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| Drew played Philip Sallon in the Taboo tour which opened at the Lowery, Salford on Thursday 11th December 2003 and ended at the Empire, Liverpool on Saturday 10th July 2004. |
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| Mark Little did an interview for Manchesteronline.co.uk, about the Taboo tour and he was asked, "Will you be reunited with any of the West End cast?" And his reply was, "Yes i will actually. Drew Jaymson who played Steve Strange is in it again, so it will be nice to catch up with him. Rehearsals start in a few weeks. I'm really looking forward to it." For the full interview click here. |
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| REVIEW LINKS; |
| ".....I had seen Drew Jaymson break away from his usual London role of Steve Strange to cover as Philip Sallon before and enjoyed him enough. This time he was much better, he really had the audience in the palm of his hand. Drew's audience walkabout was funny using a mixture of old and new 'ad libs' to the audience members....." Dec 15, 2003 - by Lee Wilson. broadwayworld.com |
| ".....Drew Jaymson and Mark Little walk amongst the 'game' audience and bring humour and pathos as Philip Sallon and Leigh Bowery. The entire cast all give flawless turns....." Dec 16, 2003 - by Glenn Meads. whatsonstage.com |
| ".....Drew Jaymson's Philip Sallon is wonderfully outrageous - a real showstealing performance....." Dec 17, 2003 - by Malcolm Handley. iccheshireOnline.co.uk |
| ".....Drew Jaymson, as most fans know, played the original 'Steve Strange' in the West End show. I am pleased to say he has made the transition from Steve Strange to Philip Sallon remarkably, adding his own brand of homour to the role and getting as close to the 'real' Philip Sallon as anyone previously in my opinion. The audience reparte is still there as the front row of seats have been taken out allowing the actors to come amongst the audience to a certain extent....." Opening night Dec 11, 2003 - Webmaster. Unofficial Taboo Website. |
| Wednesday 7th January 2004 - Salford, Manchester. After a long 5 hour drive up, we finally got to a very quiet Salford! We arrived an hour before the matinee, so didn't have much time to go to the stage door. The matinee was great. It was our first time seeing the show since it started in December. After seeing the show in London, i wasn't really sure how it would work in a proper theatre, but it works just as good. It still has a small amount of audience participation, and some of the bits that got cut from the London show are now back. All the cast were great. Mark Little was off so Robert Shelly took on the part of Leigh Bowery. Drew was amazing as Philip Sallon, he has made that part his own. His version of "Petrified" brought tears to my eyes!!! In between shows we just popped around to the stage door for a few minutes just incase he came out, which he did. We had a quick chat, before he went off to get something to eat. The evening performance was again excellent, but i think it was slightly better than the matinee. Declan Bennett was taken ill so the understudy, who apparantly has never done it before took on the role of Billy. For his first time he did a great job! Drew got me - yep i got "bageled"!!! So embarrassing, but funny!!! Shaz said it was payback for the time she got sung Happy Birthday by Paul Baker in London!!! After the show we went to see Drew. We had a chat about the show. He didn't seem to think it went well today, especially the matinee because everyone forgot lines and didn't hit the right notes - oh and the press were in!! Well we didn't see anything wrong with the shows! It's still early days, it will get better - if it can get any better!! After a bit Drew had to go and catch his tram, so we said bye for now!! Until next time....! |
| ".....Drew Jaymson, excellent as legendary club organiser Philip Sallon, toyed with the audience....." Jan 27, 2004 - by Clare Bourke. This is Local London. |
| ".....Boy George and Marilyn are rather sidetracked by Drew Jaymson as Philip Sallon, who delivers a cleverly judged portrayal of a man covered in campness but hiding sensitivity and nervousness....." Jan 24, 2004 - by Mark Smith. The Herald. |
