Oldham Coliseum Theatre is to stage the world première in March of a brand new play on Rochdale’s finest export, Gracie Fields.
Our Gracie is presented as a music-hall style piece set in the 1960s, as Gracie returns to the UK from semi-retirement on the island of Capri, to promote her newly-published autobiography, Sing As We Go.
While she is in the country, Gracie comes to Oldham Coliseum to present a stage version of her life, with songs and laughter, and in the service of truth, some sad bits too.
Gracie Fields became one of the highest paid female movie stars in the world. So great is her appeal that her wartime work boosting morale saw Hitler declare her an enemy of the Third Reich.
She will be played by Rochdale actress Sue Devaney, who has recently completed an international tour playing Rosie in Mamma Mia. Sue is a well-known face from television programmes including roles as Jane in Dinnerladies (BBC), Liz Harker in Casualty (BBC) and Debbie Webster in Coronation Street (ITV).
Writer Philip Goulding is a Coliseum favourite, whose previous work includes Wake up Little Suzie!, Feels Like The First Time and Horse or River. Our Gracie will be directed by the Coliseum’s artistic director Kevin Shaw.
It runs from March 4-26.