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stockport’s plaza theatre

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz! 150 150 mhamer

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

Jimmy Cricket is celebrating 50 years in showbiz

Jimmy Cricket has enjoyed a golden career in showbiz – but before that, the comedian was a labourer, waiter, salesman and bingo caller!

The famous funnyman talks about his 50-year career as a high-profile entertainer in his latest newspaper column.

He says that before he became a professional comedian, he worked in the holiday camps as a Redcoat (Butlins) and Bluecoat (Pontins).

However, from each September, Jimmy says he had to have a day job for the winter.

His wife May agreed to give up her singing career so Jimmy could rehearse.

And his showbiz career started to take off when he signed with a top agent.

He also recalls in his Lancashire Post column the problems he encountered for his first gigs.

These included not having his own transport to get to venues!

Jimmy is doing what he describes as a “little five theatres tour” in March as part of the celebrations for his golden anniversary.

They are venues where he has done one-nighters & summer seasons in the past.

Here are those March dates:

Middlesbrough Theatre (Saturday 4 March) – go here for tickets.

Bridlington Spa Theatre (Sunday 12 March) – go here for tickets.

West Cliff Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea (Sunday 19 March) – go here for tickets.

Lancaster Grand Theatre (Saturday 25 March) – go here for tickets. 

Plaza Theatre, Stockport (Sunday 26 March) – go here for tickets.

Jimmy has been making people laugh as a professional comedian for 50 years – and usually raising money for worthy causes at the same time.

Instantly recognisable for wearing a funny hat and green wellies marked L and R on the wrong feet, he proudly keeps his comedy clean – increasingly rare these days –  which makes him a perfect family entertainer.

His best-known catchphrases include ‘And there’s more!’ and ‘Come closer!’

He is also famed for reading out Letters from his Mammy, which have provided the material for two published books.

Read more about Jimmy’s life and career here.

All his tour bookings and other events can be found here.

Jimmy Cricket has been in showbusiness for 50 years

Comedy play moves to the North East 150 150 mhamer

Comedy play moves to the North East

Event Photos 67 @eventphotos67 · 14h Great to photograph Jimmy Cricket again at the Stockport Plaza for his play " No More Fiffing & Faffing " .

Jimmy Cricket’s comedy play was back on the road at the weekend. No More Fiffing and Faffing was staged at the Stockport Plaza in Greater Manchester.

Jimmy posted the photo below on social media afterwards.

He said: “Our thanks to everyone who came to see the play @StockportPlaza1.

“And to Ted the Manager with his technical team, Rosie and Ben and Jake and all the volunteers alongside, David from @DavidHullPromo and @andrealNtheatre and Manager Ruth from @Grand_Theatre and @GerryMolumby.”

@eventphotos67 posted the pictures above and said: “Great to photograph Jimmy Cricket again at the Stockport Plaza for his play “No More Fiffing & Faffing”.

The play had a highly successful debut in September 2018 at the Blackburn Empire Theatre.

As a result, Jimmy has taken No More Fiffing and Faffing on a tour around the north of England.

Other venues so far include The Met in Bury and the Chorley Little Theatre in Lancashire.

Veteran comedian Jimmy wrote the play and also stars in it.

The other performers are Jonathan Young (The Bachelors) and actor Colin Meredith, who has appeared in Coronation Street.

Middlesbrough Theatre is next to host No More Fiffing and Faffing on Thursday (23 January).

Visit the theatre’s website here for more details.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.

Our thanks to everyone who came to see the play @StockportPlaza1 and to Ted the Manager with his technical team, Rosie and Ben and Jake and all the volunteers alongside, David from @DavidHullPromo and @andrealNtheatre and Manager Ruth from @Grand_Theatre and @GerryMolumby

Stockport next for No More Fiffing and Faffing 150 150 mhamer

Stockport next for No More Fiffing and Faffing

No More Fiffing and Faffing will be staged at the Plaza in Stockport

Stockport’s Plaza Theatre is the next port of call for Jimmy Cricket’s touring comedy play.

No More Fiffing and Faffing will be performed at the “iconic” venue on Sunday (19 January, 2.30pm start).

It had a highly successful debut in September 2018 at the Blackburn Empire Theatre.

As a result, Jimmy has taken No More Fiffing and Faffing on a tour around the north of England.

Its most recent showing was in Port Sunlight last October.

Other venues so far include The Met in Bury and the Chorley Little Theatre in Lancashire.

Veteran comedian Jimmy wrote the play and also stars in it. Also performing are Jonathan Young (The Bachelors) and actor Colin Meredith, who has appeared in Coronation Street.

Jimmy and Jonathan have been helping to promote the show in Stockport at the weekend

 

Jimmy and Jonathan have been helping to promote the show in Stockport at the weekend with a video clip posted on social media.

The Totally Stockport website has also publicised the event.

It said: “Cricket is coming to the Plaza in Stockport on Sunday 19th January for a 2.30pm performance.

‘Really thrilled’

“It will be Jimmy Cricket and without the R & L Wellies – the comedian who will be headlining in his comedy play, ‘No More Fiffing and Faffing.’

“Jimmy Cricket is one of the UK’s most loved Irish comedians, having made a host of television and radio appearances throughout the last five decades.

“Once an adoptive local member of the community, Jimmy moved to Stockport in the early 70s and lived in Heaton Moor.”

Jimmy, 74, said: “It’s great to be visiting once again the town of Stockport, and appearing at such a great theatre as the iconic Plaza.

“For this visit I am really thrilled the price of a ticket has been kept to a really affordable level.

“This is because I know how expensive it is to take a family out anywhere these days, as, ‘No More Fiffing and Faffing’, is a family show!”