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| Monday 22nd March 2004 - Bristol When Drew comes to Bristol, we don't hesitate getting tickets to go and see him!! Tonight me, Shaz, and my boyfriend Andrew all went off on trip no.1 of the week!!! I think the show has come a long way since we last saw it back in January in Salford. There's a few slight changes, a few lines have been cut, but nothing too drastic. The show runs a lot smoother now, and it is still the best show around at the moment. Drew was as excellent as ever, and so funny. He has certainly settled into his role of Philip Sallon. It was great to finally get to see Mark Little play Leigh Bowery because he was off ill the last time we went. He was fab - very funny. The whole cast were great. It was our first time sat in the front row. We were waiting to get picked on, but thankfully Drew walked straight past us. We were safe - this time anyway!!! After the show, we headed straight to the stage door. Drew came out after what seemed like an hour!! We said "hi" and had a chat. He told us that tickets weren't selling well, and he offered to get us some "comp" tickets for the Saturday matinee - this was an offer we couldn't refuse!!! He also told us about the shows he's involved in. His show has been put back, and the other one which he can't say what it is yet, is going great (for more details go to news page). He seemed really excitied about it!! After a bit he had to go, he had to find where he was living for the week!! So we will see you again on Saturday!! Thank you for the "comp" tickets Drew xxxx |
| ".....Drew Jaymson plays Sallon and he is a fantastic all-rounder - even walking around the audience in a Julian Clary type way - and his voice is amazing, the true star of the show....." Feb 2004 - Jenny Jones. BBC, Birmingham Stage. |
| Saturday 27th March 2004 - Bristol We were about to have a very exciting weekend. Originally we were only going to the evening performance, but thanks to Drew, who got us complimentary tickets, we got to see the matinee as well, which was really nice, so "Thank you Drew" xx. Once again both shows were excellent. There were a few mistakes which made the shows even funnier!! In the matinee, when Drew picked up the phone it continued to ring!! In the evening during "Shelter" Steven Osborne (Petal) got muddled with his choreography and singing, coming in to early, which confused everyone else!! Also Drew brought back "Scooby Doo" in "Freak"!! After the show we briefly saw Drew before he had to go. No photos were taken again!! |
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| Monday 29th March 2004 - Oxford After a days rest we headed off to Drew's home town Oxford. We saw him before the show. There were a few problems with the set and warm-up. We talked for a bit before he went off to find out what was going on. Once again the show was great. The theatre was a bit cold - we were nearly frozen to our seats by the end! Drew was great, even though he hurt his neck yesterday on his day off, poor thing, but what a trooper!! Mark McGee (original Marylin) was also in the audience tonight. After the show we saw him again, we had some photos taken (finally!!), and talked about the show, but after a bit he had to go, so we said our goodbyes, and said we'd see him again in Cardiff!! |
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| Saturday 10th July - Liverpool - The last day of the tour. Today was a day of mixed emotions - from happy to sad in a short number of hours. It was a long 5 hour drive up to Liverpool, but it was well worth it. We waited in our "Hello You!" and "Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese?" t'shirts for Drew at the stage door. He came shortly after. We talked to him for a bit and gave him a few presents. My present included a teddy wearing a police hat and wedding dress which i made!! We took a few photos and we wished him luck for his last 2 shows. He said he'd see us in between shows and briefly after because he was getting a lift with Steven Osborne. We stayed at the stage door and saw other cast member arrive. I had a photo with Stephen. |
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| Above - Drew auditioning for the Supremes!! |
| The last show For the last show the whole cast gave 110%. It was a great performance by all. Unlike the matinee there was no messing around - well there were a few moments, like in the club toilet scene when Drew dropped his mirror when slamming it down on the table. As Julian got put back in his cubical he said to Drew "i think you dropped something!". Also as Drew was about to walk off after his bagels scene the whole audience started clapping and cheering, he stood there bowing, even Stephen and James who were waiting to come on stage came on and got down on their hands and knees and started bowing at him!! As Drew sang 'Petrified' for the final time, it brought tears to my eyes. The end was in sight. Then it was time for Drew to say his last few lines, with a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes. I'm sure we weren't the only 2 there who had tears in our eyes as well. During the final song Drew and Stephen hugged, this made me realise, after all the shows i've seen either with Drew in them or not, i think this cast were perfect, they seemed to bounce off each other and always produce an excellent show. Those people who complained today obviously don't know a good show when they see one!! This was a great show with an even greater cast. I'd just like to say a big "Thank You" to the whole cast. You have all been amazing, and i wish you all the luck for the future. A special "Thank You" to Drew. You deserve every bit of success in the future. I hope your new project goes really well. And i hope to see you in another show in the future. You are a massive talent. Good Luck Drew xx And don't forget me and Shaz will always be your No.1 fans! xx :) |
