Latest news with #BillBailey
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Earthmovers Start Setting The Stage For Theatre Upgrade
Press Release – Timaru District Council Local company Paul Smith Earthmoving will start work this week to demolish the structures that are being upgraded and replaced in preparation for the earthworks required to build the laneway and museum. Contractors move onto site this week to set the stage for the project to restore Timaru's Theatre Royal. Local company Paul Smith Earthmoving will start work this week to demolish the structures that are being upgraded and replaced in preparation for the earthworks required to build the laneway and museum. Mayor Nigel Bowen said that it was good to see the physical works kick off on the project to bring new life back to more than 100 year old theatre. 'We've been too long without a theatre and have missed out on so many events and shows coming to town, so it's fantastic to see this transformational project kick off. 'It wasn't great to see all the things we've missed out on the past few years for the lack of a good venue to host them. 'The recent Six60 Grassroots tour was in theatres of our size in provincial towns throughout the country, we've not had a visit from the 7 Days crew in years, and everyone misses the major shows from the Drama League after the amazing Beauty and the Beast in 2018. 'Carols by Candlelight always filled the auditorium with light and song, proud parents shared their kids' achievements at the ARA graduation, and I think nearly every kid in the district has been on stage with Jump Jam over the years. 'The comedian Bill Bailey is playing in Oamaru in November, which could have easily been in Timaru, and Jimmy Carr is playing an 11-stop tour of NZ in places of similar size to us. The lack of a large Theatre has meant we've not even been in the running for this kind of show. 'The project isn't just to breathe life back into the theatre and bring it back to what it was. 'It's to modernise the venue and put an operating model in place to aggressively market the venue and bring shows to Timaru, so we can all benefit from the cultural and economic boost that brings.' Project Director Paul Haggath of TEAM Projects Advisory said that the commencement of the demolition works is a major milestone for the Theatre and Museum redevelopment. 'It has taken a lot of hard work from the whole project team to reshape the project to a point where we can now start the physical works, and it is great to see the project now moving forwards with pace,' he said. Murray Beeby, Projects Manager for Paul Smith Earthmoving, said: 'Paul Smith Earthmoving is delighted to be involved in this exciting project. 'We have watched its progress over the past few years and relish the opportunity to play our part in the redevelopment of what will be a central focus point for the Timaru community.' The demolition work takes place from July through to early September, the next stage of the project is the civil and earthworks, which will be kicking off immediately thereafter. A project hub for the theatre, which will offer the latest designs and behind the scenes information from the project, will be launched soon on the Timaru District Council website.
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Earthmovers Start Setting The Stage For Theatre Upgrade
Contractors move onto site this week to set the stage for the project to restore Timaru's Theatre Royal. Local company Paul Smith Earthmoving will start work this week to demolish the structures that are being upgraded and replaced in preparation for the earthworks required to build the laneway and museum. Mayor Nigel Bowen said that it was good to see the physical works kick off on the project to bring new life back to more than 100 year old theatre. 'We've been too long without a theatre and have missed out on so many events and shows coming to town, so it's fantastic to see this transformational project kick off. 'It wasn't great to see all the things we've missed out on the past few years for the lack of a good venue to host them. 'The recent Six60 Grassroots tour was in theatres of our size in provincial towns throughout the country, we've not had a visit from the 7 Days crew in years, and everyone misses the major shows from the Drama League after the amazing Beauty and the Beast in 2018. 'Carols by Candlelight always filled the auditorium with light and song, proud parents shared their kids' achievements at the ARA graduation, and I think nearly every kid in the district has been on stage with Jump Jam over the years. 'The comedian Bill Bailey is playing in Oamaru in November, which could have easily been in Timaru, and Jimmy Carr is playing an 11-stop tour of NZ in places of similar size to us. The lack of a large Theatre has meant we've not even been in the running for this kind of show. 'The project isn't just to breathe life back into the theatre and bring it back to what it was. 'It's to modernise the venue and put an operating model in place to aggressively market the venue and bring shows to Timaru, so we can all benefit from the cultural and economic boost that brings.' Project Director Paul Haggath of TEAM Projects Advisory said that the commencement of the demolition works is a major milestone for the Theatre and Museum redevelopment. 'It has taken a lot of hard work from the whole project team to reshape the project to a point where we can now start the physical works, and it is great to see the project now moving forwards with pace,' he said. Murray Beeby, Projects Manager for Paul Smith Earthmoving, said: 'Paul Smith Earthmoving is delighted to be involved in this exciting project. 'We have watched its progress over the past few years and relish the opportunity to play our part in the redevelopment of what will be a central focus point for the Timaru community.' The demolition work takes place from July through to early September, the next stage of the project is the civil and earthworks, which will be kicking off immediately thereafter. A project hub for the theatre, which will offer the latest designs and behind the scenes information from the project, will be launched soon on the Timaru District Council website.
