WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL, 7:30PM – THE GREENWOOD THEATRE SE1
WITH: BEN COHEN, KIERAN BROWN, MARCUS COLLINS, THE SUPREME FABULETTES, HARRIET THORPE, EMMA LINDARS, STEPHEN BAILEY, JOOLS CONSTANT, MARK DOLAN, MO SHAPIRO.
A host of musical theatre performers from the West end and comedians from the stand up comedy circuit join together with Ben Cohen to bring you an evening of music and live comedy at the Greenwood Theatre in aid of the Ben Cohens charity the StandUp Foundation.
BEN COHEN is a former England rugby union player and activist. He began his professional career with Northampton Saints in 1996; in 2007 he moved to France to represent Brive before returning to England two years later to join Sale Sharks. Cohen was also a member of the England national team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. In May 2011, Cohen retired from professional rugby, and will focus on The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation he created to combat homophobia and bullying.
MARCUS COLLINS at just 27 years old, has already achieved great heights in his singing and musical career after his journey started on TV’s highest rating talent show, The X Factor. Marcus became a firm favourite right from the beginning and his talent was nurtured by his mentor, Gary Barlow. Marcus proved himself adept at putting in startling musical performances, moving through different styles and genres of music with ease. However, it was his slick interpretation of Motown and soul classics that assured him a place in the final, where he got to sing his series showstopper ‘(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher’ as well as teaming up with Gary for a spectacular duet.
After finishing as runner up on The X Factor Marcus was immediately snapped up to begin recording and released his debut album which featured production by the London-based Metrophonic team, who had previously worked with Whitney Houston and Cher. The album included the critically acclaimed cover of The White Stripes hit ‘Seven Nation Army’ which also became his first top 10 single in the UK.
Marcus is a born performer and his love of live stage work has seen him fulfil another ambition by appearing in the award-winning production of Hairspray. His warmth and outstanding vocals continue to entertain his audience. The humble boy from Liverpool has never forgotten his roots and is now one of the city’s most beloved singing sons.
Marcus has proved that with hard work, tremendous talent, and a little bit of help from Gary Barlow, he has been able to live his dream of pursuing a sustained and continued career in music and entertainment.
HARRIET THORPE, whose many television roles include Carole in Britass Empire and Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous and whose West End credits include Great Britain, Wicked, Rufus Norris’s production of Cabaret, Crazy for You and MAMMA MIA will be one of the MC’s at the gala.
THE SUPREME FABULETTES – One hell of an all-singing all-male girl group! Winning a host of 5 star rave reviews and named No1 Critics Choice by Time Out, The Supreme Fabulettes have been acclaimed for combining slick choreography, amazing vocal harmonies, stunning couture gowns and signature Glee-style song mash-ups of classic 1960s hits and contemporary songs by likes of The Supremes, The Andrews Sisters, Adele and Beyoncé among many others.
STEPHEN BAILEY Guilty Pleasure’ (Daily Record), Stephen Bailey, as seen on Celebrity Big Brothers Bit on the Side, is making noise on the comedy circuit by being fun, charming and sassy. A skilled improviser, Stephen is ‘annoyingly sharp’ (The New Current) and is known for mixing up his material covering everything from celeb antics, to his relationships with those in his life and often adds some local flavour. His performances are ‘warm and affectionate yet no less biting in its wit’ (The Gay UK)
Stephen performed to a sold-out crowd in London’s West End at the Wyndham Theatre for Stand-up for Shelter along with the likes of Stewart Lee, Richard Herring and Sean Hughes, performed at 2014’s Latitude Festival AND was the first ever MC at Stonewell’s Summer Party / 25th Birthday (having the distinct pleasure to not only host the night but introduce the phenomenal Beverley Knight)
MARK DOLAN Dolan is well known as the host of Channel 4 show Balls of Steel, which he presented from 2005 until the shows end in 2008. He is also the presenter of Channel 4 Radio’s satirical show The Weekly Show and the TV documentary series The World’s (Something) And Me, where he meets “the world’s most extraordinary people”, such as The World’s Hairiest Person and The World’s Strongest Child. This series has proved popular and has aired three seasons of documentaries. Dolan first came to the public’s attention in 2002 after writing and performing in a Comedy Lab entitled The Richard Taylor Interviews.
Also included in the cast are Emma Lindars (Made in Dagenham, Priscilla Queen of the desert) Kieran Brown (Phantom, Wicked, Les Mis ) Mo Shapiro, (Comedienne, Author and public speaker) Jools Constant (Comedian) Natalie Farzaneh, Anti -Bullying Ambassador.
About the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation:
The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation is the world’s first foundation whose mission is dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying and finding those doing real-world, on-the-ground work to stop it.
The StandUp Foundation encourages everybody to stand up against bullies, whether or not they are victims of bullying themselves, and work collaboratively to help connect communities to create a world of tolerance, understanding and kindness.
All proceeds go to the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation (Registered charity number 1147431)
STAND UP COMEDY GALA
Wednesday 15th April, 7:30pm
Greenwood Theatre, London Bridge SE1 3RA
Book online: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/standup-comedy-gala-tickets-15708980985
Tickets £45
Website: www.standupfoundation.org
Twitter: @StandUpFdn @RubgyBenCohen @Charity_gigs