Life story told in words and songs

Buy photos » Sarah Jane Buckley takes the role of singer Eva Cassidy. (s)

THE MOVING life story of American singer Eva Cassidy is coming to The Swan Theatre for two nights at the start of next month.

Over the Rainbow - The Eva Cassidy Story follows the life of the artist from an early age right through to her premature death at the tender age of 33, including dramatic scenes and live renditions of her music.

This includes a haunting interpretation of her huge hit Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The award winning show features a host of celebrity actors and actresses including Hollyoaks actress Sarah Jane Buckley, in the lead role, with Coronation Street regular Pauline Fleming taking on the role of Barbara Cassidy, Eva’s mother, and BBC’s Any Dream Will Do finalist Rob Mcveigh as Danny Cassidy, Eva’s brother.

The show has received plaudits from the Eva Cassidy Band and members of her family and contains projection and original footage from the artist’s life, including her first professional gig aged 18, her first meeting with her boyfriend and mentor Chris Biondo, a rabble-rousing rendition and recording at Blues Alley with Chuck Brown and culminating in her poignant and tragic death.

Before she died, Cassidy was unknown outside Washington but within two years she was discovered by BBC Radio 2’s Terry Wogan, who promoted her music to the top of the album charts in the UK and later Europe, Australia and throughout the world.

The show pays a genuine and heartfelt tribute to a singer who was not interested in fame and fortune, but wanted nothing more than to create beautiful music. Tickets for the show cost £17.50 (concessions £16) and are available from the Box Office on 01905 611427.