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Video:
Concert Press Conference
Source:
BBC |
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Press
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Source:
South Wales
Echo, Welsh Mirror
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South Wales Echo
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Welsh Mirror |
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Preview:
Dream comes true for H as he prepares for Showtime
spectacular
Source:
South Wales
Echo |
WHEN Ian "H" Watkins performs at the Millennium Stadium today with the rest of the pop band Steps he will be realising a long-held dream.
H had hoped that Steps could stage a series of concerts at the venue during their tour last year but it had not been possible for them to secure a booking.
But today he will finally perform at the home of Welsh rugby as part of the Showtime At The Stadium spectacular, which has been organised by Midge Ure to raise money for the Red Hot Aids Charitable Trust and Children in Need.
In fact it will be H's first visit to the stadium. With a hectic work schedule the pop star, originally from Rhondda but now based in London, is not able to visit Wales as often as he would like.
"I can't wait to come back to Wales," said the 25-year-old. "I have not been back for so, so long - not since Christmas. I am really looking forward to it.
"I drove past the stadium last year when I was home but I've never been inside it. I'm so patriotic so it's going to be a good day for me."
H admitted he became more nervous when performing in Wales. "The reception you get is fantastic and your family and friends are there."
He is hoping that his friend Cerys Matthews, who has recently been receiving treatment for exhaustion and has seen the demise of her band Catatonia, will be in the audience.
"I have been trying to persuade Cerys to come along. I know her really well. She's been having a difficult time but she is getting on her feet. I am always there for her."
Steps will perform a stage version of their chart-topping hit Tragedy as well as I Know Him So Well from Chess.
Among the other acts taking part in the event are Atomic Kitten, Damage
"I have just had a message from Charlotte Church and her mum to ask if I can meet up for dinner with them," said H. and Sinead O'Connor, who will all be performing songs from musicals.
H's friend Charlotte Church will take to the stage for a rendition of If I Loved You from Carousel.
Steps - whose greatest hits album Gold is being tipped to top the charts tomorrow - were only too pleased to support the fund-raising event.
"It's a fantastic cause," said H. "Anything we can do for charity we will get involved with."
H will not be waiting so long to return to Wales after today's concert as Steps are performing four shows at Cardiff International Arena from December 14 to 17.
But in the meantime, H and the rest of the group, including Lisa Scott-Lee, from Rhyl, are looking forward to turning their backs on pop to perform songs from the musicals.
Tickets are still available for Show-time At The Stadium by phoning 08705 582582.
Preview:
Stage set for three-hour Show
Source:
South Wales
Echo |
THE programme has been compiled, the massive stage has been constructed and now, with just 24 hours to go until tomorrow's musical extravaganza at the Millennium Stadium, the famous names are arriving for their sound checks. Showtime At The Stadium, organised by Midge Ure to raise money for charity, will give the audience the chance to see big names like Steps, Atomic Kitten and Charlotte Church performing songs from the shows.
Organisers say about 20,000 tickets have been sold but there are still plenty available.
In the past, concerts at the venue have had a capacity of about 60,000 but organisers would not reveal the total number of tickets on sale for tomorrow's showcase.
"The capacity varies due to the sizes of the productions," said a spokeswoman.
"This is the biggest entertainment production to be staged at the stadium so there will be fewer tickets available than in the past."
The concert's organisers moved in to transform the Cardiff venue only hours after deflated Welsh rugby fans left the stadium after last Saturday's match against Ireland.
Last night crews were working through the night to tighten the final nuts and bolts on the stage.
It took more than 50 articulated trucks to carry all the sound equipment and staging into the stadium.
The stage measures 50 by 30 metres and is dressed with more than 400 moving multicoloured lights. At the sides of the stage are two large screens, each eight metres wide, so the audience can capture every detail of the performances.
This morning the orchestra was due to rehearse the big overtures from Little Shop of Horrors, 42nd Street, West Side Story and Mamma Mia!, to be followed by sound checks by the artists taking part.
