Craig Revel Horwood's new show is strictly about the music

Craig Revel Horwood’s brand new tour Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing is underway and on route to more than 50 theatres, around the country including Newcastle Theatre Royal (Sun 13 Apr). “This show is unlike anything I’ve ever done. People aren’t going to see ‘The Judge, Craig’. They’re going to see the real Craig. It’s about my life, it’s who I am. It’s the most personal tour I’ve ever done.”

Craig started out in musical theatre. His first ever job was West Side Story, and he took singing lessons as a child, in his native Australia. Music was in his life throughout his schooling. “It just seemed to be a very natural journey for me to go into musicals. I just loved performing in musicals until I was 30. People don’t really know me as a singer because I’ve been in the background doing it, I suppose.”

Other areas of his life took over. He became one of the UK’s best and most influential directors and choreographers and won two Laurence Olivier Award nominations. He directed the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Commonwealth Games and was invited to join the judging panel for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004. As of 2025, he’s Strictly’s only original judge.

Strictly made him a household name as a stringent rule-follower who has dished out more low scores of ‘1’ than any other judge, becoming famous for his fab-u-lous catchphrases along the way.

And yet there are many more strings to his diamante-encrusted bow, and singing is foremost among them. So when the opportunity arose last year to record an album of songs with the UK’s leading musical theatre record label, Westway, he jumped at the chance.

Craig went into the studio and recorded Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing. It was a stunning collection of tunes that showcased a marvellous, emotive, pitch-perfect voice.

Craig’s show will be about much more than his favourite songs, of course. He’ll also tell stories about the part they’ve played in his life – and, yes, spoiler alert, there’ll be plenty of tales from the other side of the dancefloor.

“I want to talk about the songs that I love and the reasons they are still with me and in my life. I know I’ve written three autobiographies, but my autobiographies were always about how I got Strictly. This show, for me, is strictly about music and my passion and love for it.”

Many of the songs will be familiar to Craig’s fans – and will have a special place in their heart, just as they do in Craig’s.

“The record, and the tour, gives me an opportunity to sing songs that I know and love. The show will be about my love for the music and how it’s affected my life. It’ll be about relationships, too, because we all go through the same emotions in relationships.”

“For me, this is about the real Craig Revel Horwood, not the judge Craig Revel Horwood. It’s about my life before I became a judge, and then my life after being a judge, because that, of course, is the only thing that I’m famous for.”

Here’s the thing. Music is our universal language. All of us have songs that we love – and for myriad reasons. In Craig’s case, listening to his selection of favourite songs, and understanding the meanings of them, helps us get to know him.

He’s more than happy to temporarily ditch the comfort of his judge’s chair on Strictly, or the comfort of a West End theatre, as he heads into the regions. “The reason I love touring is that it takes me to the people, and I get to see the country. It’s about that as much as meeting people and learning because, you know, in certain areas, you’ll get different audiences.”

“There’s some places I’ve been before that I can’t wait to return to, and those places I’ve never been. It’s going to be great. I’m looking forward to it.”

Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing plays Newcastle Theatre Royal Sun 13 Apr 2025. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.