The One and Only Chesney Hawkes to Play Prince in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
This Christmas, pop legend, the one and only Chesney Hawkes is set to charm audiences of all ages as he plays the handsome Prince in the family favourite pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The hitmaker was catapulted to fame in 1991, when aged 19 he played the lead in the film Buddy's Song; a popular coming of age tale which featured a young Chesney juggling the teenage challenges of school and dating with the determination to become a world famous popstar. Following the film, The One and Only was released from the soundtrack and became an instant hit at home and abroad, shooting to the top of the charts in the UK and making the top ten stateside. With five weeks spent at number one, the hit track became the twentieth most successful release of the 90s and has gone on to be the subject of numerous compilation albums, TV ads, TV theme music, film soundtracks and, now a student anthem, continues to top ‘Best pop song of the nineties’ polls. Following the track’s release Chesney continued to enjoy success around the world, touring extensively and playing the festival circuit while also continuing to record fresh material, which led to chart recognition for seven more singles.
Away from the music world Chesney’s television appearances could form the basis of a slapstick comedy show but with added danger. Following his appearance on the Channel 4 show The Games, (where he finished third) he needed surgery on a hip injury. He put his dancing skills to the test on Let’s Dance for Comic Relief and, looking pain and humiliation squarely in the eye, he signed up for ITV’s Sing if You Can where, being asked to sing while a fire roared around him, he narrowly escaped being burnt to death. Well..... Always looking to push the boundaries, he accepted an invitation to join the cast of ITV’s Dancing on Ice All was going well until just before filming started he went on to the ice on his own, breaking an ankle and ruling himself out of the show. Chesney’s accident prone history was hilariously summed up in John Bishop’s Panto, the ITV comedy drama in which Chesney played the role of a member of the cast forever doing damage to himself. He did though manage to redeem himself by surviving Celebrity Masterchef 2015 unscathed, going on to make the semi-finals on the popular cooking challenge show.
Pantomime producer Paul Holman said: “I am delighted to have secured such a top showman as Chesney to play our dashing prince. He has firmly established himself as a brilliant performer with top vocals, dancing and stage presence among his many credits. Worthing has some of the liveliest audiences every Christmas and Chesney is the perfect performer to get everyone going. It will be a stellar production.”
With further star casting to be announced, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is already shaping up to be the most star studded Christmas production Worthing has ever seen.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opens at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing from Friday 1st December 2017 until Monday 1st January 2018. Tickets available from the box office on 01903 206 206 and online (www.worthingtheatres.co.uk).