Tomorrow morning there will be a complete run-through of the concert before the real thing is staged at
"It's going to be an incredibly exciting show," said the spokes-woman. "The audience will be able to see artists performing the type of songs they don't usually perform."
Almost 500 people will be performing on stage during the three-hour show, including the 60-strong orchestra, a choir and a troupe of 40 dancers.
The concert will also feature an adaptation of Peter Pan performed by schoolchildren from Wales.
Midge Ure, who helped launch Live Aid with Sir Bob Geldof in 1985, has organised tomorrow's concert to raise money for the Red Hot Aids Charitable Trust and the BBC's Children in Need appeal.
Tickets for Showtime At The Stadium, which start at £17.50, are available by ringing 08705 582582.
karen.price
Preview:
It's Showtime
Source:
South Wales
Echo |
One of the biggest musical projects in the history of BBC Wales is staged at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, October 20.
Showtime at the Stadium features a host of artists singing hits from the musicals.
'The idea was to make Showtime @ The Stadium an overture of the International Festival of Musical Theatre which is happening next year,' said production manager Linda Wynn Jones.
'Musical theatre generally appeals to an older audience, but we wanted to get a younger audience interested too. By bringing together pop bands and the musical genre, we want to appeal to a younger audience.'
The event has attracted a star-studded line-up including pop groups S Club 7, Atomic Kitten, A1, Steps, Blue and Damage as well as Charlotte Church, veteran performer Petula Clark, Ruthie Henshall, Sinead O'Connor, Heather Nova and opera star Russell Watson.
The final songlist is still being finalised, but so far organisers have confirmed that it includes I Know Him So Well from Chess performed by Steps; Something's Coming from West Side Story by Blue; Don't Cry For Me Argentina from Evita by Sinead O'Connor; Somewhere from West Side Story by Charlotte Church; Macavity from Cats by Atomic Kitten; Season of Love from Rent by Damage, and With One Look from Sunset Boulevard by Petula Clark.
The show has a cast of more than 300 artists including a 60-piece orchestra, a choir and 40 dancers. The headline acts will be joined on stage by a children's choir created especially for the occasion following auditions at BBC Wales.
The children come from Aberdare, Barry, Bridgend, Cardiff, Ceredigion, Chepstow, Cwmbran, Llanybydder, Nebo, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Pontyclun, Pontypool, Port Talbot, Treorchy, Treharris and Swansea.
Showtime @ the Stadium's musical director is Midge Ure - who played a key role in co-ordinating Band Aid and Live Aid in the mid-80s.
The event is staged in association with the Red Hot AIDS Charitable Trust and in support of BBC Children in Need.
Doors open at the stadium at 6pm.
Showtime @ The Stadium on Saturday, October 20 can be heard on Radio Wales, 7.30pm and BBC Radio 2 at 9pm.
Preview:
Stadium gets ready for ShowTime
Source:
BBC Wales |
Chart-toppers
Blue prepare for the concert
By BBC
News Online's Tom Bourton
Cardiff's
Millennium Stadium was a flurry of activity on Friday as
final preparations began for the star-studded ShowTime @
the Stadium concert on Saturday night.
Throughout
the day, the arena played host to a procession of pop's
finest, including Blue, SClub7, Steps and Charlotte
Church, to name but a few.
The
dance routines are very energetic
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They
were ably assisted by a 60-piece orchestra and a troupe of
40 dancers practising a series of high-energy routines
that are tiring just to watch.
And
that was before the arrival of the choir and, of course,
the 40 children who will be sharing the limelight.
Meanwhile,
a melee of technicians, carpenters, technicians and
welders were frantically transforming the arena into an
extension of Broadway.
The
profits from the concert, which is being organised by
Midge Ure, will be split between the Red Hot Aids charity
and aids-related projects within BBC's Children In Need
appeal.
'Full
of surprises'
George
Scott, creative director for the Red Hot Aids charity, is
thrilled to be taking part.
"It
is great to be involved, and the show is full of
surprises.
