A COLOURFUL production featuring some of the most poptastic chart topping hits from the 60s and 70s is set to hit the Swan Theatre stage next week - and one of the stars of the show will be on familiar territory.

Damian Matthews - from Low Fold Close, in St John's - is one of the six stars of Red Hot Chartbusters who will be donning a sparkling costume and dancing shoes to wow the audience in what is dubbed 'one of the country's most dynamic musical shows'.

The 22-year-old (pictured back row left) will be strutting his stuff alongside Des Coleman, who appeared as Lennie Wallace in EastEnders, Steve Walls from Byker Grove, Kerry Wilson from Talking Telephone Numbers, Kaiya Manning - who's performed with Arethra Franklin and Percy Sledge - and choreographer-singer Natalie Cleverley.

The former River School pupil, who recently graduated with an HNC in Drama from Worcester College of Technology, might be a familiar face to Swan Theatre audiences as has previously been a member of Worcester Operatic Dramatic Society's youth and adult section.

But it is singing, rather than acting, which is his real passion.

"I suppose I started singing when I was about five but I have only been doing it as a job since I was 17," Damian told the Evening News.

He impressed judges at an audition for Red Hot Chartbusters by getting up on stage in front of an audience and belting out a string of hits including Lionel Ritchie's All Night Long.

"I was really nervous before I went up there as I didn't know I would have to perform to an audience, but once I am on stage it feels like home," he said.

Damian and his co-stars have been travelling up and down the country performing the show - which is crammed with hits from the likes of Little Richard, Abba, Sister Sledge, Rod Stewart and Tina Turner - to sell-out crowds who have relished every minute of it.

"The first time we performed the show was at Cannon Hill Park in front of 25,000 - we were supporting Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra at a Fireworks Fantasia," Damian said.

"The audience reaction wherever we go is fantastic and every show is different.

"But what's so great for me is working with my co-stars.

"These are people who are very successful and I have learned a lot from them. "We've got a great working relationship and we all get on very well."

Despite appearing in front of 25,000 people in the past, the performance at the Swan Theatre is the one that Damian is most worried about.

"Usually when we do a show, if anything goes wrong it's not too bad as the audience don't know you.

"But I know that a lot of my friends and family will be in the audience at the Swan so the pressure is really on," he said.

"Plus the fact that everyone will see me in an array of costumes, from a pink jacket to a Tina Turner wig to snakeskin tights when I do Rod Stewart!"

Red Hot Chartbusters will be performed at the Swan Theatre on Thursday, November 4, and is guaranteed to get your hands clapping, feet dancing, body moving and voice singing.

So, dust off your gladrags and book tickets, which cost £12.50 (£11 concessions) from the box office on 01905 611427.

n The Evening News has three pairs of tickets to give away for Red Hot Chartbusters at the Swan Theatre on Thursday, November 4.

To be in with a chance of winning just answer the following question: Which female singer had a hit single with Simply The Best?

Send your answer along with your name and telephone number to Becky Fisher, Worcester Evening News, Berrows House, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX by no later than Tuesday, November 2.

Round two... time to start boxing clever

AT the end of my last column, dear reader, I left you with the thought that out of 14 boxes I was invited to tick about local services, the arts and leisure did not even appear, presumably because it is not considered a vote-winner.

Well it should be. Leisure is enormously important to our society. It is surely important to the people of Worcester.

The Arts are fantastically strong in the city. Thousands and thousands of people regularly attend events at the Swan and Huntingdon Hall, and come back time and time again. At a conservative estimate, more than 50,000 attended a Worcester Festival event.

But there's more. Hundreds and hundreds of people actually participate in the arts. The amateur societies produce wonderful quality of work, and in some cases have huge memberships.

Many of the youth theatres in the area have waiting lists, including the Swan Youth Theatre.

There are many dance schools in the area, all doing fantastic business.

Many students are opting for arts-related subjects in the Sixth forms and large numbers try to make it their living in one form or another.

So, huge numbers of you attend arts events, participate in the arts, have sons daughters and grandchildren participating in the arts (helping to keep them out of mischief!) choose the arts as a career and see the provision of the arts as important to the City of Worcester.

Surely, loads of us would say that the arts in Worcester was one of the priorities for the city.

So, now all we need is the box to tick!

Chris Jaeger is Director of Huntingdon Arts

Voices and orchestra

THE choristers of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury, and the talented youngsters of the Gloucester Academy of Music String Orchestra are combining forces in a concert to celebrate the life of St Nicholas, the patron saint of children, in Tewkesbury Abbey, on Saturday, November 20, at 7.30pm.

Britten's St Nicholas, a cantata depicting the life of Saint Nicholas beginning in infancy, is a prime example of the composer's expertise and joy in writing for child musicians.

The part of the adult Saint Nicholas will be sung by Ed Lyon, a former choral scholar of the Abbey School Choir, who is at the cusp of a brilliant career as a soloist in oratorio and opera.

The children will be joined by the men of The Choir of the Abbey School.

This concert is organised and conducted by Benjamin Nicholas, Musical director of The Abbey.