Milkshake! comes to Stevenage stage

Characters and presenters from Milkshake!

Thursday, August 23, 2012
12:33 PM

CHARACTERS from children’s TV show Milkshake! will be appearing on stage in Stevenage this weekend in a spin-off of the Channel 5 programme.

AN ALL-SINGING, all-dancing children’s TV show is set to come alive on a Stevenage stage.

Milkshake! Come Out To Play is touring the nation in a spin-off of the Channel 5 programme.

Cartoon characters Little Princess and Scruff, Noddy and Tessie Bear, Roary and Big Chris, Fifi and Bumble and B1 & B2 – the Bananas in Pyjamas – will be entertaining youngsters at the Gordon Craig Theatre on Sunday, September 2.

Joining them will be presenters Amy Thompson and Jen Pringle, and the Welwyn Hatfield Times caught up with the latter to find out what’s in store.

“We wanted to take the TV show on to the stage so the children can come along and see all their favourite characters in one place,” said Jen, who joined Milkshake! in 2006.

“The idea of the show is to try to get the characters out of the TV to come out to play with us but then it’s a question of how do we get them back in the TV in time for the next morning’s Milkshake! programme.”

Kicking off last month, the production will be touring the country for 12 months.

“It’s been really good. We’ve had a great turnout for the first few shows which have been sold out and everybody seems to love it,” said Jen, who has also been a voice-over artist for TV characters.

Having joined a dancing school at the age of three, the Scunthorpe-born presenter has been involved in the entertainment business from an early age, starring in countless theatre productions since she was 12.

She said: “I wanted to be an actress when I was very young but then it was my aim to be a children’s TV presenter from about 12, so I’m lucky to be doing my dream job.’’

Asked why people should come along, Jen added: “There’s lots of songs the children will recognise and ones parents can sing along to as well.

“It’s brilliant fun for all the family and we just want everyone to get up and get dancing and come out to play with us.”

Two showings will take place at the theatre in Lytton Way, at 1pm and 3.30pm.

For tickets, which cost £14 for adults and £12 for children, call the box office on 01438 363200 or visit www.gordon-craig.co.uk