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Bill Bailey learning the bagpipes ahead of Scotland shows in tribute to Sean Lock
'I'm learning the bagpipes. I have a wonderful set of bagpipes that I own and I've had the bag changed into the Bailey tartan." Bill Bailey has revealed he is learning the bagpipes as he heads to Scotland for a string of shows. The stand-up comic and Strictly Come Dancing winner, 60, is perfecting his pipe playing in time for shows at Glasgow's Armadillo on August 22, and Edinburgh Playhouse on August 23 and 24. He said: 'I'm learning the bagpipes. I've got the basics. I wouldn't say I'm an expert. I have a wonderful set of bagpipes that I own and I've had the bag changed into the Bailey tartan. It's just a fantastic and such a powerful instrument.' He plans to play the pipes on his latest Thoughtifier tour dates in a tribute to fellow comedian Sean Lock, who died of cancer, aged 58, as he says 'they have that commemorative, haunting quality'. He added: 'There's something quite primal about it, especially in a small theatre. There'll be some classic stirring Scottish tunes. 'A drummer comes on and starts beating out the rhythm to a variety of different songs and it gets the hairs standing on the back of the neck every time.' Bill will also be in conversation with former SNP MP Mhairi Black at Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon on August 25. He said: 'The first time we drove to Edinburgh, we got lost. We were in a little Ford Fiesta. The car wasn't absolutely in mint condition so we had to avoid motorways. 'We got to our digs in Leith at six in the morning and next door there was a pub open. 'I came back many years after that and I love the whole experience.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Bill will reflect on extraordinary career in special show
Bill Bailey will be among those interviewed as part of the celebrations It's an exciting time as we announce the final show for the Gilded Balloon special In Conversation shows to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... On the final day of the Festival, one of comedy's most distinctive voices, Bill Bailey, will be interviewed by Mhairi Black. A comedian, actor and musician, Bill will reflect on his extraordinary career so far, his Gilded Balloon memories, his beloved role as Manny in Black Books, his Strictly Come Dancing win and his many appearances at the Fringe. Mhairi Black will also return to Gilded Balloon for a new Work-in-Progress show following her sold out debut last year. Bill Bailey and Kris, his wife, have been my friends since the early 90s when Bill split up from the double act The Rubber Bishops and performed his first solo show at Gilded Balloon. I'm so proud of his achievements over the years and in no way has he changed, he is still the lovely, happy man I met all these years ago. I have had many adventures with Bill and Kris in Bali where they got married, in Holland, Australia and Montreal. In 2002 Bill, Kris, myself and eight other friends went on a sailing trip around the spice islands on the Banda Sea. We went diving and Bill was my dive buddy. It was a thrilling trip and made us friends for life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mhairi Black, the youngest Westminster MP for nearly 10 years, sold out her debut show last year, which we then toured around Scotland as well as Soho Theatre in London and now she returns with a Work-In-Progress to see what it's like to not talk about politics. We thought Mhairi and Bill would make a great pairing, from very different backgrounds and at different stages of their career, and for Mhairi to be on the other side of the interview for once! With special shows from the fantastic Smack The Pony, Alan Davies, Rosie O'Donnell, Lewis MacLeod and Caroline Rhea, I'm thrilled to present this eclectic mix of comedy icons and rising stars at Fringe. With our special one-off In Conversation events featuring Bill Bailey and Jenny Eclair who have been an integral part of Gilded Balloon's history to rising stars on the Scottish scene like Glasgow's Alana Jackson, Kim Blythe, Rosco McClelland and Paul Black – these are all special shows that should not be missed.
NZ Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Comedian Bill Bailey returns to Rotorua with new show Vaudevillean
'Bill Bailey returns with a show that celebrates this great tradition, as the versatile multi-instrumental, multi-lingual, purveyor of humour and musical prowess, who could lay claim to being perhaps the foremost practitioner of this great tradition, an entertainer, a performer, a modern Vaudevillian,' the statement said. In 2023 Bailey brought his show Thoughtifier to New Zealand which included stops in Rotorua and Tauranga. Bailey plays at Rotorua's Sir Howard Morrison Centre on November 21 and tickets are on sale now. Bill Bailey. Photo / Supplied He was one of a growing list of top touring international comedians visiting the centre since it reopened in 2023 after five years closed for significant renovations. UK comedian Sarah Millican's performance in January sold out within weeks of going on sale. Ben Elton, also from the UK, performed in April and Australian Heath 'Chopper Read' Franklin visited in May. Other upcoming comedy shows at the venue included two more UK performers - comedy hypnotist Frankie Mac performs on July 25 and Jimmy Carr's Laughs Funny tour will visit in January. Music fans would also be well served, with The Best of the Bee Gees yesterday becoming the latest tribute act to announce a Rotorua show. A media release said the Australian act would bring their two-act Greatest Hits and Saturday Night Fever Show performance to the Sir Howard Morrison Centre on August 12. The North Island tour is the first time visiting New Zealand for the group, which has been performing for 26 years. Other tribute acts visiting Rotorua this year include Creedence Clearwater Collective, Dancing in the Shadows of Motown, The Fleetwood Mac Experience, Queen: It's a Kind of Magic, Tina: The Ultimate Tribute To The Queen of Rock 'N' Roll, and Taylor: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift.
