Hairspray's firm hold on fans

Northamptonshire starlet, Katie-Rose Parker plays the show’s heroine, Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with a big ‘hair-do’ and a big a heart, who has an even bigger dream - to dance on TV.

When she wins a spot to dance on The Corny Collins Show, she becomes an overnight sensation.

Can Tracy now beat evil Amber to be crowned Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962?

Can she integrate the TV show and win the love of teen heartthrob Link Larkin, all without denting her ‘do’?

Katie-Rose won rave reviews for her portrayal of Tracy in Theatreworkz’s production of the show last year in Wellingborough.

PODS’ veteran Alex Broadfield, from Thorney, who plays Tracy’s agoraphobic mother, Edna, said: “It’s quite a change from playing Uncle Fester in ‘The Addams Family’ last year”.

Frontman of local rat-pack group, ‘That’s Amoré’, Calvin Lawrence plays Edna’s doting husband Wilbur, and Peterborough’s answer to Zac Efron, Sam Makepeace-Beach plays the show’s stud, Link Larkin.

Hairspray director and choreographer Robert Bristow, who will be working with Musical Director Steve Hession and Assistant Choreographer Nikki Marsden, said: “There’s a massive appetite for musical comedy in Peterborough right now, and that’s demonstrated by the huge numbers of people attending the Bill Kenwright productions at The Broadway Theatre over Christmas and New Year.

“We hope that the people of Peterborough will come and see what amazing local talent we have and what professional standards this multi-award- winning group are already achieving for insanely low ticket prices.”

You can see HAIRSPRAY, at the Cresset Theatre from April 5 to 9 . Tickets from the box office is now open at www.cresset.co.uk 

PODS continues to go from strength to strength, having won the NODA (National Operatic & Dramatic Association) Best Musical award for ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ in 2014.

The society recently received nominations in all three categories for the 2015 NODA awards - a first for the society, which only recently started producing an annual play in addition to their annual musical.

PODS received nominations for Best Musical for ‘The Addams Family’, Best Play for ‘Abigail’s Party’ and Best Technical for Production Manager Rob Melhuish’s set and lighting design for both productions.

The results will be announced next week.