Spandau Ballet's Hadley backs Putney Light Operatic Society (From Croydon Guardian)

Spandau Ballet's Hadley backs Putney Light Operatic Society

2:43pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009 in

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He may have spent 2009 reunited with his old Spandau Ballet mates, but Tony Hadley still finds the time to champion community causes.

The 39-year-old, lead singer with the group famous for hits such as Gold, True and Lifeline, is President of the Putney Light Operatic Society (PLOS), which is putting on its version of pantomime Dick Whittington at Putney Arts Theatre next month.

"From the summertime onwards I'll be back doing my solo stuff and my new album so realistically it will be 2012 before we hit the road again with a new record."

Tony Hadley

"We went to see their show Copacabana two or three years ago and that was the first time I put my name to it," he says.

"From the summertime onwards I'll be back doing my solo stuff and my new album so realistically it will be 2012 before we hit the road again with a new record."

Tony Hadley

"It was brilliant and we had such a good time it was great.

"What's good about things like this is it's a community theatre and everyone gets involved.

"It's a great chance for people of all ages and abilities to get on stage.

"We need to keep the community arts theatres open as much as possible because most part people find it a bit of fun and you get to know the rest of the community."

Hadley, along with band mates Gary and Martin Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble, announced at the start of the year they were reforming for the first time since 1980, when they broke up following some well-documented fall outs.

The reunion tour was a massive success, with their gigs at the O2 sold out in 20 minutes and dates lined up across Europe and at festivals next year.

"It was absolutely fantastic and we had an unbelievable response from people," says Hadley.

"Once we got back to the point where we had reconciled our friendship it was then a couple of years before we got to the O2.

"It was a lot soul searching and we were all over the moon to get back together.

"We were kids at school together so to have that animosity between us and to not get passed it would have been horrible.

"Once we have done the tour we have to take some time off.

"We don't want to come back next year and do a lot of O2 gigs again, that's not going to work.

"From the summertime onwards I'll be back doing my solo stuff and my new album so realistically it will be 2012 before we hit the road again with a new record."

With Hadley having played Billy Flynn in Chicago on the stage, is there any chance we could see him in a PLOS production in the future?

"My biggest problem is always time," he says.

"The only thing I have ever done theatre wise was Chicago, I did three months of that and that was enough for me.

"Theatre work is not really something I want to get involved in, there are much too many lines to learn."

Dick Whittington, Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Road, January 6 to 9, 7.45pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm), £15. Call 020 8788 6943 or visit putneyartstheatre.org.uk