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Brookside star backs protest

Eve Dugdale
13/ 2/2008

A FORMER Brookside star and mum of teenage hunk Richard Fleeshman is the latest star to throw her weight behind the Save the Hippodrome campaign.

Sue Jenkins, who brought all her children to shows at the Hippodrome when they were young, said she was ‘absolutely devastated’ when she heard the news that the Hippodrome’s future was uncertain.

She was out in Ashton petitioning with Hippodrome staff at the weekend.

"I produced Richard’s first concert here and it was such an amazing night. With having performed here and directing Aladdin at Christmas as well, I feel it can’t be closed without every single person who feels it should stay open voicing their opinion.

"I am a great believer in that everything is possible and I honestly believe people can turn this around.

"Brilliant people come through places like this. It‘s an outrage to be honest that it’s facing closure and we’ve all got to get empowered - you can’t just shutter something up and close it down that’s stood for over 100 years. You’re lucky to have a theatre and it’s a beautiful theatre."

Sue’s ‘Gala night of stars’ on Saturday, 29 March is the last major show to be staged at the Hippodrome before it closes its doors for summer.

It will feature performances from major musicals by stars of stage and screen.

She said: "The show is going to be bigger and better because of the fight to save the Hippodrome. There’s a certain Richard Fleeshman in the show and stars from Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Mike Toolan is doing a special piece from Evita. Dean Sullivan (Sue’s on screen husband Jimmy Corkhill) is actually going to be doing a piece with me!

"It will be fully costumed and choreographed and it's going to be an unforgettable night.

"The theatre is putting out the red carpet and decorating everywhere and the staff are dressing in evening dress even though they all face redundancy.

"It will be a very poignant night as it will be the last show at the theatre before it closes for six months and nobody knows its fate after that."

Tickets are now available for Sue’s show.

Book on 308 3223 or 0870 602 1175.

Call in to the Hippodrome or the Advertiser office on Booth Street to add your name to the Save the Hippodrome petition.