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Blackburn Empire Theatre

‘Lovely community inspired evening’ in memory of Mike Berry 150 150 mhamer

‘Lovely community inspired evening’ in memory of Mike Berry

Lovely community inspired evening in memorial tribute to the wonderful Michael Berry who with family and friends restored and rebuilt the @EmpireTheatreBB

The tribute show to a theatre stalwart was a “lovely community” event, according to famous comedian Jimmy Cricket.

The Northern Irish entertainer was among a host of performers at the Blackburn event which fondly remembered the late Michael Berry.

Mike, dubbed Mr Sunshine, had helped to restore the Blackburn Empire Theatre to its former glory over many years.

He was known as the “driving force” behind the venue’s successful revival.

Jimmy posted on social media after the show: “Lovely community inspired evening in memorial tribute to the wonderful Michael Berry who with family and friends restored and rebuilt the @EmpireTheatreBB.”

Mike died in February aged 80 after a brave battle against illness.

The Empire’s website says: “Michael was a big driving force in the fundraising efforts that helped to restore the Empire Theatre to its former glory.

Future generations

“Even though he is no longer with us, we are continuing to raise funds in his honour.

“Donations in Michael’s memory funded the full refurbishment of the stalls bar.

“We hope that this concert will help us to refurbish the balcony bar as well.”

Also read on this website: Mike Berry ‘was the heart of Blackburn Empire Theatre’

Jimmy Cricket answers Blackburn theatre’s SOS

So sad to hear of the passing of my wonderful friend (to so many artists), Mike Berry who was the heart @EmpireTheatreBB and was also director/performer. He will be missed by his lovely wife Linda and family members alongside his many friends and everyone who loves live theatre!

Celebrating Mr Sunshine – show remembers Mike Berry 150 150 mhamer

Celebrating Mr Sunshine – show remembers Mike Berry

A show paying tribute to Mr Sunshine, the late Mike Berry, takes place on Saturday (28 October) at the theatre he helped to restore to its former glory.

A show paying tribute to Mr Sunshine, the late Mike Berry, takes place on Saturday (28 October) at the theatre he helped restore to its former glory.

Mike was the “driving force” behind Blackburn Empire Theatre.

He died in February this year aged 80 after a brave battle against illness.

The Empire’s website says: “On February 5th, 2023, the Empire Theatre lost its chairman and best friend, Michael Berry.

“Michael was loved by many and we invite you to join us in an evening to celebrate his life and legacy.

“The show will feature performances from people and groups who Michael both supported and performed with.

“Tickets are ‘Pay What You Want’ with all donations going to help fund the ongoing renovation work at the theatre.”

The suggested ticket price is £10 for the show which starts at 7.30pm.

It continues: “Michael was a big driving force in the fundraising efforts that helped to restore the Empire Theatre to its former glory.

Future generations

“Even though he is no longer with us, we are continuing to raise funds in his honour.

“Donations in Michael’s memory funded the full refurbishment of the stalls bar.

“We hope that this concert will help us to refurbish the balcony bar as well.

“We hope to see you there to celebrate the life of Michael Berry and to help us keep the Empire Theatre alive for future generations.”

Comedian Jimmy Cricket, a good friend of Mike’s, will be among the performers on the night.

Book your tickets here.

Also read on this website: Mike Berry ‘was the heart of Blackburn Empire Theatre’

Jimmy Cricket answers Blackburn theatre’s SOS

So sad to hear of the passing of my wonderful friend (to so many artists), Mike Berry who was the heart @EmpireTheatreBB and was also director/performer. He will be missed by his lovely wife Linda and family members alongside his many friends and everyone who loves live theatre!

Mike Berry ‘was the heart of Blackburn Empire Theatre’ 150 150 mhamer

Mike Berry ‘was the heart of Blackburn Empire Theatre’

So sad to hear of the passing of my wonderful friend (to so many artists), Mike Berry who was the heart @EmpireTheatreBB and was also director/performer. He will be missed by his lovely wife Linda and family members alongside his many friends and everyone who loves live theatre!

