Tuesday, August 11

Freddie Flintoff's 2nd Innings at Nottingham's Theatre Royal

This was the tour to mark the 10th anniversary of England's cricketers winning the Ashes against all expectations ten years ago.
It might seem only yesterday we saw the inebriated Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff stagger out of the hotel and onto the open top bus for the team's parade around London.
But a lot has changed in that time, not just the haircuts (remember Pietersen's badger hairdo?) but the team, its fortunes and its prospects.
The start of the show gets off to a flyer with the famous footage, and Flintoff's account of the 24-hours after securing cricket's most sought-after trophy.
It mainly involves celebrations through drink, realising he was still in his whites after the night flew by so quickly, and his wife having to undress, bath and then dress him again before meeting the public.
Of course, during the course of the morning more drink was available and he recalls the hilarity of visiting then prime minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street with his team-mates the same day.
It's not all about celebrations though. We relive the all-rounder's last day as a Test cricketer, playing when he knew his knee wouldn't hold out very much longer. When he took the wickets and sunk to the ground, arms outstretched and eyes closed, it wasn't our of bravado... more to soak up the sounds, the smells, and the atmosphere – something he'd never do as a top-level player again.
Keeping the audience in stitches with some well-chosen tales, we know which of his former team-mates is called racehorse – and why.
The born entertainer recounts his time since retirement from the game, taking us through the jungle, where he was crowned King in Australia's version of Get Me Out of Here and reliving his one-bout boxing career.
He's onstage alongside journalist and friend Clyde Holcroft. The memories and laughs they conjure up serve to remind us why so many children and pets were named Freddie in 2005.