Promoter wants Oldhamers to see the stars

CHUBBY BROWN

LOVE him or loathe him, controversial funnyman Roy “Chubby” Brown puts bums on seats.

And that’s what the man who recently brought “Britain’s bluest comic” to the Queen Elizabeth Hall (QEH) wants for his hometown venue on a regular basis.

Saddleworth-based Stuart Littlewood represents and promotes a diverse range of performers, from Brown and fellow comedian Max Boyce to hit shows such as “Oh! What A Night”, “One Night of Queen” and “Abba Mania”.

However, he believes the QEH has declined in recent years. Although busy with events ranging from conferences and awards to tea dances, he says it is not fulfilling its potential as an entertainment venue.

“Most other places have all got managers, marketing people and programming people who are trying to book shows.

“They have got all kinds of entertainment for all tastes. What’s Oldham doing? Nothing. Do we not like entertainment in Oldham?

“I am not saying nothing goes on in there, it is a very busy place. They have school awards, conferences and weddings — but they do not have much in the way of entertainment.

“The local authority is not proactive enough in trying to get entertainment.”

Stuart’s career started in a phone box in Delph in the 1960s, booking acts for his local youth club. After leaving school he become a grocery boy with the Co-op, but continued to work with the club.

One of the support bands then asked him to become their manager/agent and he admitted: “I didn’t know what a manager did. I didn’t have an office and wondered how I would ever get them a booking.”

It was an era when Oldham was a great town for live bands and Stuart’s ventures included the last event at the Empire Theatre — a beat group contest which he co-hosted with Jimmy Savile.

Entering the industry full time, he worked with countless bands, musicians and comedians, such as Cliff Richard, Freddie Starr, Neil Sedaka, The Drifters, Shawaddywaddy, The Nolans, The Three Degrees and Bernard Mannings.

He now books venues around the world, but was disappointed when Roy Chubby Brown was banned from the QEH in 2006 after the council decided his material was offensive.

Times have changed. The veteran comedian, who has made more than 1,000 appearances in front of 1.5 million fans, was allowed to perform their on October 1.

And the reaction from readers on the Oldham Chronicle’s website seemed to back the commercial decision.

“If you don’t like his comedy don’t go! At least the building is getting used”, posted BrierleyofRoyton.

“Let’s give Oldhamers a new option of entertainment rather than getting p***** on Yorkshire Street.”

It is not an easy time for civic venues, with Bury Council carrying out a review of its four halls after they lost tens of thousands of pounds.

Deputy chief executive Mike Kelly, Oldham’s former director of operational services, admitted: “It’s becoming more and more difficult for the council to maintain civic venues as a viable commercial operation without having to provide substantial ongoing subsidies.

“The public tell us they like these venues, but unfortunately they don’t appear to use them often enough.”

The only forthcoming acts listed on the QEH website in the next four moths are Stuart’s “One Night of Queen”, on October 28, and “Abba Mania”, on February 12.

But Stuart insists some venues are thriving — and as chairman of the Concert Promoters of Great Britain he knows the benefits.

“Towns that invest in their own culture seem to do better than towns that do not.

“I think Oldham is wasting one of its great assets,” he said.

Deputy council leader Jackie Stanton admitted that, historically, the QEH had been a financial headache, with the council pouring in considerable money to keep it going.

Around three years ago an informal agreement was signed with local firm New Image to promote it and bring in new business.

She said: “At present the QEH is used for a variety of events including weddings, corporate conferences, local schools’ speech nights, tea dances, and other more populist events such as the ‘One Night of Queen’ tribute act which we’re hosting later this month.

“I’m glad to say that the venue does now actually pay for itself — and brings in additional revenue — but we believe more can be done.

“We’re now looking to secure a more formal agreement with a private partner. The brief will be to actively market and expand the range and number of events the QEH hosts.

“We believe the future for the QEH is bright. Oldham has a very diverse community and, as a result, the venue has a huge range of audiences that it can serve.”