TV success hasn’t turned the head of legendary luvvie Count Arthur Strong as he brings his new show The Sound of Mucus to Leeds Grand Theatre on Sunday 9th April.
The show pays tribute to one of the best musicals the hapless Count can remember and he has a unique pitch to his audience.
“If you only buy one ticket for something this year buy a ticket for this one twice and bring a friend. I promise you, you won’t regret it,” says Strong, “And if you do there must be something wrong with you. No refunds.”
Ironically Steve Delaney, the man behind Count Arthur Strong, worked at Leeds Grand Theatre back in the early 1970s.
“I worked as a stage hand, crewing dozens of shows doing get ins and outs. My Godfather was the legendary Billy Kay – he was Chief Electrician at The Grand at that time,” says Delaney.
Billy Kay was renowned in Leeds for his smart attire always wearing a rose in his button-hole and often sporting a bowler hat. So legendary was dapper Billy that Loedis, the Leeds Photographic Archive, have a picture of him in their collection.
“I worked in and around The Grand for about three years,” continues Delaney. “I have many great memories of crewing those shows; catching some sleep alone in the crew room after a late get out; the so-called theatre ghost's footsteps overhead - which were probably those of the stage doorman wandering around, he seemed to pretty much live there at the time. They were very happy days.”
Ian Sime, General Manager of The Grand, adds: “We hope Steve Delaney as Count Arthur Strong creates more happy memories of our beautiful theatre; we look forward to welcoming him back albeit in a very different guise.”
Count Arthur Strong’s The Sound of Mucus is at Leeds Grand Theatre on Sunday 9th April. Book online at www.leedsgrandtheatre.com or call Box Office on 0844 848 2700.
