Wirral Councillor prepares to tread the boards in award-winning musical Her Benny

Aug 17 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A SENIOR Wirral Conservative councillor will be playing to a different gallery this week when he takes to the stage in the popular musical Her Benny.

Heswall councillor Les Rowlands takes on the role of Mr Lawrence – a far cry from his usual place on the front bench of the council chamber in Wallasey Town Hall.

Taking place at the Floral Pavilion theatre in New Brighton this week, the award-winning musical is a rags-to-riches story following the fortunes of urchin Benny and his little sister Nell as they try to survive in Victorian Liverpool.

Cllr Rowlands, whose day jobs are a barber business and being a ward councillor, has an Equity card and was in the original cast of the show 17 years ago.

A regular performer who has appeared on stage at the Liverpool Empire and has even appeared in guest spots in Coronation Street, he said: “The producer Anne Dalton gave me a ring out of the blue and asked if I was free and wanted to play Mr Lawrence, who is one of the main characters.

“It’s a great show with great songs and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Her Benny is at the Floral Pavilion from Wednesday, August 17, to Saturday, August 20, with two matinee performances. Standard tickets are £16 (concession £14, child £12, family ticket £50).

For more details, see www.floralpavilion.com or call 666 0000.