Renowned West End performer Louise Dearman is to start up a new events entertainment company with her partner Andrew Eastel and choreographer Ian Stroughair, named Backslap. Backslap will initially offer four productions that can be performed at events including private parties, awards ceremonies and corporate events. The four shows being created by Backslap are a burlesque show (Legs), a 1940s-themed production (Bombshells and Brylcream), an urban dance show (Swagger) and a theatre show (Curtain Call).
Backslap is a project of Dearman’s that she is able to manage while continuing her own performance work in London’s West End. She recently left West End musical Wicked, after a year playing Elphaba, following a three year musical theatre course at Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey. Her work within events management will continue beneath what Dearman is passionate about: i.e. performing. Dearman has equally acknowledged that while entertainment of this nature is not a new concept, she wanted to ‘raise the bar’ with Backslap whilst leading it from the front.
It is thought that Backslap will launch in the new year, aiming eventually to produce its own one-off events on a grand scale. Dearman has said that each of these would be set in a unique location with an original theme and brimming with well-known faces and voices, giving the company a familiar yet professional feel. Dearman feels that although there are some great acts and entertainment providers already out there working, unfortunately audiences have probably seen or heard of more bad than good.
Backslap therefore aims to provide ‘off-the-shelf’ shows that have each been especially constructed from scratch by the best creative people in the business, and will only ever be performed by trained, professional singers and dancers; Dearman consequently hopes for the best that can be found in the UK.
The beautiful Willemijn Verkaik is set to will join the cast of Wicked the musical in London this year, bringing her esteemed performance as Elphaba to West End audiences following more than 1,000 appearances as the witch in productions all over the world. The Dutch musical theatre star has played the role in productions of the hit show in Holland, Germany and on Broadway, making her the only actress to have ever performed the role in more than one language. Wicked, and musical theatre in general, looks set to take over the world!