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No joy finding Duggie

Published Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 15:00

I was most surprised to read in the July 17 edition of The Stage, in the piece on summer entertainment in Blackpool, that not once was the name Duggie Chapman mentioned.

Duggie is without doubt Blackpool’s leading impresario over the last 30 years and has kept the flag flying for both variety and star concert names.

Duggie’s Matinee Music Hall at the Winter Gardens Pavilion opened in early May, when other promoters would not risk putting shows in town. This show runs for 20 weeks. For the summer 10 weeks he promotes The Big Laughter Show in the Opera House starring TV’s Jim Royle Ricky Tomlinson, with Duncan Norville, Tony Barton etc. Not a mention of this.

If your writer had have looked around the Winter Gardens complex, he would have seen star names booked for concerts this season such as Katy Setterfield in Dusty, direct from her huge success in Las Vegas, and from the USA, The Stylistics (the real thing not a tribute show) and in October legendary Billy Ocean and his band. Last week he presented a Gala Night of Stars for the Grand Order of Water Rats with 15 star acts and four Coronation Street stars to a packed house.

As an employee of Duggie Chapman Associates from many years, may I add that he has kept more variety acts working throughout the year, without any subsidy, than any other management, and there is always a smile, whether he loses or makes money on his ventures. So give credit where credit is due to a former performer turned promoter who in August this year actually celebrates 50 years in show business, starting as a youth in films.

Mervyn Troth

Address supplied

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