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| All images are Copyright to Lisa @ drewjaymson.com If you wish to contact me about Drew please email me at - lisa@drewjaymson.com |
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| Monday 23rd April 2004 - Cardiff. Today was Shaz's birthday, so it was only right we did something she wouldn't forget and what's more perfect then going to see Drew!! We went to both shows. My friend Sarah came with us to the matinee. It was great to see Julian Clary again, and also Luke Evans (the original Billy) who was back for a few weeks while Dec was off. Both shows were FAB - Drew especially!! In the matinee Shaz got picked on by Drew which was funny!! In the evening show Jason Packett (Guru Dazzle) was off, the understudy completely forgot his lines at the end, so it was Drew who put everyone back on track by saying "that's fascinating!!". After the show we saw Drew. We chatted for a bit. He told us that the wedding dress is the same wedding dress as Paul Baker and Phil Nicol wore, and it only occassionally gets dry-cleaned!! The arm pit is apparently a bit disgusting!!! Eww!!! He's asked for another one but the tour will probably be over before they find one!! Also the top he wears in 'Petrified' is too small so its like getting out of a straight jacket every time he takes it off!! After a while we said our goodbyes until Bath in 3 weeks time, where we will hopefully see him with his new hair style!! |
| Wednesday 12th May 2004 - Bath. Like Bristol, Bath isn't to far away for us, so we couldn't resist the temptation!! We saw Drew briefly before the show. It was the first time we saw his lovely 'new' hair!! The show itself was another excellent performance by all. Dec was still off until the end of the week so Luke was still playing Billy. Drew was as funny as ever. He lost his hat while on the phone pretending to be Claudio from Blakes hotel!! He said he didn't even know he'd lost it until he went to take it off after!! He also forgot his lines at the end - he blamed it on him lying down relaxing backstage!! After the show we saw him again. We talked for a bit about the show, there's only 7 weeks left, we also talked a bit about his next project, but he still won't say what it is!!! After a bit it was time once again to say 'goodbye'. The next time we go is the last day of the tour in Liverpool. It's going to be a fun but sad day, so until then...... |
| Soon it was time to go in for the last matinee - and what a fun matinee it was!! There was lots of messing around in the first half. Drew started things rolling. Instead of coming out from under the curtain he popped up from behind the bar!! During the scene where George walks in on Kim and Billy, Stephen came on wearing Kim's pink dress. This was followed by Drew coming on for the 'bagels' scene wearing the black dress that Marilyn wears in 'Genocide Perioxide', a big afro style wig, and stripy red and black socks!! And instead of having bagels - aka 'fish fancies' - he had chocolate eclairs!! It was so funny, i just had to get my camera out and take a picture!!! In 'Guttersnipe' Robbie came on wearing a woman's wigs and some very funny goofy teeth (i wonder where they're from Shaz!?!?) During 'Touched By The Hand Of Cool' Julian came on with a dildo instead of a carrot!!! Near the end of the first half Drew got pounced on by James (Maz), sending them both crashing to the floor!! They ended up having a wrestling match and Drew ripped James's wig off causing him to scream and run off stage!! Later for the reprise of 'Stranger In This World' James came back on wearing Drew's horns wig!!!! The second half was a lot calmer. We found out later from Drew that the managment of the theatre had received complaints from some of the audience about all the messing around. They got told to keep to the script - what a bunch of boring old farts!! Anyway despite being told not too, there were still a few things added in during the second half. During 'Everything Taboo' James came on wearing a dress and wig and sat at the table!! And while Drew sang 'Petrified' you could hear pigeons!! The final matinee slowly came to an end. It was a great show, lots of fun!! |
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