Val Parnell's Peep Show 1951
Val Parnell’s Peep Show
The London Palladium 1951-52
Gillian made the break from Sadler’s Wells Ballet appearing in autumn of 1951 in Val Parnell’s musical production ‘Peep Show’ at the London Palladium alongside Vera Lynn and the Tiller Girls. Also appearing were trumpeter Jack Jackson, the George Mitchell singing ensemble and Edmundo Ros and his band, as well as many other notable acts of the time.
The show ran for seven weeks at the Palladium with two nightly performances as well as matinee shows before transferring to the Prince of Wales Theatre, eventually running for a combined total of 239 performances - the culture shock of exchanging Covent Garden for the Palladium could not have been greater.
Gillie teamed up with Malcolm Goddard, an old friend from Cone Ripman Dance School days, in two large production numbers - ‘Raggle Taggle Gypsies’ and ‘Neapolitan Melodies’ - and the show received glowing reviews.
Gillian and Malcolm Goddard are seen pictured below:
