PERSHORE: Nick gives his clients a cut, blow-dry and a West End show tune

2:00pm Tuesday 26th September 2006

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CLIENTS visiting a Pershore hairdressing salon are being given a musical bonus with proprietor and stylist Nick Long throwing in live entertainment for no extra charge.

Mr Long, in rehearsals for the musical Godspell, which opens at Malvern Festival Theatre on October 17, regularly bursts into numbers from the show as he cuts and colours customers' hair.

Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society's production, featuring numbers ranging from hip-hop and street dancing to rap, is being played on a stainless steel set with psychedelic lighting.

Nick, aged 32, who has been running Colours, in Pershore High Street, for the past five years, is playing one of the disciples and works in some extra rehearsal time in the salon, including singing his solo We Beseech Thee, He was in the cast of the society's highly-acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Worcester's Swan Theatre two years ago, turning in an emotional performance as Judas.

He said: "This show is obviously along the same story lines, but the way it is being done is completely different. I just love the rock gospel songs and the wide variety of dancing. There will be a band of electric guitars, keyboard and drums. It's very exciting."

Besides being in WODS, Nick pairs up with Michelle Mann and Laura Synnuck in a cabaret act called Come Fly With Us, singing show songs, jazz, classical songs and ballads, in fact anything that is asked for, at restaurants and events around the county.

Nick, who has been having lessons with a West End and Broadway singing teacher, says: "I just love singing, you can't stop me. I practise at home and at work - and I've still got clients who started with me years ago!"

With a cast of 10 principals and 10 backing singers wearing modern-day clothes, the production, based on St Matthew's Gospel, is far from the original flower power production of the Godspell from the early 70s.

It is being staged at Malvern's Festival Theatre from October 17-21. Tickets are available from the box office on 01684 892277.