He may be in his 70s, but Newport's Peter Hourahine still can't resist the smell of the greasepaint and the thrill of live performance. The all-singing, all-dancing entertainer talked to EDWARD DAVIE about his life, his new show and advice to a young Cliff Richard

SURROUNDED by memorabilia collected over a lifetime around show business, 73-year-old Peter Hourahine (pictured) is still bursting with energy and enthusiasm.

For decades he's been a member of Newport crooners The Fortunaires and been a leading light of the STC musical society.

Over the years he has entertained thousands and despite achieving so much he has no plans to bow out of the limelight anytime soon. In recent years, the Argus has reported his success in national senior citizen's talent contests proving he's still got what it takes.

Peter said: "My grandfather was a professional actor, he was also a rogue and a great storyteller and I think that's why I became a comedian and a performer.

"I was always in school performances and then I joined the Army, there was a social club that put on pantos and I loved it."

On leaving the army in the late 1950s Peter joined Standard Telecommunications in Newport and continued to get involved in music and drama.

He said: "They had a drama group and by then I had a taste for it, so I decided to do it as my hobby and it took over my life. The firm started an operatic society and that really took off.

"In 1984 the business closed down but the operatic company is still going. I haven't missed a single show since I joined, this one coming up will be my 86th and that's not counting revues, pantomimes and cabarets. I was never formally trained but I was in the Fortunaires and that was my real schooling.

"All four of us singers worked at Standards, we formed the group and won the best amateur act of Great Britain in 1958, then we went pro.

"One of the lads sadly died last year but we'd been together 46 years. We always did a bit of comedy, I don't know if they laughed at that or our singing but we did have a lot of fun.

"After one cabaret in London we were booked by Billy Butlin himself to be resident band at one of the camps. We were Redcoats in the day and played a 2,000 theatre audience in the evenings, it was really hard work but great experience, we really put the act together there."

And during his time there he met a 17-year-old Cliff Richard.

Cliff was singing in Butlins at the time, and his raw talent impressed the Gwent lads. Cliff came backstage after performing and asked them whether they thought he had enough talent to make it into the charts.

Peter said: "I told him 'definitely'. That lad clearly had what it took to make it big.

"In the end two of the fellas wanted to come back to Newport to their families and things changed then. We were in our 20s and married. If we'd been younger then who knows?

"But I have no regrets, I'm a great believer in Fate. The band kept going as semi-pros and even though I could have stayed at Butlins as a solo act I wanted the band to carry on and loyalty is very important.

"I got more involved in the musicals and I still am even though I'm creaking a bit now and there some parts I couldn't play anymore.

"But I've got a great part in this year's show and I love to help the youngsters get through. Once your time is gone it's gone and then you've got to put your experience back in and help others."

Peter puts the popularity of musicals in South Wales down to the traditional love of music and singing in the area.

He said: "There is a very strong musical tradition around here, with choirs and brass bands and I think the social club musical groups evolved from them. There's a very discerning audience here so you have to keep standards up or they won't keep coming back.

"Mack and Mabel, our new show, is a wonderful piece about the man who invented the Keystone Kops and discovered Charlie Chaplin. It's a true story of his love for his leading lady - there's a lot of fun, a lot of great music and it's a real challenge.

"We choose the shows that we want to put on and what we think people want to see.

"Recently we've done Camelot, State Fair and Kiss Me Kate and they have all gone extremely well, so fingers crossed for this new one."

Peter points to the success of Oscar-winning film Chicago to show how the musical drama is in better health than ever.

He said: "It's alive and kicking. Just the other day I went to see Chicago - fabulous - it just demonstrates that new shows are being created which bring it up to date.

"I have had a wonderful life, doing the productions with the company has been a great experience. I've also got a musical double act which performs for charit,y. Doing all these things keeps me young and the secret is to stay active and doing the things you enjoy.

"My son, who is 35, says that I am still 17 in my head, the way I do all these things. With all the doom and gloom around at the moment you have to have a break and have a laugh and if I can still entertain people then I'm happy."

l Mack and Mabel opens at Newport's Dolman Theatre on May 19, tickets are available from the tourist information desk at Newport library.