Biography

On 23rd May 2010 The Dreamgirls celebrate 28 years in Showbiz.
Now well into their third decade, Stevie and Chris are still one of the top Female Impersonators in Clubland Today.

Their career together started in 1981, when they were joint managers in a city centre public house in Leeds, Where they ran the bars, entertained, organised staff shows, and star cabaret. When the owner sold the pub in 1982, Stevie and Chris were left without a job or a home. It was not long before word had spread that the lads were out of work. Other pubs and clubs took the opportunity to ask if they would like to pop along and entertain their customers. This was the start of a career they had never even dreamed of.
Looking back over the years, they have come a long way. In the early days the show was purely a mime show, with send ups of stars such as Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black along with comedy mime routines. Slowly the mime gave way to more live material. Now the show includes,
Fire Eating, Comedy Mime, Stand Up Comedy and Live Vocals. When this new format was introduced to their audiences the show went from strength to strength. Their friendly banter with the audience made them stand out above others.
From the onset they proved they could make it to the top. In those early years they travelled around the country making a name for themselves. News soon spread to foreign shores, and while on tour in London in late 1982, they were asked to appear in Denmark, so the following February
They packed their bags and headed to Copenhagen’s top night club, Madam Arthur.

This four week season in February 1983 was so successful, they were asked to return in November of the same year for a further four weeks. The Dreamgirls became the most popular act to appear at the club, and returned a further three times over the next three years. Their last season in the spring of 1986 was a record breaking six weeks. They gave over 200 performances from the stage of Madam Arthur before its sad closure later that year.
Before their 1985 season in Denmark, they travelled to Holland, for a three night cabaret engagement at, Gay Life, Amsterdam’s newest and biggest gay club. On their return to England they supported the American super group The Village People, at the famous Wakefield Theatre Club.
In 1986 they appeared with Television personality Rustie Lee, in their own version of Game for a Laugh. They also made their first radio appearance as special guest on Radio Aire’s Peter Levi Show. Later in the year BBC TV, recorded highlights of their show, for their Daytime Live programme.
In 1987 they appeared on the Peter Levi Show for a second time, this time for BBC Radio Leeds. In May of that year, they appeared with Duncan ‘Chase Me’ Norvelle at the Aquarius in Chesterfield.
1990 became their busiest year so far, travelling the length and breadth of the country, plus two seasons in London. The boys picked up two awards, one in March, and the other in October, both for entertainers of the year. They returned once again as special guest on Peter Levi’s BBC Radio show.
In March 1991 they released an album of songs called ‘Together Again’ which was very well received. 1993 took the boys to Skegness for an eleven week summer season at The Galaxy Showbar. This was the result of a sell out at the venue the year before.
Through out the 90’s they continued with The Dreamgirls Show, plus now they were starting to venture out as solo artistes, Chris as a solo singer releasing 6 albums, and Stevie with his own one man show.
On New Years Eve 1997, The Dreamgirls gave a farewell appearance, with a sell out show in Castleford, their home town, at The Civic Centre. Even though this show was to be their last show together, every now and again they returned for special occasions and charity shows.
In 2002, their 20th Anniversary year. The Dreamgirls were back and the diary was full, once again they were in demand here and abroad. The summer of 2002, was spent in Turkey. At, The Talk of the Town’ now, ‘The Theatre Club’ in Gumbet. Where, Stevie had been the previous two summers, with The Playgirls. This season they were joined by a new member Adrian James who was with Stevie in the Playgirls show, making the duo now a trio. Together they broke all records. Adrian stayed with the show for 5 seasons and was replaced for the 2007 season by Richard Dalton who stayed with the show for one season. The summer of 2008 they returned to Turkey, and The Theatre Club, but this time as a double act, and not the usual three man show. During the autumn and winter season of 08/09 Stevie and Chris were touring England with their ‘Willing and Able’ tour, as well as working on West End tours of ‘Fame’ and Blood Brothers.
2009 saw the release of Chris’ latest album ‘The Way We Were’, and the summer was spent back in Turkey, at ‘The Theatre Club’ in Gumbet. 2010 so far has seen Chris and Stevie on new ground with their first shows in Ireland, as well as their usual winter tours of England and Scotland and a stint on the national tour Of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. Then it was back to The Theatre club in Gumbet for the summer with a new third member Simon Pattison. The winter of 2010 has to be the busiest winter so far, as Chris and Stevie take a back seat and will be working at The Sands Centre in Carlisle, on their Christmas pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ starring Craig Chalmers.
The spring of 2011 will see the release of Chris’ new album, and their usual summer in Gumbet, where the show recently won Thomson holiday’s number one excursion in Turkey.
Top to toe in sequins they step into the spotlight, looking like someone from a Las Vegas show room. It’s hard to believe that the two lads who were setting up the stage, earlier in the evening, have now been transformed into the two over the top entertainers, we now see on stage. At the end of their performance they leave the audience wanting more. What you see is more than just a string of songs and routines, you see THE DREAMGIRLS SHOW. The secret of their success, is wanting to work with an audience rather than ‘at’ them. From Castleford to Copenhagen, Blackpool to Bodrum. Wherever they go, they make friends with the audience. That’s why they, and their audience, keep coming back for more….