Tickets can be purchased from the Plaza theatre Box Office on: 0161 477 7779 or online at the theatre’s website.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.

Banjo duo, dancers and the three-tenner sketch at Stockport’s The Plaza 150 150 mhamer

Banjo duo, dancers and the three-tenner sketch at Stockport’s The Plaza

Stockport's Plaza Theatre

Jimmy Cricket returned to The Plaza variety theatre in Stockport at the weekend to do his fourth show there.

Other acts included Shep’s Banjo Duo and dancers from the Stockport-based Debut Arts academy.

The famous comedian, 72, had last performed there in January 2016 and was clearly delighted to be back.

Afterwards he tweeted: “Wonderful Sunday afternoon performing alongside Howard and Steve, Shep’s Banjo Duo, Debut Arts Academy, with Ted Doan Manager and actor who took the lead in the, “The 3 Tenner Sketch”, my thanks goes to Stage, Sound and Lighting, Lawerence, Ben and Pam.”

The latest Golden Wellie award winner is… a choir 150 150 mhamer

The latest Golden Wellie award winner is… a choir

Jimmy Cricket with the Do Your Thing choir

The latest Golden Wellington award winner is the Do Your Thing Choir, based in the Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne areas of Greater Manchester.

Famous comedian Jimmy Cricket created the accolade several years ago based on his trademark wellington boots.

Although it is a bit of fun, it has a serious side as Jimmy uses the publicity from the award to acknowledge a good deed or significant contribution to a community.

Jimmy presented the Do Your Thing choir with the Golden Wellie because he says “they are a great community group made up of volunteer singers under the excellent guidance of their professional director, Liz Taylor“.

The choir, in fact, performed on one of Jimmy’s shows at the Plaza Theatre in Stockport at the beginning of the year and all the members turned up to sing in wellington boots!

Before the show, Jimmy met the choir during their on-stage rehearsals (photos above and below) and presented them all with this special award.

Jimmy Cricket with the Do Your Thing choir

Youngsters to share the Stockport stage with ‘well-loved comedian’ 150 150 mhamer

Youngsters to share the Stockport stage with ‘well-loved comedian’

The Debut Arts Academy

Young performers will get the chance to perform alongside well-known comedian Jimmy Cricket early in the new year.

The show on 17 January at Stockport’s Plaza Theatre will see the Debut Arts Academy and the community choir Do Your Thing appear on Jimmy’s touring show.

It is part of the Jimmy Cricket – Value for a Tenner series, which has visited theatres across the UK.

Under the direction of Carolann Bruce, the Debut Arts Academy will provide several dance routines for the show. This will not only showcase the talent of the young performers (pictured above), but will display the pedigree of this Further Education college that won International Vocation School of the Year on two successive occasions.

Carolann said: “When I was approached by Jimmy’s company on whether I would like to get involved with the show, I thought, as we are located only five minutes away from the Plaza in central Stockport, we should seize this chance.

“We are now just putting the routines together. However, as we run classes from baby ballet to adults and cover ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, tumbling, commercial, singing and acting, we have a lot to choose from!”

The Do Your Thing community choir with the members of Blake

Do Your Thing is one of the largest community choirs in Greater Manchester. From regular performances at the Plaza – most recently supporting Brit Award-winning vocal group, Blake (above) – to being recorded live on BBC Radio Manchester, the choir, led by Choral Director Liz Taylor, have showcased their repertoire of show stoppers and classic pop anthems to successful acclaim.

“We are delighted to be returning to the Plaza in January to share the stage with such a well-loved comedian, whom many of us grew up watching on the television and quoting his popular catchphrases!” Liz said.

“The Plaza is a special venue for us and we are very much looking forward to starting the New Year doing our thing there once again, as part of the Value for a Tenner Show.”

Jimmy said: “I am thrilled to welcome the Debut Arts Academy and Do Your Thing on to the show, as they are both reputable artistic enterprises and both will be great additions.

“It also means a local involvement when I return to Stockport in January – I always encourage communities to support their local theatre and flag-wave for its continued existence.”

The Jimmy Cricket – Value for a Tenner show is at the Plaza Theatre, Stockport on Sunday 17 January. It begins at 2.30pm. Tickets for the show are priced at £10 for all adults and £5 for Under-16s (as long as they are accompanied by an adult). 

To book a ticket, visit the theatre’s website at www.stockportplaza.co.uk or ring the theatre’s booking line on 0161 477 7779.

Back in Stockport with Sunday afternoon show 150 150 mhamer

Back in Stockport with Sunday afternoon show

Jimmy CricketEver-popular comedian Jimmy Cricket returns to Stockport’s Plaza Theatre later this month with a show designed for all the family – it starts just after Sunday lunch!

Veteran entertainer Jimmy will bring his Value for a Tenner show to the Greater Manchester town on 25 January with the performance due to start at 3pm.

All adults tickets are just £10, with under 16s priced at £5 (as long as they are accompanied by an adult).

Jimmy said: “I always enjoy visiting the beautiful Plaza Theatre in Stockport – it is without doubt one of the most stunning and atmospheric auditoriums in the country.

“I hope for my visit this time that 3pm on a Sunday afternoon will allow for the shopping to be completed the day before and for the family to all come after their lunchtime get-together. This will mean a chance to laugh off the calories for what will be a lot less than your typical family trip to the cinema.

“After all, there is no better experience than live theatre, so come along and support your local one in Stockport.”

This is a special year for Jimmy as in October he will turn 70 and plans to celebrate the big occasion include a charity fun run near to where he lives in his adopted hometown of Rochdale.