Jimmy Cricket led the tributes to the late Mike Berry, described as the driving force behind Blackburn Empire Theatre.

Mike, the theatre chairman, died last week aged 80.

Comedian Jimmy said on social media: “So sad to hear of the passing of my wonderful friend (to so many artists), Mike Berry, who was the heart @EmpireTheatreBB and was also director/performer.

“He will be missed by his lovely wife Linda and family members alongside his many friends and everyone who loves live theatre.”

Blackburn Empire Theatre posted that it mourned the loss of its “greatest Champion, Campaigner, Chairman and Friend”.

An article on the Lancashire Telegraph website reported that Mike was the “driving force behind the theatre”.

It said he had raised more than £1million in a 25-year association with the venue as it became East Lancashire’s busiest community theatre.

Mike Berry had built up his own company, Top Team Manufacturing, into a very successful business.

Read more about Mike here from the Lancashire Telegraph.

Amazing achievement

The theatre’s website said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the passing of our Theatre Chairman, Michael Berry.

“Michael passed away peacefully on Sunday 5 February 2023 after bravely battling illness for the last few weeks.

“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Linda, two daughters, Justine and Joanna, and six grandchildren and so many close family members at this very difficult time.

“For his whole family, that he loved so deeply, it is such a great loss and words cannot express how much he will be missed.

“Michael was the heart and soul of Blackburn Empire Theatre, having been one of the primary forces behind raising funds to reopen the theatre for the people of Blackburn.

“The Theatre was a dream 20 years in the making and this year we will reach our 21st anniversary since we reopened to the public.

“An amazing achievement.

“His enthusiasm for the theatre was addictive and everyone who was lucky enough to know him, knew the deep passion he had for our theatre.

“He was a people person and welcomed everyone to the theatre with open arms.”

Also read on this website: Jimmy Cricket answers Blackburn theatre’s SOS

Jimmy Cricket’s play was ‘amazing’ & ‘very funny’ 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket’s play was ‘amazing’ & ‘very funny’

Thank you to all the staff at the #TheMet in Bury for yesterday’s production alongside our set designer #KenWilkinson and to all our family and friends, (alongside the little pocket rocket actress #SueDevaney), and the general public who came to see the show. Pictured here backstage with fellow thespians #JonathonYoung and #ColinMeredith and a great friend actress and director #NorrenKershaw whom I worked with on two series for Central Television and on five series for #BBCRadio2

Jimmy Cricket’s play, No more Fiffing and Faffing, received some very positive comments on social media following its latest performance.

The Met in Bury hosted the play – which had its debut last September at the Blackburn Empire Theatre in Lancashire – on the first leg of a tour of northern England.

It will also be performed at the Chorley Theatre (19 May), Bridlington Spa (18 July) and Gladstone Theatre on The Wirral.

All-round entertainer Jimmy, who wrote the play, also appears in it, along with Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, and actor Colin Meredith, who has made several appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years.

One person posted: “Went to the met theatre in bury to watch one of my favourite comedians Jimmy Cricket amazing thanks Jimmy.”

Another said: “I went also, very funny, enjoyed it.”

Jimmy himself posted the photos above with the message: “Thank you to all the staff at the #TheMet in Bury for yesterday’s production alongside our set designer #KenWilkinson and to all our family and friends, (alongside the little pocket rocket actress #SueDevaney), and the general public who came to see the show. Pictured here backstage with fellow thespians #JonathonYoung and #ColinMeredith and a great friend actress and director #NorrenKershaw whom I worked with on two series for Central Television and on five series for #BBCRadio2 ?.”

No more Fiffing and Faffing: Play returns 150 150 mhamer

No more Fiffing and Faffing: Play returns

Well getting excited as the scripts are ready for the revisit to the play which will be staged at the Bury Met this coming 23rd February 2019, after it‘s premier last Sept 2018 @EmpireTheatreBB

The first leg of Jimmy Cricket’s touring play takes place this weekend.

