The Opera Dudes at the Masons Nottingham

27th Jan 2012 

A charity concert in aid of "Teddies for Loving Care"

January 27th and the Dudes are back on the road! The 2012 Tour is underway. 

The first night was a Charity Fund-raising Event for Teddies For Loving Care. A sell-out with 250 guests of the Nottingham Masons filling the Belgrave Rooms in Nottingham. 

Entertainment is the name of the game and put the Dudes in front of 250 people and that is what you get!  It all kicked off with a bit of bespoke drama. As Tim was enchanting the audience with some dreamy Rachmaninov, there was an almighty kerfuffle as an unknown guest arrived late, dressed in all his Masonic finery. This bothersome latecomer - who bore more than a passing resemblance to Neil Allen - then proceeded to berate the delighted audience for their lack of adherence to Masonic dress-code and customary handshake! 

The show was under way and the audience under no allusions as to what was in store. 

The show was a huge success and Neil made several of the ladies blush - that was until two ladies made him blush by grabbing on to him and not letting him go. He had to give in and admit defeat - that was the only way…..

 

On Saturday The Only Way Was Essex! A trip to Willingale on behalf of Essex On Tour.

 

For The Opera Dudes, The Only Way Was Essex!

 28th Jan 2012

A trip to Willingale on behalf of Essex On Tour. 

 

We felt a real affinity with Willingale: The Opera Dudes is often spoken of a an act with two Knaves; Willingale, similarly, is well-known as a village with 2 naves. Well, 2 churches to be precise! While the image of Essex on telly is all fast cars, handbags and modern living, the Essex we see on tour is full of ancient history, friendly villages and beautiful scenery. 

Willingale was no different; great community, lovely people and houses that have been there for hundreds of years. We arrived just as the Panto rehearsal finished and they left us their stage, their lighting and the back of their horse - o no they didn't! 

The hospitality was unsurpassed. Viv and Ken were our delightful hosts, presenting us on arrival with tea and biscuits the size of Moses' tablets - thou shalt not eat more than one! 

We then met the charming Caroline who was organising the event - it was her first and I don't think we gave her too many headaches - and whose casserole was much better than she gave it credit!

The show went down a storm; even the 'Pink Lady' enjoyed it, although she probably wished she had stayed within the safe confines of the bar! Neil nearly got an earful from a certain gentleman when he sat next to him dressed like a 'local' at the beginning of the show, but once they realised what was going on, the audience warmed up and we were away! 

The good people of Essex expressed themselves well pleased – not so much dancing around handbags as cheering to the rafters, which is just fine by us!