AN ENTERTAINER is bringing her critically acclaimed one-woman show back to her home town of Rugby.
Actor Sally Jones, a former member of Rugby Theatre, will return to the Henry Street venue to perform her self-written and produced show Piaf – the Life Story and Songs of Edith Piaf, as part of the theatre’s Fringe Week later this month.
Sally Jones says she is ‘thrilled to be returning to Rugby to perform once again on the Rugby Theatre stage’.
Sally left Rugby Theatre, where she performed a number of leading roles, in 1994 to pursue her career as a professional actress and entertainer.
She has since starred in the Canadian tour of Les Miserables, Stepping Out, Into The Woods, Noises Off and Stephen Sondheim’s 70th Birthday Celebration Concert in Toronto, and enjoyed success as a headline variety act for some of the top cruise lines in the world including Seabourn, Silversea and Regent.
To kick off Fringe Week, Sally will perform, for one night only, her salute to the iconic French chanteuse Edith Paif – the story of ‘the ‘Little Sparrow’ who rose from the backstreets of Paris to become the highest paid female entertainer in the world.
The show received five star reviews for performances at Leicester Square Theatre and Jermyn Street Theatre in London’s West End.
Sally said: “I don’t attempt an impersonation of Piaf’s incomparable voice, but I’ve been told numerous times that I ‘capture her essence’ which is a huge compliment as far as I’m concerned.
“It’s a fascinating story of triumph over adversity, but I’ve managed to weave in a fair amount of humour as a bit of light relief – as otherwise it could be very dark.”
French chanteuse Edith Paif rose from the backstreets of Paris to become the highest paid female entertainer in the world.
Hailed by London Musical Theatre Review as a ‘masterclass in how a tribute to a music legend should be crafted,’ the show features all Piaf’s well known classics including La Vie En Rose, No Regrets, Autumn Leaves, Milord and more.
Sally added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be returning to Rugby to perform once again on the Rugby Theatre stage – even for just one night.
“It’s an emotional show anyway, but I have a feeling it’s going to be even more so when I return to Rugby where I have so many wonderful memories and still have a lot of friends in the town.”
Rugby Theatre is hosting Fringe Week from May 18 to 26.
The Piaf show takes place on on Saturday May 18 at 7.30pm. Visit www.rugbytheatre.co.uk for more information, and for tickets.
