Joe Meek Rocks Again As Telstar Opening in London June 24
By James Inverne
24 Jun 2005
A new musical traces the rise and fall of Joe Meek, the legendary British rock music producer. Telstar, by Nick Moran and James Hicks, opens at London’s New Ambassadors Theatre June 24.
Meek lived over a handbag shop on Holloway Road and transformed his flat into a recording studio. He produced three huge hits of the 1960’s, including the song “Telstar,” which he wrote. However, his sometimes violent manner and amphetamine addiction made him hard to handle. And, his mad wanderings caused him to believe that many of his songs were written by the ghost of Buddy Holly. The show charts his brilliant success and the crazed drive that in the end drove him down again (Meek, not always the best judge of talent, passed on the chance to produce Tom Jones, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.)
Moran is best known for his film work — particularly his role as Eddy in “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” His cast includes Con O’Neill, who was one of the original stars of the long-running London production of Blood Brothers, as Meek. Linda Robson, famous in the U.K. for her work in the TV series “Birds of a Feather,” plays Meek’s landlady, Violet Shenton. Also in the cast are Tarl Caple, Gareth Corke, Callum Dixon, David Hayler, Roland Manookian, Philip York and William Woods.
Paul Jepson directs. Producing are Katy Quayle, Kate Plantin and Moran for KT2 productions, presenting the New Vic Workshop staging in association with Eastbourne Theatres and Cambridge Arts. Tim Shortall designs, with lighting designs by Chris Ellis. The show is scheduled to run until Sept. 10.
For more information, call (0)870 060 6627.
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