A simpler time before smartphones, Spotify and streaming will return to Swan Hill on Friday, July 5 as Shake Rattle “n” Roll The happy day’s tour brings the music of the 50s and 60s back to life in a high energy show at the Swan Hill Town Hall.
Featuring hundreds of award-winning costumes, smoking-hot production numbers, kaleidoscopic special effects and a sprinkle of nostalgic fun radio & television commercials, it will transport audiences back to a time when Australia was embracing the youth culture of the United States.
Running for more than 30 years the musical spectacular started off as a theatre restaurant show based around an American radio program by DJ, Wolfman Jack, Shake Rattle’n’Roll the show has stayed very true to its original format with the main changes coming from adapting the strengths of the performers.
Two of the original performers, Rick Charlse and Glen Craven, are still with the family friendly show that appeals to people of all ages.
Jonathan Guthrie-Jones has been with the show for the last decade and said the show is a live recreation of the famous radio program presenting songs that are completely different from each other.
“It is song after song after song and audiences walk out with a smile because essentially it is a show that is happy,” Mr Guthrie-Jones said.
“It’s just extraordinary to think that the show is still just as popular as it was back then, and people still yearn for that type of music and the kind of wholesome innocence of that time.
“A lot of people like being taken back to that era, a lot of our audience weren’t around in the 50s and 60s but there is something timeless about the music.
“Backing up our singers, we have eight dancers who are all ballroom champions, we’ve got world champions, we’ve got dancers from Dancing with the Stars, these are dancers that are at the top of their game that join us as well.”
The show creates a party atmosphere where audiences are encouraged to come dressed in clothes of the era, dance and sing along with the cast as they are transported back in time.
This is the first time in more than a decade the show has toured outside of the capital cities and embarked on a regional tour.