George
Scott: Creative director for Red Hot
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"You
just don't expect Blue or Atomic Kitten to sing something
from West Side Story or Cats, and the concert is good
because it is so different."
Due
to the hectic schedules of some of the artists, though, Mr
Scott did reveal that some compromises have been made.
He
said: "Although they could easily sing the songs
live, some of the bands will be miming, because we just
have no time with them to rehearse."
One
of the busiest schedules belongs to boy band Blue, who
flew in from Oslo for Friday's rehearsal.
On
Saturday morning, they are due to appear on SMtv Live in
London, before they fly back to Cardiff for the concert.
Centrepiece
The
centrepiece of the show is the mammoth 15,000 square feet
stage, purported to be the biggest built inside any
stadium ever.
Event
organiser John Ellson
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Event
organiser John Ellson, of Ellson Scoble International
productions, also revealed that the show is the first time
that most of the pitch has remained in the stadium for a
full full scale concert.
Ellson
Scoble is producing the show on behalf of BBC Wales, and
the firm took over the Stadium on Sunday lunchtime.
They
have been working around the clock since to get ready.
Special
night
Demand
for tickets is reportedly going "very well," and
the concert looks set to be a very special night.
Mr
Ellson said: "As of last night, we were up to 16,000
people and we are expecting an awful lot more."
The
stadium has been transformed for the concert
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"Because
of the size of the staging, and the major lighting rig, we
had to reduce the size of the venue."
"We've
taken a special view that, rather than pack people in,
everyone who does come will be able to see and hear
properly."
And
they won't be affected by the heavy rain that is forecast
for Saturday either, as the roof will be closed
throughout.
Tickets
are available on the door, and the show will be broadcast
on Radio Wales, and on BBC Radio 2.
It is
also being recorded for a TV appearance in the future.
Preview:
Boy
Band Blue Set for stadium
Source:
South Wales
Echo |
Britain's
latest chart-topping band has joined the line-up for
ShowTime at the Stadium - giving organisers hope of
speeding up sluggish ticket sales.
Boy band Blue will take to the Millennium Stadium stage
for the Live Aid-style show.
The group, who are at number one in the UK singles chart
this week with Too Close, joins Sinead O'Connor, Atomic
Kitten, Steps and Charlotte Church on the bill.
To date only 2,000 of the 50,000 tickets available have
been sold for the October 20 concert in aid of the Red Hot
Aids Charitable Trust.
Concert musical director Midge Ure, former frontman of the
band Ultravox and a major force behind 1985's Live Aid, is
confident the diverse line-up will still draw the crowds
and make the project a success.
Organisers expected a slow start because of a combination
of the summer holidays and a marketing campaign that is
not yet in full swing.
Preview:
Steps
line up for aids benefit
Source:
BBC |
Teen
popsters Steps have joined the list of acts confirmed to
play a massive AIDS charity concert at the Millennium
Stadium this autumn.
Event partners BBC Wales announced A1, Damage and Sinead
O'Connor will also join the line-up for the ShowTime @ The
Stadium spectacular in Cardiff on 20 October.
The Millennium Stadium will host the event
The brainchild of former Live Aid organiser Midge Ure, the
event is being staged with the Red Hot AIDS charity and
will feature a blend of contemporary artists performing
classic stage musical tunes.
Top of the pops trio Atomic Kitten, and singers Charlotte
Church, Petula Clarke and Russell Watson will also draw
the crowds to the stadium and more acts are to be
announced in a few weeks.
The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and BBC One
will show highlights.
Steps are also set to perform at a special day for their
fans at Legoland in Berkshire on 25 August.
Charity
event
The Red Hot AIDS Charitable Trust is an independent
charity which raises and distributes funds for
community-based HIV/AIDS prevention work and education
amongst population groups around the world at high risk of
infection and illness
The show will be directed by international stage producer,
Francesca Zambello, and artists will be backed by a
60-piece orchestra and a gospel choir.
