Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood, the celebration of the music of the late comedy genius and national treasure written and performed by Paulus (‘The Cabaret Geek’, BBC1’s All Together Now and ‘King of Cabaret’ The Stage), is coming to The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham on Thursday 14 November (7:30pm), as part of a 2024 Autumn tour.
Directed by multi-award-winning cabaret artist Sarah-Louise Young (An Evening Without Kate Bush), the show is filled with love, laughter and fabulous memories for Victoria Wood fans as well as the ultimate ‘beginner’s guide’ for audiences new to her work.
Many of Victoria Wood’s best-loved songs through the decades are featured including It Would Never Have Worked, Reincarnation and, of course, the classic Ballad of Barry & Freda (Let’s Do It), as well as some of her lesser-known and more poignant compositions.
The acclaimed pianist Michael Roulston (Fascinating Aida) joins Paulus on stage, proving what many have known for decades: that it takes two men to do the work of one woman – half as well!
Paulus said: “As we embark on our fifth year travelling the UK to celebrate a lost, much-loved friend, I’m more excited than ever to meet fellow fans of the unforgettable Victoria Wood, and to introduce a whole new generation to her wit, wisdom and word-play.”
Paulus, ‘The Cabaret Geek’, is an entertainer and educator specialising in cabaret. Best known for his appearances on BBC1’s All Together Now as a talent judge, his musical tribute to Victoria Wood premièred in London in 2020. For fifteen years, Paulus had close ties to the cult London cabaret venue The Battersea Barge, producing many cabarets for them including the hugely successful talent contest Cheese ‘n’ Crackers, Diva Nite and their annual adult pantomimes. For ten years, Paulus ran the entertainment agency Excess All Areas (formerly Better Chemistry) and under this banner he spearheaded the annual Cabaret Convention and London Cabaret Awards. His expertise has been sought to judge many talent competitions including National Burlesque Awards, Drag Idol for Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Pride’s Got Talent, Musical Comedy Awards and Burlesque Idol at The Hippodrome Casino.
To find out more about Paulus and his show, visit: www.lookingformefriend.com
To book tickets for the Birmingham date, visit: old-joint-stock-theatre.designmynight.com/5f85ee241ffa481c6c0f1cb6/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood
2024 TOUR LISTINGS
5 Sept Wednesbury Library, Wednesbury – NOW ON SALE bookwhen.com/bctouring/e/ev-s4rc-20240905190000
6 Sept The Majestic Theatre, Darlington – NOW ON SALE www.ticketsource.co.uk/majestic-theatre/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood/e-zlrqyv
10 Sept Brindley Theatre, Runcorn – NOW ON SALE www.quaytickets.com/thebrindley/en-GB/shows/looking%20for%20me%20friend-%20the%20music%20of%20victoria%20wood/events
11 Sept Sheffield Playhouse – NOW ON SALE https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood
12 Sept Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames – NOW ON SALE
thekenton.org.uk/events/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood/
13 Sept Chiswick Book Festival – ON SALE SOON
17 Sept Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool – NOW ON SALE www.culturehartlepool.com/events/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01429890000
19 Sept Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea – NOW ON SALE
ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01273464440
20 Sept The Princess Theatre, Burnham-on-Sea – NOW ON SALE www.theprincesstheatre.co.uk/events/looking-for-me-friend / 01278784464
21 Sept Boston Spa Village Hall – NOW ON SALE www.entertainmentinthespa.com/event-details/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood
22 Sept Prestwich Arts Festival, Bury – ON SALE SOON www.prestwichartsfestival.co.uk
25 Sept Royal & Derngate, Northampton – NOW ON SALE
www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/looking-for-me-friend
27 Sept The Quarry, Bedford – NOW ON SALE quarrytheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873656345 / 01234362337
28 Sept The Hawth, Crawley – NOW ON SALE
www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth/whats-on/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01293553636
4 Oct The Beggar’s Theatre, Millom – NOW ON SALE beggarstheatre.com/event/looking-for-me-friend / 01229775677
5 Oct Theatr Clwyd, Mold – NOW ON SALE www.theatrclwyd.com/event/looking-for-me-friend / 01352344101
6 Oct Swindon Arts Centre – NOW ON SALE trafalgartickets.com/swindon-arts-centre/en-GB/event/music/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood-tickets / 03433100040
11 Oct Helmsley Arts Centre, York – NOW ON SALE www.helmsleyarts.co.uk/whats-on/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01439771700
12 Oct The Y Theatre, Leicester – ON SALE SOON
ytheatre.co.uk / 01162557066
13 Oct Crazy Coqs, London – NOW ON SALE
www.brasseriezedel.com/events/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood-2 / 02077344888
17 Oct Beacon Arts Theatre, Greenock – NOW ON SALE
www.beaconartscentre.co.uk/events/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01475723723
18 Oct Leslie Town Hall, Fife – NOW ON SALE
19 Oct Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine – NOW ON SALE
www.ticketsource.co.uk/harbour-arts-centre/t-ojoopek
25 Oct Louth Riverhead Theatre – NOW ON SALE tickets.louthriverheadtheatre.com/louthriverheadtheatre/website/EventDetails.aspx?WebEventId=LookingForMeFriend
13 Nov Stamford Arts Centre – NOW ON SALE www.stamfordartscentre.com/whats-on/all-shows/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood/13456
14 Nov The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham – NOW ON SALE
16 Nov The Bridge, Milford-on-Sea – ON SALE SOON www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk/your-centre/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01590644861
17 Nov Phoenix Arts, Bordon – NOW ON SALE www.phoenixarts.co.uk/whats-on/events/looking-me-friend-music-victoria-wood-2024-11-17 / 01420472664
26 Nov Stourbridge Town Hall – NOW ON SALE boroughhalls.co.uk/looking-for-me-friend.html / 01507600350
31 Jan Minerva, Chichester Festival Theatre – ON SALE SOON www.cft.org.uk / 01243781312
13 Feb The Queen’s Hall, Narberth – ON SALE SOON
thequeenshall.org.uk / 01834861212
27 Feb Squire Performing Arts Centre, Nottingham – ON SALE NOW
squirepac.co.uk/whats-on/looking-for-me-friend-the-music-of-victoria-wood / 01159354473
21 Mar The Witham, Barnard Castle – ON SALE SOON
thewitham.org.uk / 01833631107
22 Mar The Platform, Morecambe – ON SALE SOON
www.lancaster.gov.uk/sites/the-platform / 01524582803
2 Apr South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell – ON SALE SOON
www.southhillpark.org.uk / 01344484123
1 May Congress Theatre, Cwmbran – NOW ON SALE congresstheatrecwmbran.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873662097