Side Show has always been a musical favourite of Director Steve Blackmore. "the musical has a strong and true story line with some fantastic ballads, big vaudeville soft show shuffles and even a huge Follies number, you cannot help but fall in love with it.
We set up Theatreworx with a view to producing new musicals in the UK and it was on one of my exploration forays that I tracked down the rights holders of Side Show via a theatre company in the US who has just produced it. After a couple of "No, not availables" I left it but then tried again 6 months later. This time I had a positive response that approval would be sought from New York, 8 weeks later and after a couple of nudges SUCCESS we had been granted a special licence to produce the show in the UK. Our next obstacle was HOW?
We are an invitation company so we do have the opportunity to call upon some of the best amateur actors in the area and the number one priority was finding the right actresses to play the Siamese Twins. It was a case of getting girls who could look similar, be the same height, same figure, could both sing strongly, dance and act….we were very lucky as we found just the two girls to fit the criteria Vicky Huggins and Lisa Clifford. This is their first production with Theatreworx and although there is an inch difference in height, we can always add higher heels!!!.
In the production the girls work together at all times but are not conjoined, this gives the actresses freedom of movement and makes the choreography all that more interesting to perceive them to be conjoined. It is up to the audience to believe these girls are joined together"
Lisa Clifford plays Violet "Playing the part of a siamese twin is certainly an exciting, challenging role especially within the context of this astounding show with such powerful ballads and show stopping numbers, yet a lot more demanding than I first thought. As Daisy and Violet were joined at the hip, it has meant us adapting the way we walk in order not to fall over! Even changing direction or sitting down involves a great deal of coordination. Violet is such a sweet character. She does not desire fame and fortune as her sister does, she would rather settle down and get married. But evidently, this is not as straight forward as she would hope. But what a fantastic opportunity, it's a UK Premiere and the music is phenomenal!"
Vicky Huggins plays her sister Daisy "'Daisy loves the limelight. She craves the fame and fortune of a life being worshipped and adored. Proving all those who have laughed and stared wrong. As the dominant twin Daisy is used to getting her own way. Although both very different, the twins grow closer than ever through the highs and
lows, love and loss. Playing one of a siamese twin is no easy task. It involves learning to act as one with Violet, although remain individual in personality and character. This I hope to achieve by drawing on, and developing, simularities between my own character and personality, and Daisys; as well as a great deal of hard work and perseverance.
