Comedy, line dancing and a Steps reunion


World premiere of Rhinestone Mondays at the Mercury Theatre Colchester

Shaun Williamson (EastEnders, Extras), Faye Tozer & Ian ‘H’ Watkins (from Steps) and Lyn Paul (New Seekers,) star in a brand new romantic comedy written by Joe Graham and directed by Phil Wilmott, with a classic country music soundtrack. Rhinestone Mondays opens at the Mercury Theatre on Wednesday 31 August to Saturday 10 September before embarking on a national tour.

Join the maverick members of the Warbleswick ‘Monday Night All Star Line Dancing Club’ as they fight and feud. This warm and funny tale of love, life and line dancing will be the feel-good theatre hit of the year!

Shaun Williamson is best-known as loveable ‘Barry’ in Eastenders, but his extensive theatrical credits include Saturday Night Fever, (West End), GUYS & DOLLS (UK tour), The Rocky Horror Show (UK tour), NEVER FORGET (West End), Porridge (UK tour). Other television credits include Ricky Gervais’ Extras, Funland (BBC) and Channel 4’s Bremner Bird & Fortune. He was subject of This Is Your Life, won Celebrity Mastermind and Stars in Their Eyes as Meatloaf and appeared in Comic Relief’s Fame Academy.

As part of pop phenomenon STEPS, Faye Tozer had 14 Top Ten Hits and 4 multi-platinum albums, with record sales topping 20 million. Her theatrical credits include Tell Me On a Sunday (UK tour), Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (West End), Love Shack (UK tour) and Me and My Girl (UK tour). Faye returned to the pop charts in May 2002 with Russell Watson with Top Ten hit “Someone Like You” joining him on his British and International Tour.

Ian H Watkins shared in the worldwide acclaim and success of STEPS from 1997 – 2001. He made his West End theatrical debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (New London), before starring in Fame the musical (Shaftsbury), and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK tour).

Lyn Paul found international fame as part of the New Seekers, winning countless awards including Gold and Silver discs and albums. She also performed at the White House for President Nixon’s inauguration. I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing was the first song used in a commercial to become Number 1 in the charts, selling 20 million copies throughout the world. She starred as Mrs Johnson in Bill Kenwrights’ Blood Brothers both in the West End and on tour between 1997 – 2010.

Designed by Mercury Theatre Associate Artist Sara Perks (Assumption, Under Milk Wood, Journey’s End) and built in the Mercury Theatre’s Workshop, Rhinestone Mondays will have the same outstanding production values local Colchester audiences have become accustomed to with a Mercury Theatre Company play.

Produced by Ian Liston, Richard Ireson, and Paul Tyrer & Jamie Clark for The Booking Office, in a co-production with the Mercury Theatre, Colchester.

Performances Wednesday 31 August to Saturday 10 September 7.30pm (Mon – Sat) with matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. Tickets priced £9.80 – £21.75 are available from the Mercury Theatre Box Office on 01206 573948 or online at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk