Claire Sweeney stars in Cinderella at Southport's Atkinson

SINGING sensation Claire Sweeney is excited to be going:- "full circle" as she performs in the Cinderella pantomime, in Southport, at the Theatre where she 1st launched her musical career. Claire has enjoyed a stellar career over the years, wowing fans in a variety of roles. She famously played Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4 TV soap Brookside; Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago in London's West End; and opposite Patrick Swayze in the 2005 West End revival of Guys and Dolls, the musical.
 
She was the original Presenter of 60 Minute Makeover, released an album, Claire, which reached number 15 in the UK album charts, and was a panellist on Loose Women. But she began her stage career as a teenager with Southport Youth Theatre, performing plays at what was then known as Southport Arts Centre (now The Atkinson). 

Just before hitting the stage again Claire said she couldn't wait to return to the venue, as the Fairy Godmother, in the LHK Productions version of the Cinderella Christmas Pantomime. The show runs until Sunday, 2 January 2022. Claire said:- "I can't wait! The last time I did Cinderella I was 17, and I was the Principal Boy. So it's nice 1st of all to be back here at The Atkinson Theatre. I was a member of the Southport Youth Theatre many, many years ago with the fabulous Suzy Stocker (now Suzy Walker). I did a couple of summers here and I loved it! I was singing in clubs, I was 14. I wanted to be in musical Theatre. I thought I needed to get some practice, doing a part or something, and I joined the Southport Youth Theatre. So I spent every day in the summer here for 2 years. We did Hair The Musical, Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend, and yes I remember that I spent many, many hours here. And it's great to be back. I mean it doesn't look a lot different really. And also Cinderella; I haven't done this show for many years. It's going to be lovely playing the Fairy Godmother with real life ponies, and a great, talented cast, and such a great production company as well. I am thrilled! It's such a fabulous location as well. I can't wait to be near home." 
 
Claire also has a great love of Southport, a seaside Town where she had many happy memories as she was growing up. She said:- "I am thrilled to be in Southport. I used to come here every Sunday, as a kid, we used to have lunch in The Bold Hotel. It was very posh, wasn't it! Every year I go to The Vincent Hotel as well. Do you remember the shoe shop they used to have on Lord Street? Tommy Ball's? They used to do the cheap shoes? I used to come for them as well. So Southport has a really special place in my heart and I feel my life has come full circle to come back here."
 
People are invited to bring the whole family to see Cinderella, a spellbinding new Christmas pantomime staged at The Atkinson's Theatre. Cinderella, her wicked Stepmother, the jealous stepsisters, the loveable Buttons, a dreamy Prince Charming and of course Cinderella's Fairy Godmother will all be making an appearance onstage. You can expect to see some famous faces in this traditional panto with a modern twist, with actress, singer and TV personality Claire Sweeney starring as the Fairy Godmother.
 
Joining Claire on stage are regular panto pros Mia Molloy (Mam, I'm Ere!) as Cinderella, Lewis Pryor (Britain's Got Talent) as Buttons, Alex Patmore (Blood Brothers) as Prince Charming as well as Tom Burroughs (local Southport actor) and Michael Chapman (Beloved Panto Dame) as The Ugly Sisters.
 
Will Cinders escape the clutches of her ugly step sisters and live happily ever after? The only way to find out is to join audiences at The Atkinson this Christmas for another panto extravaganza!

LHK Productions is 1 of the most acclaimed Theatre and pantomime production companies in the UK and promises a spellbinding experience with a professional cast, live orchestra, lavish sets and exquisite costumes.
 
For tickets please visit:- TheAtkinson.Co.UK.
 

Workers from IllumiDex UK Ltd have been working around the clock to repair extensive damage caused by Storm Arwen

THE storm caused devastation across Southport, destroying dozens of trees, damaging buildings, causing power cuts, cancelling events and closing Schools. The storm saw 100mph winds rip through the town on Friday, and Saturday, 26 November and 27 November 2021 as the Met Office issued a Yellow Weather Warning for Wind, while Sefton NHS health chiefs shared a warning asking local residents to stay safe and watch out for neighbours. 
 
Southport FC's game against Darlington and Southport parkrun were both cancelled due to the bad weather. The storm was followed by more fierce winds on the following Tuesday, night which caused further damage, while further heavy rain and strong winds have struck again this week.

IllumiDex Director Steve Clayton said:- "It really was a freak storm. We have not seen anything this bad for a long time. The gale Force winds were so fierce, they were ripping trees out of the ground. There was 1 tree in Kew where the gusts were so strong they had ripped the tree out of the ground and part of the pavement as well. Storm Arwen caused huge damage. We have been working around the clock. We have been out each day to repair some of the damage that has been caused. We have not had a day off for 4weeks, but we are determined to fix everything as soon as we can, within the constraints of when we are allowed to work. Because of health and safety regulations, we are only allowed to carry out work on the street between:- 6pm and 11pm each night, from Sunday, to Thursday. We are not allowed to work on Fridays and Saturdays when more people are around. We have been starting work at 8am each morning, then between 6pm and 11pm we are out fixing the damage that the winds have done in Southport. We have now repaired Southport's Christmas tree in the Town Hall Gardens. We have also been at The Atkinson, repairing damage which had been done there. The cone shaped festive decorations on the roundabout at the fire Station end of Lord Street were knocked over in the storm. We have been out to repair them. The new Christmas tree that we had installed outside Morrisons supermarket was also damaged. We have had to take the top section away back to our workshop to carry out repairs. During the storm, when most people were sitting at home listening to all the noise of the wind, we were out working, dismantling the Christmas tree at Ocean Plaza and putting it in the back of our van to keep it safe. The winds were so strong that we were standing at a 45 degree angle while we worked! We are working as fast as we can to repair all the damage that's been done by Storm Arwen."

IllumiDex UK Ltd, which is based in Southport, has had a busy year. The firm has installed the illuminated Christmas tree in Southport town centre; the:- 'boulevard of light' with 300,000 LED lights along Lord Street in Southport; Christmas decorations throughout Southport town centre; and decorations and lighting at locations including Ocean Plaza and Central 12 retail parks and in Formby town centre. 
 
IllumiDex has also installed lighting and Christmas decorations inside and outside businesses including:- Southport Market, Remedy, Ra Bar, the Masons Arms, The Grapevine and many others.

The firm has provided lighting in trees and gardens at homes across the North West.

IllumiDex has also given donations worth thousands of pounds to local charities and organisations, including a donation worth ₤700 to the Community Link Foundation charity in Southport.

They also provided lighting at the baby remembrance gardens at both Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospitals. 
 
For more details about Illumidex UK Ltd please visit:- illumidex.Co.UK.