It is hard to believe that we have now entered our fifth year producing ‘Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood’ and in spite of a couple of those years meaning we were weathering the storm more than getting out on the road, I am pleased to report that we have been touring the UK with our musical tribute to the late, great funny-woman since September 2022.
At the start of this project back in November 2019, when pianist Michael Roulston and I got into a room with our director Sarah-Louise Young, a back-catalog of around 200 songs, and many Post-It notes, I made a pledge to donate a part of our profits to The Victoria Wood Foundation, should we ever get to a place where a profit was made.
Well, the storm has indeed been weathered and I’m glad to report that in November 2023, I was able to send a modest gift in the shape of a bank cheque to the Foundation, who are a committee of Victoria’s family, friends and work colleagues who continue her charitable work under that banner.
It is an honour to perform the songs of a genius that was so beloved, and I feel a great sense of pride at the opportunity I have been afforded to meet some of Victoria’s primary school-chums and work-mates through touring this show. It’s a constant joy to encounter fellow ‘Woodies’ from across the country, and we are grateful to all of them for their acceptance, especially those who purchase our ‘Looking For Me Friend’ merchandise, profits from which are a large part of the donation we were able to make to the Victoria Wood Foundation.