FORMER Newsround presenter and current star of the Rocky Horror Show Ore Oduba recalled fond memories of growing up in Dorset as he prepared to bring the show to Poole.
A former Dumpton School and Canford School student, Ore said he used to love “mucking around” with his friends on the beach and at Tower Park.
The Strictly Come Dancing star, who's playing the role of Brad Majors, said he’d be nervous to see familiar faces in the audience as he was set to bring the Rocky Horror Show to Poole’s Lighthouse on Monday.
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He told the Daily Echo: “We started in Southampton and I stayed with my mum and I’m staying with her in Wimborne again.
“It’s just been lovely to have people downing tools from wherever they are and just letting go.
“At the first show, the government were still phasing in activity, we weren’t sure people were going to come. An hour before the show there was a line of Rocky fans around the block, I was like ‘oh my God, people have come back’, it was quite overwhelming.
“To get back to watching amazing theatre and having something to have fun with and take themselves away with, I have never appreciated my job more.
“There were times people weren’t sure they’d be able to work in theatre again, now we are all so grateful.”
Ore said it was a “different graduation” for him going from Newsround to dancing in his pants, and said he never imagined he’d be doing what he does today.
Speaking of his days growing up in the area, he said: “If I was not on a sports pitch I was performing. From a kid at Dumpton and Canford, it’s really special that I am able to return in a professional production.
“It’s really special for me to do something I love, in a town I grew up in.
“I always remember driving on my way to Sandbanks driving past the water tower at Tower Park, it brings back memories of Splashdown, the bowling complex, the cinema, as kids we would just muck around and Tower Park was a go-to for me and my friends.”
Speaking of performing at the Lighthouse, he said: “I am pretty sure Rocky Horror Show has never been in Poole so we are making Dorset history.
“The whole tour, the atmosphere it literally blows the ceiling off. There’s a point in the show when the Time Warp kicks off and I get to stand on stage doing this most iconic number in musical theatre, everyone on their feet and everybody going completely wild.
“It is an honour to do it and I can’t wait for everyone from my home town to come down and get a flavour of it.”
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