On the back of an incredibly successful 30th year anniversary tour, smash hit rock & roll musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is back in the UK for 2023 and visits the Mayflower Theatre from 2--24th June 2003.
As a preview to the show Xan phillips spoke with star of the show AJ Jenks, on playing the legend, the songs and audience reactions, plus the dementia friendly performance they will be doing, and how helpful it will be to those that care caring as well as those that are suffering.
AJ Jenks speaks with Xan Phillips
About the Buddy Holly Story
L-R AJ Jenks, Joe Butcher, Christopher Weeks, Josh Haberfield (photo Hamish Gill)
Buddy has enjoyed phenomenal success, having played a record-breaking 4668 performances over 580 weeks on tour in the UK and Ireland, as well as 5822 performances over 728 weeks in London’s West End.
Buddy is one of a small number of iconic musicals including Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Miss Saigon, Evita and Cats in reaching a phenomenal three decades on stage.
Loved by critics and audiences alike, Buddy tells the enduring story of the musical icon’s meteoric rise from his Southern rockabilly beginnings to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic and untimely death at the age of just 22.
In 18 short months the bespectacled boy from Lubbock, Texas, revolutionised the face of contemporary music, and would influence everyone from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones.
Boasting a multi-talented cast of actor-musicians, Buddy presents two terrific hours of music with over 20 of his greatest hits, including the timeless classics That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Everyday and Rave On.
With the Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace and Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba, and rip-roaring versions of Shout and Johnny B. Goode completing a stellar musical line-up, Buddy is a not to be missed evening of family entertainment.
Buy your tickets to Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story at the Mayflower Theatre