Who doesn’t want a fun night out when they go to see a musical? Footloose guarantees just that, according to veteran of the stage and charts Maureen Nolan

“It’s fun, this show. That’s the main draw,” the 61-year-old chart topper told us of the show which comes to New Wimbledon Theatre from May 2 to 7.

She added: “People may not remember how many great songs there are in Footloose.

“I’d forgotten really, even though I’d done it before.

“There’s a lot of eighties and seventies musicals that go around that are good fun but are lightweight. This is quite a nice story because it’s based on truth.”

Based on the Oscar-winning 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose is set in a small American town where dancing has been banned. That is until city boy Ren arrives and shakes things up.

Maureen plays Vi Moore, wife of the reverend who put the ban in place, and it’s a role she treasures.

She said: “Our son who has died five years previously and we have one daughter. He is very protective over her and she’s caught between the two. It’s a nice part.”

Whereas the music in most musicals comes from a band playing below the stage, in this version of Footloose it is all played by the actors on stage – something which makes rehearsals that much trickier and leaves Maureen in awe of her cast mates.

She said: “I make a lot of tea. I’m the only one who doesn’t play anything in the show.

“I love my part but it’s kind of small. I don’t do much dancing. I do a little bit at the end. I was thrilled to get a little bit dancing.

“It’s awesome just to watch the talent, it’s incredible. Not only do they play an instrument, they play multiple instruments.

“The little girl who plays Ariel (Hannah Price), she is as short as me and slight and beautiful and plays trumpet and sings and dances and acts really well.

“I had a chat with her at lunchtime and she’s also a civil engineer. It’s like: ‘You’re just annoying’.”

Footloose is at New Wimbledon Theatre from May 2 to 7. Go to atgtickets.com/Wimbledon

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