Last updated 09:19, Friday, 10 October 2008

Keith Jack, star of BBC reality TV show Any Dream Will Do and the narrator in Bill Kenwright’s touring production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays Carlisle’s Hilltop Hotel tomorrow night, as part of a national tour to launch debut album, This Time.

Keith Jack

Keith enjoyed his time in Carlisle earlier this year with Joseph and was so impressed with the standard of the StagedRight youth theatre who made up the Joseph choir, that he has invited them to perform a number with him this week.

Keith describes This Time as “classical pop”.

This Time includes original songs co-written by Keith as well as favourites from great international songwriters such as Oscar winning Don Black, Kian Egan of Westlife.

“It’s the kind of music I love to listen to,” says Keith. “Originally we were going to have 14 covers but then we came up with six new songs and I’m really proud to have my music on it.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision to drop some of the songs but I had to keep some of my favourites.”

Keith names Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Light At The End Of The Tunnel and music by Joss Stone, Hayley Westenra and “unreal” Steve Balsamo (the original Jesus Christ Superstar) as his heroes and musical stars.

It’s been an amazing 18 month journey for Keith Jack. From packing shelves in his local supermarket to appearing in front of millions of viewers every Saturday evening on his way to reaching the grand final of Any Dream Will Do.

Since the show, he has performed up and down the country on the touring production of Joseph playing to more than 250,000 people, as well as performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra on Radio 2 and starring in a brand new musical, Only the Brave, which made its debut at the Edinburgh International Festival.

“The tour is 18 dates so it’s really going to be fun,” says Keith. “I’m doing a lot of dance rehearsals – on top of the musical rehearsals. I’m really going to be crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.”

Keith’s year finishes off in traditional style as he makes his panto debut starring in Peter Pan.

StagedRight will be the only group on the entire tour to be invited to perform with Keith

“We are thrilled to have been asked to appear once again with Keith and our members cannot wait to see him,” says director David McNeil. “Keith has stayed in touch with us since he was in Carlisle and it is a real privilege to be asked.”

Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £12 adults/£8 OAPS, under 16s, students, disabled (plus booking fee) through www.ticketweb.co.uk

Nearly 100 StagedRight and the Max Rhythm dancers perform Once Upon A Time, featuring hits from Miss Saigon, Hairspray, Scrooge The Musical, Billy Elliott, ABBA and more at Langholm’s Buccleuch Centre on Sunday, October 26.

David McNeill says: “I am thrilled to be coming back to Langholm to perform with StagedRight in the Buccleuch Centre – it’s a thrill.

“StagedRight is about developing young people and to do that we need the experience of adapting to different venues and audiences. A few members recently performed in Eaglesfield and that was a fantastic night. Coming back to Langholm will be wonderful.”

Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £6 from www.buccleuchcentre.com or call 01387 381196.