West End memories inspires hometown concert for Shona Lindsay at Newark Town Hall for Cancer Research UK

A West End star is bringing her years of performing experience to a hometown concert later this month.

Shona Lindsay has played leading roles in Phantom Of The Opera, Grease, Chicago and Aspects Of Love, to name but a few.

And on September 24 she will perform at Newark Town Hall with another West End star, Tom Solomon, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Tom has also appeared in Phantom and Chicago, in addition to West Side Story, Chess, Chicago, and Les Miserables.

“We have never done a show together, only concert work. We have both done Phantom and Chicago, but not at the same time,” said Shona, of Balderton.

The Town Hall performance will see the pair perform songs from the shows they have been in, including the duets from Phantom Of The Opera, as well as a few more favourites.

Shona said: “I pick the best numbers, the ones people will know because that’s what people want to hear.

“I put a few personal favourites, those that have influenced my career, but they are songs everyone knows ­— that’s the main thing.”

And there is quite an extensive back catalogue to choose from.

After two years on television in Crossroads, where she played Sara Briggs, Shona was cast by Andrew Lloyd Webber as Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre ­— the youngest actress to play the role.

Shona said: “I’m lucky to have had a career where I have been doing eight shows a week.

“When asked to do concerts I would be asked to sing songs from Phantom and I used to think ‘I wish I could sing something different’, but now I appreciate the importance of the songs and the importance of them on my career.

“When I perform it always takes me back to a moment and a memory.

“We recently lost Olivia Newton John.

“One time, in rehearsal for Grease Olivia came in and worked with us and that was amazing.

“When I sing Hopelessly, I remember that.”

After Phantom, Shona went to star in a succession of West End shows, including Milly in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers; Sandy in Grease; and Gilmer in Godspell.

She also toured with Top Hat, The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Aspects Of Love, Chicago, The King And I, and Singin’ In The Rain.

But as a childhood Abba fan, one show has eluded her ­— Mamma Mia.

“I was once offered the role of Tanya but sadly couldn’t do it at the time, but the Meryl Streep role was the one I really wanted,”she said.

Winner Takes It All is one of the songs she will perform in Newark in tribute to her childhood favourite band. Expect also to hear a song from Aspects Of Love, which produced her favourite role.

“It was amazing, so cleverly written by Andrew Lloyd Webber,” she said.

“I played Rose Vibert, who was not a particularly likeable character so it was interesting to play someone so far from what you are.”

Over the past few years Shona has made a move into television presenting alongside her concert performances.

She is now a main host at Ideal World TV.

Tickets for the Newark Town Hall concert with Tom Solomon are available from the Harbour Master, The Wharf, Newark.