Shirley
Lights the Way for Stars who Shun Kent
From The Kent Messenger, Editorial, Sep 1 1998
Superstar Shirley Bassey wowed them at Barham Court last night. In a
typically powerful performance, the gutsy singing legend entertained thousands
in a rare top show for Kent fans.
Kent is sadly a virtual no-go area for big names. Look at any list of
venues visited by the stars and Kent hardly ever figures. If your were
living in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester or Newcastle, you would be
able to see the lot. But because impresarios think Kent is close to London,
we have to trudge all the way to the Royal Albert Hall or Wembley to catch
the stars. And pay a fortune for the privilege.
By agreeing to play Teston, Shirley has shown that Kent does not have
to be an entertainment backwater. Well done, Shirley. And congratulations
to the local showmen who believed it would work. Any inconvenience to a
handful of people for only one night was surely a small price to pay for
a date with one of Britain's great female superstars. We must hope more
big names will follow.