The Dolly Mixtures

I must admit that until I knew I was going to see this show I had never heard of the Dolly Mixtures (other than as a item of childish confectionary). That is to my shame to think such a wonderful set of women were using their talents in innovative ways in the South Tyneside area to raise money for Cancer research in the early 1970’s in such an altruistic way.

Similarly director Enid Bilton-Gale was also inspired when seeing its premiere at the Customs house South Shield in 2017 and knew she wished to direct it. Fast forward seven years and one pandemic later and a group of hand picked performers staged the production under the banner of ‘Starz Theatre Company’ in the bijou City Theatre in Durham. This venue was ideal for the production mimicking the cramped intimate performance areas of the CIU affiliated clubs the original girls performed in.

The story originates in 1972 when Margaret’s (Pascalle Rössle) husband, Ken (Steven Berry) was dying in hospital of bowel cancer. Along with Ken’s sister, Hilda (Natalie Elleithy) they persuaded friends to help them raise money for the hospital Ken was residing in (sound familiar? Only this true story predated the calendar girls by some almost thirty years and took place in South Tyneside).

Alongside Jean (Ann-Marie Clayton), Sylvia (Enid Bilton-Gale), Doris (Wendy Hindmarch), Liz (Faye Rodgerson), Joan (Wendy Church) and Betty (Rosemary Jones) the ‘Dolly Mixtures’ set out to overcome the prejudices of agents wishing to take ‘cuts’; amorous advances by club officials; cramped changing facilities in the clubs and the misogynistic attitudes of the working men’s club staff of the 70’s and 80’s to raise some £100,000 (over a million in todays money) all for cancer research without taking a penny for themselves, making their own costumes and making a name for themselves on the NE circuit.

Talking of costumes my favourite had to be the ‘chicken’ outfits whilst singing ‘Squawk, Rattle and Shake’ – you had to be there!!!

Throughout the musical Ken made several appearances after he had died as his spiritual form looked after Margaret and the rest of the girls from afar – Steven was an ever present presence throughout the Dolly's tenure. Many of the girls took on the role of club officials suitably dressed each to hilarious effect as they caricatured the downright misogyny and ignorance of the officials of the time. There was also ‘nods’ to great north east legends like Bobby Thompson as well as sketches of ‘Hilda Baker and Cynthia’.

As to the show itself, the audience were driven from tears of laughter in the singing of the ‘Pheasant Plucker’ song (with the odd few tongue twisting faux pax’s thrown in) to tears of sorrow and empathy in the poignant ‘Say Goodbye’ number between Margaret and Ken. There was not one musical number that was not notable for one reason or another culminating in the musical number of ‘The Final Show’ some fifteen years after the girls had gone on their fundraising journey. The whole cast were a credit through their fine vocals and acting to their forerunners.
Well done also to Lisa Petrie for her stage choreography – no mean feat to produce such movement on such a tiny stage. A simple set and minimal props were all that was needed in this wonderful musical – the story and the quality of the vocals told their own story.

The author and composer of the show were there the night I attended and two of the original Dolly Mixtures attended the previous evenings production.

Well done girls and Steven – this was one I will remember for many years.

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