In celebration of Dame Shirley Bassey’s 80th birthday three-time Helpmann Award nominee Trevor Ashley pays tribute with ‘Diamonds Are For Trevor’.
“It’s fantastic, it’s going to be very exciting. I have performed this show several times around Australia but never in Brisbane or Adelaide,” Trevor says.
‘Diamonds Are For Trevor’ tells the story of Shirley Bassey through 23 belting numbers including ‘Big Spender’, ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Never, Never, Never’, ‘This Is My Life’, ‘History Repeating’ and ‘Diamonds Are Forever’.
“Obviously I am a big fan of hers. I basically put together all my favourite songs from her career into one show. I was lucky to work with the wonderful Phil Scott who helped write all the sequences.”
Accompanied by John Foreman, Trevor will be performing beside the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) in Brisbane and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in Adelaide.
“I am really excited, I haven’t actually worked with either of them before. To be able to sing beside them is always a treat and a privilege to be able to do that. I count myself very lucky.”
Completed with feathers, sequins and diva tantrums ‘Diamonds Are For Trevor’ takes the audience on a hilarious, brilliant and often moving journey.
“It’s a really fun and entertaining ‘show biz’ show,” Trevor enthuses.
Writer, musical director, performer and queen of cabaret, Trevor has been involved in performance for 20 years. “All I ever wanted to do was show biz. People always say, ‘what would you do, if you weren’t doing this’ and I honestly have no idea.”
Trevor made his musical theatre debut in the world premiere production ‘Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert’, playing over 600 performances in Sydney and Melbourne. His career in cabaret has led him to perform in London, New York and across Asia.
“It’s been pretty amazing, to be able to have the career I’ve had. It’s always exciting when you go to a different city and people have come to see you.”
Having performed in so many different cities, London is up there on Trevor's list. “London is one of my favourite places to perform at. The audience is so enthusiastic, they really love the show and they get every joke so it’s always special to go and perform there,” he says.
Trevor has built a successful career as a cabaret performer; he has attained an array of awards and nominees including the Sydney Theatre Award and Telegraph’s Insider Award for best cabaret in ‘I’m Every Woman’.
“Oh look it’s lovely, it’s always nice to be recognised and to be seen up there with the best for that year… You want to say the awards don’t mean much but you only say that when you lose,” Trevor says playfully.
Trevor has sold out two Sydney and two Brisbane performances of his acclaimed show ‘Liza’s Back’, which debuted in London. “I have performed in London four times now. I’ve had people come up to me and say ‘we came last year and the year before to see you, we’re huge fans’.”
Following ‘Diamonds Are For Trevor’, Trevor has a new show ‘Barbra And Me’ that will be opening in Sydney, as well as a charity concert ‘Hats Off’ that he will be directing.
“We’ve been doing ‘Hats Off’ for 20 years. It’s funny, I was in the second one ever and now here I am directing the final one. We will be raising money for the Age Council NSW at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on 20 November.”
