David Cretney column: Celebrating Isle of Man's thriving theatre scene

Well done to the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre, together with promoters, for some recent sell-out and well-supported musical and other entertainment.

We have a tradition of really good-quality musical drama and more award-winning talent on stage than you could imagine, and this year so far has been no exception.

For the final two performances of the Manx Operatic Society's production of ‘Legally Blonde’, the amphitheatre (the ‘Gods’) had to be opened, such was the success of the show. They are now preparing for ‘Sister Act’, which will also prove to be a winner, I'm sure!

The Douglas Choral Union performed the Broadway classic ‘Guys and Dolls’ on the Gaiety stage to great acclaim in February and is now in preparation for next year's blockbuster, ‘Saturday Night Fever’. I have a bit of family history with the DCU.

My Uncle Jack was a well-respected secretary for a number of years with the company and, like many others, he encouraged me to sell programmes at performances for a small commission!

Two Feathers Productions received much well-deserved praise for their production of ‘Come From Away’ in July, a musical which told an incredible human story. Our own Davy Knowles returned home to a very receptive audience at the Gaiety, and who could forget AC/DC at the Royal Hall with ‘The Final Stand?’

As the Examiner goes to press, the final nights of Taylorian Productions' production of ‘Cats’ take to the stage, thrilling audiences with beautiful music, dance, costumes and more.

I make no apologies for being a glam rock music fan, so I must get my ticket for ‘Rock of Ages’, the smash-hit musical comedy coming to the Gaiety courtesy of Centre Stage Productions between October 9-17.

I was recently in Manchester to see Foreigner, and the support act was Jefferson Starship, who, under the name Starship, recorded ‘We Built This City’. That's one of 25 rock anthems that will feature...

Some quality musical names have appeared at the Gaiety and Villa Marina this year.

RS Promotions brought the Lido Night back to the Royal Hall and Nathan Carter and his band to the Gaiety, both great shows amongst others, and will see the return of top local band Retrospect to the Royal Hall for another great night on Friday, December 15.

For the second year, I am looking forward to supporting the band with a few classic disco tunes!

Coming up at the Gaiety on August 28, Pigs on the Wing bring their tribute to Pink Floyd, and there are a number of other tribute acts lined up.

For an island of something over 80,000 people, we are really fortunate to have the Gaiety Theatre, Frank Matcham's masterpiece, and the Villa Marina, in particular the Royal Hall, together with the Peel Centenary Centre, Laxey Working Men's Institute, the Erin Arts Centre, the King's Court Theatre, the Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen, the Legion, South Douglas Old Friends' and other places that add to our quality of life through entertainment.

It was so good to witness sold-out shows this year at our principal venues, with David Gray on his ‘Past and Present’ tour at the Gaiety, the return of The Proclaimers in the Royal Hall, and, of course, a fabulous show from Sophie Ellis-Bextor on July 24.

She had acquainted herself with Manx gems, including celebrating the fact that those who went before us were groundbreakers in leading the world by extending the electoral franchise to women.

I didn't get to see James on July 30, but from the videos I have seen, it looked like another top gig with lots of audience participation and not much sitting down!

On August 2 I was at the Villa for another sell-out show from OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) on their ‘Summer of Hits’ tour.

They played to a very enthusiastic and energetic audience, with the venue described by the band as their most intimate on the current circuit. Of course, for me, and I'm sure many others, a highlight was ‘Enola Gay’.

There is much more to come in the time ahead, including comedian Paul Smith, whose October 1 show is already sold out.

A real coup for the island is the return of Nile Rodgers & CHIC on September 23, with very little availability left.

A multi-Grammy Award winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and so much more, Nile brings classics including ‘Le Freak’ and ‘Good Times’. He was also the person behind enduring anthems such as We Are Family for Sister Sledge and I'm Coming Out for Diana Ross.

I decided, when I had a significant birthday a couple of years back, to indulge myself in my passion on a ‘Musical Mystery Tour’, which continues as time passes quickly again this year. My favourite UK venues are the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester; Symphony Hall, Birmingham; and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, although I attend other venues as well. I never grew up and never tire of live music, but I couldn't imagine my dad at my age doing such a thing!

I have pretty broad tastes and, between now and Christmas, I will see the Hollywood Vampires (Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry), Marillion (remember Kayleigh?), Del Amitri, The Darkness, Lindisfarne (again!), Toyah, Alice Cooper (again!), David Essex, Art Garfunkel and Brandi Carlile.

Another highlight this year is that it's 50 years since I first did discos for Viv and Mike Hooper at Allsorts, the purpose-built under-18s venue in Wellington Street, and I'm looking forward to two Christmas specials this year.

To finish this week, how about a run-down of the official charts from this week back in time...

August 10-16 1956 – 70 years ago

August 11-16 1966 – 60 years ago

August 8-14 1976 – 50 years ago

August 10-16 1986 – 40 years ago

August 11-17 1996 – Thirty years ago

I have mentioned on here in the past Robinson Stone, who have visited the island to perform several times. They are returning next week, this time not for a concert but principally to celebrate the 88th birthday of their biggest fan and supporter, Nan Sheila Sutton of Ramsey.

Happy birthday!