No more Fiffing and Faffing, which had its debut last September at the Blackburn Empire Theatre in Lancashire, will be performed at The Met in Bury on Saturday (23 February).

It will be followed by performances at the Chorley Theatre (19 May), Bridlington Spa (18 July) and Gladstone Theatre on The Wirral.

All-round entertainer Jimmy, who wrote the play, also performs in it along with Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, and actor Colin Meredith, who has made several notable appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years.

Book one of Saturday’s two shows (2.30pm and 7.30pm) here.

Mrs Cricket and I have a strong connection to Bury 150 150 mhamer

Mrs Cricket and I have a strong connection to Bury

Jimmy Cricket's wife mistaken for a ghost - on her wedding day!

Jimmy Cricket and his new play have been the focus of an article in the Lancashire Telegraph.

No more Fiffing and Faffing had a successful debut last September at the Blackburn Empire Theatre in Lancashire.

It will now be performed at The Met in Bury (23 February), Chorley Theatre (19 May), Bridlington Spa (18 July) and Gladstone Theatre on The Wirral as part of a tour across the North of England.

All-round entertainer Jimmy performs in the play, along with Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, and actor Colin Meredith, who has made several notable appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years.

Visit here to book one of the two shows (2.30pm and 7.30pm) on Saturday 23 February.

The Lancashire Telegraph previewed the play in Bury and highlighted Jimmy and Mrs Cricket’s strong connections to the town.

The article begins: “Comedian Jimmy Cricket will be continuing his special relationship with Bury when he showcases his new play, No More Fiffing and Faffing, at the Met later this month.

Set at the end of the pier, it’s the tale of a comedy double act who prepare for their final performance after many years on the road together.

As the final show looms, long-held resentments come to the fore.

Jimmy was inspired to write the show, in which he also stars, after seeing the success of fellow comedian Bobby Ball’s first steps into writing for the stage.

No more Fiffing and Faffing was premiered at the Empire Theatre, Blackburn, last year and Jimmy is delighted to be bringing it to Bury.

‘Mrs Cricket and I have a strong connection to Bury,’ he said revealing that he and his wife May had their first home in the town on Wash Street less than a mile from the Met.

The couple were married in Bury in 1974 having met at Pontins when Jimmy was a Bluecoat and May was a waitress in the restaurant.”

Visit here for the full story

 

Promoting new play at shopping centre in Greater Manchester 150 150 mhamer

Promoting new play at shopping centre in Greater Manchester

Jimmy Cricket 19 hrs · Out and about today catching the shoppers as they pass by, advertising our brand new Comedy Play soon to be staged at #themet in Bury, my thanks to Marie Gribben, Manager at #MillGateBury, on behalf of myself and #JonathonYoung and #ColinMeredith, the last time I was there it was to turn the Christmas ? lights on, which was back in the nineties!

Famous comedian Jimmy Cricket has been promoting the first leg of his touring play at a shopping centre in Greater Manchester.

No more Fiffing and Faffing, which got a great reception from the audience on its debut last September at the Blackburn Empire Theatre in Lancashire, will now be performed at The Met in Bury (23 February), Chorley Theatre (19 May), Bridlington Spa (18 July) and Gladstone Theatre on The Wirral.

Jimmy, who wrote the play, was at the Mill Gate Shopping Centre in Bury at the weekend to  let the people of the town know all about the Wellie Boots production.

He later posted the above photos on social media and said: “Out and about today catching the shoppers as they pass by, advertising our brand new Comedy Play soon to be staged at #themet in Bury, my thanks to Marie Gribben, Manager at #MillGateBury, on behalf of myself and #JonathanYoung and #ColinMeredith, the last time I was there it was to turn the Christmas ? lights on, which was back in the nineties! ?”

All-round entertainer Jimmy performs in the play, along with Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, and actor Colin Meredith, who has made several notable appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years.

Visit here to book one of the two shows (2.30pm and 7.30pm) on Saturday 23 February.