ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
© Pamela Raith
HERE , CHER AND EVERYWHERE
A BUNDLE OF ZESTY ENERGY , OTI MABUSE MAY BE ON A RARE DAY OFF BUT SHE ’ S STILL OPERATING AT WARP SPEED . BUT THEN THE DOUBLE STRICTLY GLITTERBALL CHAMPION HAS GOOD REASON TO BE SO HAPPY AND ANIMATED …
Currently revving up for the hotly anticipated brand new production of The Cher Show , directed by national treasure Arlene Phillips and with a book by Tony and Olivier Award-winning Rick Elice ( of Jersey Boys fame ), Oti will be choreographing the show , which will tour until April 2023 .
Telling the story of the Armenian American truck driver ’ s shy daughter who rose to global stardom , The Cher Show charts superstar Cher ’ s meteoric rise to fame . And of course there is a cracking soundtrack . Packed with 35 of her biggest hits , it ’ s part show and part party .
“ It ’ s the story that so many women connect with , but it ’ s also the songs and the clothes . It will be epic !” beams Oti , adding : “ It has to be bigger than anything because it ’ s her ; it has to live up to Cher ’ s iconic status . She has been such an inspiration to so many people and this musical is going to be a celebration of everything people love about her .”
And so it ’ s down to Oti to weave that star quality into the choreography - a challenge that she is absolutely thrilled with .
“ What I love about choreography is that , when I ’ m dancing , I am only part of the picture , but when you are choreographing , there are so many elements that are so exciting . Creating a storyline through dance means you go through the smallest details - is there a connection or a secret between the dancers that we need the audience to share ? What props are there ? What is the dancer at the back of the stage doing ?”
As for the music , Oti ’ s exuberance ratchets up yet another notch when we start talking about Cher ’ s hits .
“ I grew up with a family that always listened to music and we all loved Cher ’ s music . Her songs have stories behind them and I LOVE choreography that has a story behind it ! It has an intention you can then give to the movement . It makes everyone in the theatre part of the story . And everyone connects to Cher ’ s music because it is timeless . SHE is timeless !
“ The show starts from the beginning of her life and comes to present day , so if you don ’ t know Cher ’ s story you will learn it . There are so many great songs that will make people feel uplifted too . And the show is going to almost every theatre in the country because Cher is an international phenomenon !”
The Cher Show will be at The Orchard Theatre from Tue 20 to Sat 24 September , tickets available online now !
orchardtheatre . co . uk
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