about
the stock market downturn and the
prospect of war – strained
the fantasy somewhat, although
Annie, played by little Lydia
Tunstall, had a fine voice which
found every single note.
David McAlistair’s imposing
presence and strong voice as
Warbucks saw him steal every
scene he was in.
The production set a
whip-cracking pace. But the
denouement, where Annie’s
birth certificate, produced by
Rooster Hannigan, is discovered
to be a forgery, fell rather
flat.
It was a long production –
some 2½ hours – and it was
a shame there wasn’t a
stronger sense of drama, despite
the breathtaking sets and lively
dancing. But the feel-good
formula still proved irresistible
to the Empire audience. The
sugary plot could easily have
proved too sickly but was helped
by some sharp performances –
and, weirdly, political aptness.
Liverpool's
'Radio City 96.7' have been
helping promote Annie.
The show opens at The Liverpool
Empire this evening. Please click
below to visit the 'Radio City'
website.
.Liverpool
Echo - Annie at the Empire
Theatre Liverpool from September
7-12
The heart-warming
rags-to-riches musical, Annie,
will be at the Liverpool Empire
all this week until Saturday.
The musical follows Annie’s
adventures from Miss
Hannigan’s orphanage to the
luxurious home of Oliver Warbucks
and is a story that has been told
all over the world.
First seen on stage in 1976, it
has earned a reputation as one of
the best-loved family musicals of
all-time.
In this production, star of stage
and screen, Su Pollard (Hi-De-Hi,
You Rang M’Lord?) reprises
her role as the dastardly Miss
Hannigan and former Hollyoaks
actor David McAlister returns as
the billionaire businessman,
Oliver Warbucks. With a memorable
score including It’s a Hard
Knock Life, Easy Street and, of
course, the legendary Tomorrow,
you’ll have to find the urge
to sing along.
THEATRE: The
heart-warming rags-to-riches
story of Annie’s adventures,
from the New York orphanage to
the luxurious home of Oliver
Warbucks. Stars Su Pollard as the
dastardly Miss Hannigan in a cast
that includes local children. The
show’s memorable score
includes It’s A Hard Knock
Life, Easy Street and
Tomorrow.Empire Theatre until
September 12. Tickets
£12.50-£24, 0844 847 2525.
Annie opens
this evening at the, legendary,
Empire Theatre in Liverpool. Su
and the cast are looking forward
to their week of shows. There are
matinees on Wednesday and
Saturday.
Monday 7th September - Saturday
12th September: Liverpool Empire
www.liverpoolempire.org.uk [ Box
Office: 0844 847 2525 ]
.Liverpool
Daily Post - Su Pollard on
bringing Annie to the Liverpool
Empire Theatre
A new Su interview,
from the 'Liverpool Daily Post'. Annie
plays at the Liverpool Empire
next week:
From sweet chalet
maid to hard-hearted orphanage
matron, Su Pollard tells Laura
Davis about life after Hi de Hi
It may be more than two decades
since Hi de Hi was put to sleep,
but the character of ditsy but
lovable Peggy is still going
strong. Every so often, she makes
an exclusive solo appearance on
Su Pollard’s doorstep.
“Young children knock on my
front door and say ‘Is Peggy
there please?’,”
explains the 59-year-old actress,
who played the holiday camp
chalet maid for eight years.
“I say ‘come back
tomorrow’ and I put my
outfit on for them, just for a
bit of fun.”
Currently, though, she has a less
likeable role, touring UK
theatres as the dastardly Miss
Hannigan in the musical Annie.
Pollard first played the part
back in 2001.
She will return to the Liverpool
Empire next week after a gap of
five years, having skipped the
venue last year when touring with
swinging 60s musical Shout!.
“I was supposed to come but
I was taking dad’s ashes to
Hawaii,” she explains.
“I love coming to Liverpool
because it’s near Manchester
and Rhyl, where I have friends,
so I’m hoping for a social
week.”
After an incredibly
busy, and successful, week in
Sunderland, Su and the Annie
cast are now in Richmond, where
they open this evening at the
Richmond Theatre. The run
includes matinees on Wednesday
and Saturday, with a final
performance on Saturday evening..
It is with great
sadness we report the death of
Felix Bowness. Felix played
jockey Fred Quilly in all 58
episodes of Hi-de-Hi!
and was also seen as grocer Mr.
Pearson in You Rang, M'Lord?
and as relief guard Bernie
Bleasdale in Oh Doctor
Beeching! Aside from his
career as an actor Felix was a
legendary figure within the
television industry as the
warm-up man for over 5000 shows
for BBC and ITV during the golden
age of television from the 1960's
to the 1990's. As well as his
appearances in David Croft
comedies Felix appeared in such
shows as Porridge, 321,
Jim'll Fix It and as
Bert the Bugler in Noel's
House Party. He will be
greatly missed. 
Su Online's Features
Library - An archive of Su
interviews, reviews, and articles
- is beginning to take shape. 
