Peter Hillier, presenter of the BAFTA award winning CBeebies children's show Boogie Beebies, is bringing his kanagaroo and money friends with him for his fun-packed shows.

"Boogie Pete Live! basically brings all the best bits from the TV show to the stage," he said. "The live show is all about the children joining in, either standing up or sitting down.

"It's for three to seven-year-olds and if they watch the TV shows they will recognise the songs, like Go Go Mango and Hey Monkey. There's some magic in the show as well."

The idea for the tour started when Peter was doing appearances at children's parties and nursery schools around the area where he lives.

"They were going so well I thought it would work in a theatre environment," he said. "Children are such a good audience. They let you know exactly what they think."

Some of you may have met Peter in Worthing already, when he visited to promote his forthcoming shows and set up a stage outside the Pavilion Theatre.

"It was good fun. There was a PA system set up, a stage and I did a few things from the show."

He also visited the town with a completely different hat on years ago, taking part in an adult musical show called a Slice of Saturday Night.

His showbiz career started because he was a "big show off" and he went to the Mckenzie school of speech and drama and the Bodywork School of Performing Arts.

"I started acting but realised in order to get jobs you need to be able to do all three – acting, singing and dancing," he said.

After training as a dancer, he got a job in Germany on Saturday Night Fever and then worked in London's West End.

His theatre credits include Boogie Nights, Fame, Kiss Me Kate, Summer Holiday, Departure Lounge and Jack and the Beanstalk.

He has also choreographed fashion shows, The Clothes Show Live and the half-time entertainment for Arsenal v West Ham football match!

His versatility runs to teaching street jazz for the Stella Mann Performing Arts College.

Getting Boogie Beebies is one of the highlights of his career so far.

"I had been out of work for about eight months and was auditioning for everything but I always got on with kids and enjoyed being silly with them," he said. "I was teaching street jazz dance to little children of about the same age at the time, too.

"Kids follow me round in the supermarket. They always say how much they like the show."

As well as being a TV presenter, teacher and performer, Pete also writes and performs stand-up comedy.

"I do some open mic stuff but I've not had a lot of time to do a lot for a while. That's something I would love to do in the future."

As if all that's not enough, Peter also fronts two bands – rock covers band Attribute and jazz trio Baker Ave.

And then there's his accoustic set with just him and his guitar.
Join Pete at the Connaught from August 14 to 16 and 21 to 23, with shows on Thursdays and Fridays at 10.30am and 1.30pm and Saturdays at 10.30am and 12.30pm.

All tickets are £9.50 or £8 for parties of 10-plus. Ring the box office on 01903 206206 or click here

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