Interview: Su Pollard in Shout!

11:54am Friday 26th September 2008

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SU POLLARD is relishing her latest role in ‘60s-inspired musical Shout! — not least because of the fabulous outfits she gets to wear.

“They’re wonderful darling,” she gushed over the phone.

“Most of the outfits are vintage, original ‘60s stuff.

"It really takes me back. We get girls as young as seven coming to the stage door saying ‘I love your plastic knee-high boots and bright green PVC mac’.”

The show, which also stars former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney, twists and shouts its way around Swinging London as the cast of five discover the fashion, freedom, fun and music that inspired original girl power.

Audiences can shimmy and shake to the infectious, soulful songs by Petula Clark, Cilla Black, Lulu and Dusty Springfield.

“You feel like you’ve been to one big party by the end," said Su.

“At the finale when we all do one big mega mix. Every single person is standing up from their seats dancing around. It’s fabulous."

Born in late 1949, Su was a teenager in the ‘60s and says the show has brought back happy memories.

“When I walk inside the theatre it’s like a time capsule," she said. "Everything from the costumes to the set is all authentic and it’s spot-on. It’s really marvellous. In rehearsals I already knew all the words to all the songs and I remembered all the details, including my very first micro mini skirt that was so small my dad wouldn’t let me out in it.

“I know it sounds strange but people really were happy all the time in the ‘60s.

"People say it was the drugs, but all I remember having was some absolutely foul wine.

"I think it was more about the freedom we had after post-war rationing.”

Su made her TV debut on Opportunity Knocks (where she came second to a singing Jack Russell) but is, of course, best known for roles in Two Up, Two Down, Hi De Hi!, You Rang M’Lord? and Gimme Gimme Gimme.

“People still come up to me in Marks and Spencers and hug me,” she said.

"They remember me from different shows, which I’m proud of because I’ve done lots of different things.

“If anybody sees us in Blackpool they shouldn’t be afraid of coming up and saying hello. We love it.”

l See Su Pollard in Shout! at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Monday, September 29 to Saturday, October 4. For tickets call 01253 290190.