A night at the Bristol Hippodrome with Nailsea People

It could put you off ever working in an office again but do try to catch 9 to 5: The Musical which is playing at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday, March 23.

At the close of its performance on Tuesday night the audience was swaying and singing in the aisles as the show was such fun.

Much-loved country and western star Dolly Parton who wrote the musical appears like Holly, the ship's computer in Red Dwarf, from a monitor high up on stage.

Speaking from her lofty flat screen she sets the 1960s scene of a somewhat dated premise where women not only hit a glass ceiling but also suffered blatant sexism in the workplace.

The show boasts a fantastic all-star cast with Natalie Casey as Judy Bernly, Jackie Clune as Violet Newstead, Bonnie Langford as Roz Keith, Amy Lennox as Doralee Rhodes and Mark Moraghan as Franklin Hart. 

Natalie Casey is probably best known as Donna in nine series of Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps while Jackie Clune's West End credits include the leading role of Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot.

The diminutive Bonnie Langford plays comedy with aplomb and at 50-something surprising agility which with her box splits had the audience gasping and then laughing out loud.

Amy Lennox recently played the role of Elle Woods in the UK tour of Legally Blonde and Mark Moraghan appeared as Owen Davis in Holby City for five years.

Dolly Parton said:  "I'm hoping everyone has as much fun watching it as I had writing the music for it. 

"9 to 5: The Musical is perfect for anyone that's ever wanted to string up their boss, which is almost all of us."

The story is funny, even outrageous and a little far-fetched as times. 

It starts slowly and later than billed due to 'technicalities' which everyone presumed was for the stagehands to hoist the equipment for the 'bondage' scenes or as sweet Violet mistakenly describes it as 'the M&Ms'!

It tells of three female office workers who turn the tables on their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. 

They conspire to take control of the company and learn there's nothing they can't do.

Future programme: 

STARLIGHT EXPRESS

One of the best loved and longest running (skating) musicals in theatrical history

Tuesday to Saturday, March 26-April 6

Tickets £19.50-£45 with concessions available at certain performances

For further information click HERE

SING-A-LONG-A GREASE

Your chance to learn how to hand jive

Sunday evening, April 7

Tickets £15

For further information click HERE

SHAOLIN WARRIORS

A theatrical Kung Fu show

Monday evening, April 8

Tickets £22-£24 with concessions available

NEW JERSEY NIGHTS

A musical journey celebrating the greatest hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

Tuesday to Saturday, April 9-13

Tickets £10-£32.50 with concessions available at certain performances

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT

The heart-warming Australian musical adventure starring Jason Donovan

Monday to Saturday, April 15-27

Tickets £10-£45 with concessions available at certain performances

THE MOUSETRAP

Whodunnit starring Karl Howman, Bruno Langley, Graham Seed, Steven France, Jemma Walker and Clare Wilkie

Monday to Saturday, April 29-May 4

Tickets £14.50-£32.50 with concessions available

For further information click HERE

MATTHEW BOURNE'S SLEEPING BEAUTY

The world premiere of a re-imagining of a ballet classic

Tuesday and Saturday, May 7-11

Tickets £15-£38.50 with concessions available

For further information click HERE

BEN AND HOLLY'S LITTLE KINGDOM

BAFTA award-winning television animation for small children shown comes to the stage

Wednesday and Thursday, May 15-16

Tickets £12.50-£16.50 with concessions available

YES, PRIME MINISTER

The return of PM Jim Hacker and his cabinet secretary Sir Humphrey

Monday to Saturday, May 20-25

Tickets £10-£29.50 with concessions available at certain performances

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

This spectacular international tribute is one of the biggest Queen shows in the world today

Tuesday to Saturday, May 28-June 1

Tickets £10-£32.50 with concessions available at certain performances

For further information click HERE

SALLY MORGAN

Psychic Sally on the road

Sunday, June 9

Tickets £24

THE BIG SHOWDOWN 2013

SEUSSICAL – in only 48 hours!

Monday, June 10 at 7.30pm

Tickets £15-£21 with concessions available

For further information click HERE

THE DREAMBOYS

Fit and famous

Tuesday, June 11

Tickets £23.50

ROY CHUBBY BROWN

Billed as 'rude and crude' views of women and gender

Wednesday evening, June 12

Tickets £21 with concessions available

MAGIC OF MOTOWN

Packed with 36 back-to-back massive Motown hits

Thursday evening, June 13

Tickets £21-£24 with concessions available

AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE

Dirty dancing with finesse to put a smile on your face

Friday evening, June 14

Tickets £20.50-£23 with concessions available

HALFWAY TO PARADISE – THE BILLY FURY STORY

Saturday, June 15 at 7.30 pm

Tickets £21 with concessions available

For further information click HERE

BILL BAILEY: QUALMPEDDLAR

Sunday evening, June 16

Tickets £26

THE MOODY BLUES

Sunday evening, June 23

Tickets £40.50

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Tuesday to Saturday, June 25-29

Tickets: £10-£29.50 with concessions available at certain performances

THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

Under the dynamic direction of band-leader Ray McVay, the Glenn Miller Orchestra continues to thrill and delight audiences around the world. 

Sunday, July 14 at 5pm

Tickets £18-£24 with concessions available

For further information click HERE

THE RAT PACK VEGAS SPECTACULAR

It's fun all the way as the 'Purveyors of Cool' swing into town with a sensational show featuring the greatest music of the 20th century**

Thursday, July 25

Tickets £17-£21

For further information click HERE

HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL

Starring Mark Benton as Edna Turnblad

Tuesday to Saturday, August 6-17

Tickets £15-£48.50 with concessions available at certain performances

For further information click HERE

JASON MANFORD

Actor, tv presenter and comedian

Friday and Saturday, November 15-16

Tickets £23.50

For further information click HERE

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Follow squeaky clean sweethearts Brad and Janet on an adventure they'll never forget, with the scandalous Frank 'n' Furter, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta

Monday to Saturday, August 19-24

Tickets £10-£37.50 with concessions available at certain performances

For further information click HERE

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA

Tosca, Anna Bolena, Mary Stuarda and Roberto Devereux 

Tuesday to Saturday, November 5-9

Tickets: £7.50-£40 with concessions available at certain performances

Then is will be pantomime time and lined-up already for 2014 is WEST SIDE STORY, DIRTY DANCING and the WELSH NATIONAL OPERA. More details later.