insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 58

VISITKENT
EASTENDERS
STAR
TO BE HAZLITT
THEATRE’S GENIE
SOAP STAR
RICHARD
BLACKWOOD
WILL BE ENTERTAINING
KENT AUDIENCES IN
ALADDIN AT THE HAZLITT
THEATRE THIS DECEMBER.
Having recently departed from EastEnders as
Vincent Hubbard, Richard has been busy
working on film and theatre projects ahead of
his arrival in Kent for panto season.
When asked about his plans to join Maidstone’s
only panto Richard said: “I am so looking
forward to becoming the Genie in Aladdin this
Christmas at The Hazlett Theatre! I’ve heard
that the Kent audience truly get involved to
help make a dynamic show, so they will get
the same energy back! See you guys soon.” In 1996 Richard joined forces with presenter
June Sarpong to front MTV’s prime-time
music request show, MTV Select. Every
Saturday afternoon the duo entertained young
London from the Leicester Square studio.
Following the success of Cinderella with Rustie
Lee and Stefan Booth at The Hazlitt last year,
Aladdin is due to run from 1st to 31st
December. In 1999, Richard secured his own weekly show
on Channel 4. The Richard Blackwood Show
was a culmination of comedic improvisation,
celebrity interviews and music – Richard often
showcasing his emerging lyrical talent to close
the show.
“Richard Blackwood will be a fantastic member
of the cast and be part of a production that
promises to entertain, delight and wow the
visiting crowds,” says Martin Cleverley, general
manager.
Richard is known for his many talents
including stand-up comedy, broadcasting,
acting, and presenting, and first set his sights
on entertaining at the tender age of eight after
watching comic Richard Pryor live in concert
on BBC 2. At the age of 20, Richard graduated
from university with a BA honours in Business
Studies and decided to pursue his dream in
the world of entertainment.
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In 1993 Richard performed his first stand up
show at The Spot in Covent Garden and his
popularity took a sudden rise when he began
touring across Britain with fellow comedian,
Geoff Schumann.
In 2000, Richard embarked on a musical career
and released his debut album, You’ll Love To
Hate This. “Mama (Who Da Man)” reached an
impressive No.3 in the UK charts.
His tongue-in-cheek approach to hip-hop
exposed him to an array of new fans and had
critics dubbing him, ‘south London’s answer
to Will Smith.’
In 2004, Richard joined Choice FM (now
Capital XTRA) – the UK’s leading urban station
– to become one of the Choice’s biggest brand
names. Together with fellow broadcaster Kat
B, the duo culminated a huge following
resulting in the most-listened to show on the
station’s weekend schedule.
In 2007, Richard landed his own show on the
station: RB’s Sunday School. His no-nonsense
approach to community issues proved to be
popular amongst his audience and the station
soon launched RB Real Talk, a series of
monthly seminars to empower, inspire and
motivate young people based on this model.
In 2009, Richard joined an all-star cast for the
West End production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
– Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning
classic, which enjoyed a sell-out run on
Broadway; and in 2011, he enjoyed a successful
two-year run as the character of Donkey in
the hit musical theatre adaptation of Shrek.
Film history includes Adam Deacon’s 2011
urban comedy Anuvahood, Meet The
Governors (2012), and recently released
Welcome to Curiosity (2018)
Away from entertainment, Richard hit
the headlines when he appeared on ITV 1’s
This Morning to raise awareness about prostate
cancer. Richard, whose mum was diagnosed
with breast cancer, was applauded for
his bravery and decision to get examined on
live TV.
www.hazlitttheatre.com
www.richardblackwood.co.uk