JADAR

★★★★★

Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are not only Strictly icons; they’re also best friends. Together Again is their third co-headlining tour, following Him & Me, which toured a few times, and last year’s Together. Some other Strictly stars embark on joint tours to bring in larger crowds, but Anton and Giovanni both sell out their own solo tours annually – so this joint tour is purely because the pair love working with each other and have an electric chemistry too good to not share with the country.

I previously reviewed Him & Me, and I have reviewed all of Gio’s tours since, including his farewell (for now) tour, The Last Dance, earlier this year. I did not review Together so I jumped at the chance to review Together Again.

Strictly Theatre Co. shows are always super slick and polished. You know you’re going to get a good production. My only criticism of Him & Me was its thematic inconsistency; it jumped around from Western to Italian. Together Again, however, is a jubilant celebration of the 1950s. It’s beyond nostalgia for most people; not even Anton was alive back then!

Whilst most Strictly shows begin with the company, before the lead star(s) has a grand introduction, the two shows currently touring the nation have opted to do things differently. Red Hot and Ready, starring Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola, opened with the named stars, before being joined by the ensemble. Together Again, even more radically, opened with Giovanni and the girls on an antique sofa. It was giving, “I want you to draw me like one of your French girls” (and Italian men!). Anton, dressed as a Deliveroo delivery driver, made his way through the audience with a pizza for Gio. It was daft and ridiculous – and it knew it. This set the tone for the show: it was not going to take itself too seriously – except for the gorgeous dancing.

A highlight of Anton’s and Gio’s shows – and, indeed, their joint tours – is the comedy. Unlike some other Strictly stars, they are both massive personalities with great senses of humour. They could both go into stand-up comedy, they’re that funny. Put them together and you have an exquisite double act with as much chemistry as husband and wife duo Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara (Anton and Giovanni are in love too – platonically!).

The writing was strong throughout, as was the delivery. An early joke from Anton – “diarrhoea is hereditary – it’s in my genes!” – was a highlight. We later saw Giovanni bring out a new drag persona, “Tara Misu”. It’s not Gio’s first time doing drag; he told us that he often dresses up, and now other Strictly dancers have copied him – and, in fact, copy everything he does!

Anton told Gio that he looked more like Tina Turner, and Gio impersonated the late great legend (who tragically died on my birthday – I found out as I was scrolling on my phone at the urinal!).

Simon Coulthard’s direction is strong and bold. He has created a real theatrical experience. The choreography – by Coulthard, Bill Deamer and Vincent Simone – is stunning but lacks the drama and technicality of some of the pairs’ previous shows. Some more striking moments would have been appreciated.

The best number was, ironically, the one without the lead stars (‘Rise Like a Phoenix’) – though they joked that they’re too old and tired to do that impressive number. Anton said that the number was made in their image but they were not dressed appropriately (because Gio was in drag), but I had coincidentally just been thinking that Tara Misu looked just like Conchita Wurst, so they absolutely were.

Gio’s Argentine tango with his Ballando con le stelle (Dancing with the Stars in Italy) co-star, Erica Martinelli (who has replaced Lauren Oakley as his leading lady in his most recent tours), was divine. Lowri Beth Evans, the other principal dancer, got to show off her skills. Arguably the standout performer was Holly Skiggs, who oozed diva. The cast was rounded off with Redmand Rance, Alex Sturman and Claudia Lilly, all of whom were a joy to watch. It would unfortunate not to have a live vocalist this time, but some of the dancers (including Anton and Gio, themselves) did some singing.

I must also shout out Stacey Green, a BSL interpreter from THEATRESIGN, who is always such a joy to watch. She’s not just an interpreter; she’s a performer. She bops along to the music as she signs/performs, and she has several costume changes, always matching the dancers. One of her dresses was a bit creased but I’ll let her off because her signing was so spellbinding.

Speaking of costumes – they are some of the best seen in a Strictly show. The opening costumes – black, silver and gold – are absolutely dazzling, and if I saw them lying about, I would absolutely steal one (or two or three or all of them). Bravo, Jordan Graff – you just might turn me into a thief.

Jose Lorenzo’s lighting is lively and lascivious. He turned the theatre into a 1950s disco and had us dancing in our seats.

Jordan Alexander’s music supervision is impressive. The setlist is excellent, as are the rearrangements. I would have loved it if the title song (by Janet Jackson) had been used (and I told Gio to his face that I was disappointed that he did not use Donna Summer’s ‘Last Dance’ in The Last Dance!), but the show fittingly closed with ‘We Go Together’ from Grease, after Anton and Gio told us that they are both taking next year off. It was an emotional, poetic farewell (for now!).

Anton and Giovanni tour the UK with Together Again until July 30.

Anton Du Beke is set to embark on a whopping three tours! In Conversation with Anton Du Beke tours from October 15 to 23. Less than a fortnight later, Anton Du Beke at the Musicals, which we reviewed earlier this year, returns, touring from October 27 to November 18. A mere two days later, Christmas with Anton Du Beke tours from November 20 to December 23.

Photo: Tania Richards Photography