Vibrant and red headed Liverpool performer Victoria Jones announces that she was born in the wrong decade and momentarily breaks into the lyrics of a famous Cilla Black song.
She is a force of nature, wildly passionate and excited about an extravaganza she is bringing to East Yorkshire’s Bridlington Spa on March 5th as part of a whirlwind UK tour.
“Cilla and the Shades of the ‘60s” is a nostalgic homage to the musical brilliance of a decade; a loving tribute to Cilla Black and the wealth of singers and songwriters who dominated the period: Lennon and McCartney, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Nancy Sinatra, Tina Turner, Otis Redding, Phil Spector, Burt Bacharach and Hal David for starters.
“I discovered Cilla’s music in my teens and was overwhelmed by her vocal range and emotional depth. I found her ballads so beautiful and she portrayed heartbreak in a truly moving way. We live in a world of instant celebrity where everybody thinks they can sing, but she could interpret a song like an actress, sincerely conveying the true meaning and feeling of the lyrics. She has always inspired me. I feel a connection to her. We are both bold girls from working class backgrounds who just loved to perform. Cilla made every ‘normal’ girl feel like big things were possible.”
Songs featured in the show include: “Step Inside Love”, “You’re My World”, “Alfie” and Victoria’s personal favourite “Anyone Who Had A Heart.” Cilla’s “Surprise, Surprise” from her hit TV show also makes an appearance, but the performance is far from being an imitation or impression of the artist. “I’m not trying to mimic Cilla. It’s a sincere tribute, an attempt to capture the essence of her and the decade. I’ve always adored ‘60s music as the songs of that era had such a raw sound, which is so difficult to reproduce today. I was raised on the sounds of the ‘60s, brought up on The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and my parents’ record collection.”
Victoria worked with the director and producer of the show to select songs and research Cilla Black’s life.
“My aunts recall seeing her out and about in Liverpool. So many people have fond recollections of her and great stories to tell, and of course, there were so many songs to choose from. I’d say, ‘Can we do this one? And this one?’ And this?’ There will be lots of anecdotes as well as great music. Cilla’s fans have been absolutely amazing. One shared a rare recording of Cilla performing live and telling loads of great stories. Others have shared memorabilia with me. They’ve been lovely. I hope that I can do them proud.”
I asked Victoria how she broke into show business.
“I always danced as a child, and went to classes with my friends. That led to singing. I’ve been a lifelong Kylie Minogue fan and performed her songs in a cabaret act when I was fifteen.” Her father was adamant that she do her A levels, go to university and “get a real job,” but she left school at sixteen, studied the performing arts, headed off to Scotland for a pantomime and then to Euro Disney in France where she pursued a singing and recording career.
“Performing as Cilla gives me the opportunity to celebrate the fashion and sound of a generation of amazing women who were beginning to make a real difference in the music industry and across the world. I’m really looking forward to the tour as I can do what I love doing while being on the road with some of my closest friends. Each song is a pleasure to perform. I don’t just feel like a singer. I get the opportunity to use my acting skills too. And of course it’s fantastic playing for audiences in different towns and cities. We really do have a lot of fun on tour.”
In “Cilla and the Shades of the ‘60s”, Victoria is accompanied on stage by her backing vocalists The Shades – Anna Slater, Emily Clarke and Nicola Twardowski.
Sunday March 5th 2017, Bridlington Spa
For more information go to: www.bridspa.com | 01262 678 258 |www.thecillashow.com
Gary Horrocks
HU17 Arts and Culture Editor