Former Ultravox front man Ure is musical director for the
event, which will kick off the bi-annual International
Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff. The festival
begins in October 2002.
Confirmation of the event came at a press conference in
the Millennium Stadium in July.
Actress and Red Hot AIDS patron Jean Simmons said:
"It gives me great pleasure to be part of ShowTime @
The Stadium where many great artists will be performing in
this superb stadium in October to raise much needed
funding for the global struggle against HIV and
AIDS."
Super
stadium
The Millennium Stadium is staking a bold claim to be the
UK's top venue for entertainment and sport.
Robbie Williams and the Stereophonics recently played at
the giant stadium and the FA Cup and Charity Shield, which
Liverpool won on Sunday, are helping to ensure Cardiff is
the home of English football.
Musical director Midge Ure
Ure, who helped Bob Geldof stage the groundbreaking Live
Aid concert in 1985, said: "This is definitely not
Live Aid II this is a very different concept.
"We are talking about bringing in songs from
Broadway... so it's not just musicians - there will be
dancers and a variety of performers.
"Seeing guys like Atomic Kitten perform something
from a West End show will be absolutely unique."
Cast
of thousands
Organisers say that there will be a cast of thousands
involved in the production from gospel choirs to dancers.
Atomic Kitten's Liz said at the announcement: "We're
thinking of putting on from cabaret and if someone gives a
huge donation to the Red Hot charity then we'll wear some
skimpy outfits."
"But not too skimpy because it is a family
show."
Preview:
Aids
gig promises 'unique' line-up
Source:
BBC |
BBC News
Online's Sue Cass reports from the Millennium Stadium
Organisers of a massive charity concert at the Millennium
Stadium to help aids sufferers have promised a unique
performance from a star studded line up.
Charlotte Church and girl band Atomic Kitten are among the
"big names" signed up so far.
ShowTime @ The Stadium will feature contemporary artists
performing classic songs from stage musicals.
The event was launched at the stadium in Cardiff, on
Wednesday by musical director and former Ultravox front
man Midge Ure.
Mr Ure, who helped Bob Geldof stage the groundbreaking
Live Aid concert in 1985, said: "This is definitely
not Live Aid II this is a very different concept.
Seeing guys like Atomic Kitten perform something from a
West End show will be absolutely unique
Midge Ure, musical director
"We are talking about bringing in songs from
Broadway... so it's not just musicians there will be
dancers and a variety of performers.
"Seeing guys like Atomic Kitten perform something
from a West End show will be absolutely unique."
The concert - which also features Petula Clark and
builder-turned-opera-singer Russell Watson - is to be held
on 20 October this year will be a family orientated day
with the emphasis on entertainment rather than just music.
BBC Wales is helping to organise the event in conjunction
with the Red Hot Aids charity. The concert will be
recorded for broadcast on BBC One a week later.
Organisers say that there will be a cast of thousands
involved in the production from gospel choirs to dancers.
The Welsh born soprano Charlotte Church said that she was
looking forward to the showcase.
"In this concert there's going to be a lot of artist
experimentation," she said.
"Musical songs are some of the most beautiful songs
ever written because they've got gorgeous words which do
have a lot of soul and there's big meaty orchestras.
"I think it will give artists a chance to show off
their talents."
There are expected to be a few surprises at the event with
Atomic Kitten promising to put on a "performance of a
life time".
Liz from the band said: "We're thinking of putting on
from cabaret and if someone gives a huge donation to the
Red Hot charity then we'll wear some skimpy outfits."
"But not too skimpy because it is a family
show."
A number of top quality artists have been approached to
appear in the event including Robbie Williams, but the
final line-up has yet to be confirmed.
The event will launch the International Festival of
Musical Theatre, which will take place in Cardiff every
two years from October next year.
The Millennium Stadium which has established itself as a
major venue for sporting events and concerts is currently
a hive of activity.
The stage is being set for the Robbie Williams concert
which is being held this weekend.
The sell out concert is just the latest in a long line of
events which have been secured by the stadium management.
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