MEMBERS of a kids’ production of Oliver! definitely consider themselves well in with a radio station.
As the Pioneer revealed last week, youngsters from Ellesmere Port’s Footloose company were only able to do half the number of performances of the show they had planned after the council workers’ strike on Wednesday and Thursday meant the Civic Hall had to stay closed.
And when producers at Liverpool-based City Talk 105.9 heard about their disappointment, they invited a group of the young actors into the studio.
The aim was to help them get across the message that they needed as many people as possible to turn up for their remaining performances on Friday and Saturday.
And the talented bunch were also given the chance to sing some of the show’s numbers on air.
Drive-time presenter Paul Jacobs welcomed Chris, Hattie, Jenny, Steve, Kyle and Luke, accompanied by Liz Ledgerton, to his show on Friday.
They explained how they had already paid £15,000 in materials, costumes and make-up only to have to cancel two shows.
Footloose spokesman Barry Hickman-Germon said later: “They were treated like royalty and we are grateful to the station for its help.
“Due to the publicity we got from City Talk and the Pioneer we had good houses on Friday and Saturday. In fact, some people enjoyed it so much they came on both nights.
“We’ll still make a loss of about £5,000 but we can hopefully put in a claim on our insurance to help cover it.”
He added: “We all felt cheated that we were ready and then had to sit it out for two nights.”
