MUSICAL Theatre Company Encore! will be wearing their hearts on their sleeves next month as they come together for a one night only performance to raise funds for Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation.
Redditch singers and titans of the local theatre scene David Steele and Sophie Grogan with the musical genius of Kris Chase-Byrne, are producing Heart and Music to help raise vital funds for the charity with a concert at the Palace Theatre.
After hearing about the sad loss of Robert and Maggie Underwood’s third child Carrick to cardiac arrest just last year, Encore! decided they needed to do more to help the charity, whose fundraising work has already helped save countless lives and educated hundreds of people.
Accompanied by a small cast of talented, hand-picked local performers Encore! will be taking on numbers from The Greatest Showman, A Star is Born (2018 and 1976 versions), Miss Saigon, Beautiful (The Carole King Musical), Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll and Hyde and many more.
Sophie said: “I have followed the story of CCSHF for many years and am proud to support this selfless charity.
“Robert, Maggie and their family have been through so much but never give up, they just keep giving so this is the least we can do. I hope we can raise a substantial amount through the concert to help them with their latest venture.
David added: “Between the three of us we have over 100 years of experience – though we’d never admit that! – and singing/playing is second nature to us.
“We’ve had a lot of fun putting the concert together with our friends but it all pales in comparison to what CCSHF do to help people every day and we’re honoured to be able to support them.”
Kris said: “Family is so important and the work done by CCSHF just brings that home.
“Life is short and they are helping people live it to the full.
“The concert will be a really fantastic evening of high calibre musical theatre, pop and rock classics and it’s all for a fantastic cause.”
The concert will be held at the Palace Theatre in Redditch on Sunday, September 8 with curtain up at 7pm.
Rob Underwood, co-founder of Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation, said: “The funds raised from the concert will go towards installing more vital defibrillators around Worcestershire – perhaps in the Norbury Theatre where the group have been rehearsing – but also towards our latest project, ‘Carrick’s Retreat’.
“After Carrick passed away we were gifted a family holiday and made so many memories that we will cherish forever. Now we want to give the same to other families who have lost children or have children with life limiting illnesses so they benefit like we did.
These holidays will be completely free and our only stipulation will be for the families to take as many photographs and make as many memories as possible while they can.
“Our fundraising journey is far from over and there is so much more vital work we and other charities like ours still need to do so we can’t thank Encore! enough for supporting CCSHF. We got a sneak preview of the concert last week and what we heard was amazing! Our daughter Poppy was so happy to sing the Greatest Showman with them.”
Tickets for the concert cost just £15 each, inclusive of a £1 booking fee which goes to the Palace Theatre.
For tickets visit www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/heart-and-music or pop into the box office or call 01527 65203.
For more information about CCSHF visit www.ccshf.org.uk
To see Encore in rehearsal, click here
