Panto’s tram track’s a web hit!

SIMEON TRUBY: walking and singing tram map

A SONG dedicated to the Metrolink in Oldham Coliseum’s panto has gone viral.

The tune has become an internet hit since the theatre released a behind-the-scenes video of a performance during the show’s dress rehearsal.

“The Tram Song”, written by the pantomime musical director, Dave Bintley, is sung by actor Simeon Truby as Squire Grabbit in “Mother Goose”.

Squire Grabbit, the story goes, is a passionate tram spotter and his song features all 92 stops of the Metrolink network (the complete list when the song was written - before the new Exchange Quay opened).

Dave said: “I’ve been arranging music from chart hits and shows for the pantomime for nine years and this year I wanted to add an original song that was both topical and local - hence the tram song.

“It’s a complicated song and requires a lot from Simeon - a good musical range, good phrasing and an excellent memory!

“I’m normally accompanying Simeon from the orchestra pit, so I hadn’t realised how complicated it is until I watched the video. Hats off to him!”

The video had 1,000 views on the Coliseum’s Facebook page in 24 hours, retweets including the official Twitter page for Transport for Greater Manchester and almost 700 views on YouTube.

Mother Goose opened on November 14 and has already been seen by more than 26,000 people.


See the video here: