Music students all shook up over hit show

The group of music students from the University of Salford perform as the King’s backing band in a new show at The Lowry.

They are taking part in King & Colonel, a musical adaptation of how the Memphis boy rose to become rock ‘n roll’s first superstar under the management of ‘Colonel Tom’ Parker, and which has been developed alongside Olivier-award winning producer and director Rob Bettinson.

The students were cast following a rigorous audition process, after writer and director Daniel Constantinou got into contact with Tim France, the University’s Director for Music and Dance.

Postgraduate student Joe Nickson, who plays Elvis’ double-bass player Bill Black, said: “I’ve never done anything like this before, as I’m normally a musician who is in the pit with an orchestra rather than on the stage, but I’m really enjoying it.

“It’s been difficult as I’ve had to learn Black’s style of slapping the bass, but it’s been exciting to work with such a well-regarded theatre like The Lowry.”

Undergraduate Max Smith, who sings as part of Elvis’ backing quartet The Jordanaires, added: “It’s been great to work with such great actors. We all get on really well which has helped me learn a lot!”

The show has attracted great interest so far, with The Lowry’s box office reporting King & Colonel is incredibly popular with audiences, and Daniel and Rob now hope to take the show on a tour of the country following the performance - eventually to the West End.

Tim France from the University of Salford said: “Performing in a brand new show at a world class venue such as The Lowry is a wonderful opportunity for a music student, and the fact that Daniel has come to us looking for talented musicians demonstrates the kind of reputation our music programmes have got.”