Tenor returns to coast

The People’s Tenor, who wowed thousands at the 2013 Lytham Proms, will take to the stage at the Lowther Pavilion on Saturday, November 7.

Ahead of that, homegrown comedian Jenny Eclair is following up her Lowther debut two years ago by including the venue on her 63-date national tour.

The ex-student of St Annes’ former Queen Mary School will play the Pavilion on Friday, October 9.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for both gigs – and manager Roger McCann, gearing up for the venue being a key part of the summer’s expanded Lytham Festival, is thrilled at the prospect.

He said: “We are so proud the programme here just gets better and better.

“We may be a relatively little venue, but our ambition knows no bounds and the confirmation of these shows for the autumn, following on from the announcement that the Lowther is to be a centrepiece of the newly enlarged Lytham Festival, proves there’s no stopping us, whether it’s home grown talent like Jenny Eclair returning to her roots or international megastars like Russell Watson.

“Watch this space – there’s lots more where that came from.”

While Eclair, who sold out on her only previous Lowther appearance in February 2013, includes her home town on her How To be a Middle Aged Woman (Without Going Insane) tour, Watson has been featuring around the country in a series of performances entitled Up Close and Personal to celebrate 15 years as a performer.

Mr McCann added: “Russell plays huge venues such as arenas seating several thousand people, but he wanted to do a more intimate show to reach audiences in a more personal way – and this tour is a way of doing that.

“Even this smaller version of the show is a very big undertaking for the Lowther and we’re having to upgrade our electrics just to accommodate it.

“We’re one of the smallest dates on the tour, but after a lot of negotiation we’ve managed to confirm all the arrangements.

“I think Russell wanted to return to Lytham because he had such a good time at the Proms a couple of years ago. We’re delighted to welcome him back.”

Comedian John Bishop’s performance at Lowther last year sold out in just 140 minutes, while the venue has also recently staged sell-out shows by funnymen Jason Manford and Milton Jones.

Tickets for the Watson concert are priced £45.50, while admission to see Jenny Eclair will be £18.

Both shows go on sale tomorrow from 10am (online from noon) but members of the Friends of Lowther Pavilion, which supports and raises funds for the theatre, can buy their tickets today.