THINK of the word “crooner” and what springs to mind? Frank Sinatra? Tony Bennett?

You’d be right, but a new comedy musical is aiming to stamp a quintessentially British twist on the genre symbolised by the ‘crooner’.

Crooners will be coming to Southend for a night at Cliffs Pavilion on July 13. The show is on a mission to bring the British song and dance man back to the main theatre stage and has been wowing audiences across the UK.

Something that may come as a surprise is that one of the main stars of the show is a former professional footballer, who has now swapped his muddy football boots for a pair of sleek tap shoes.

Echo: Ambience- the show puts a twist on the British variety genre

Former Manchester City, Wrexham and Northern Ireland midfielder Jim Whitley is preparing to show off his accomplished theatre skills in the show and to prove he’s got the talent to cut it on the boards.

When a painful knee injury cut short Jim’s football career he jumped at the chance to get back to his love for music and singing.

He explained: “I had always loved music, always sung - had been in the school choir and in a band - but that had sort of reduced to just doing karaoke in bars when I was busy with my football.

But it seems serendipity was waiting in the wings for Jim.

After also being signed for Wrexham, Jim was asked to sing on a record about the team and producers were so impressed that he was invited to perform a solo show at a local theatre. From there his all singing, all dancing career really took off.

His passion for swing music, The Rat Pack and the Great American Song book soon saw Jim become one of the UK’s most in demand crooners on the theatre circuit, and he jumped at the opportunity to play homage to his hero’s Sammy Davis Jr, Matt Monro and Bobby Darin.

Jim, now aged 43, said: “This is music from a time where men had style and charisma and could sing, dance, and joke like the best of them. What a time for music.”

Echo: Top score- The acclaimed Mini Big Band will provide the live music

Crooner includes more than 20 all time classic songs such as Mr. Bojangles, L.O.V.E, Mac The Knife and Beyond The Sea and features one of the best modern big bands in the UK, The Mini Big Band.

Jim’s footballing feet have fared him well in his transition from football to theatre and he puts them to good practice in an extended Fred Astaire inspired tap dance routine feature.

Jim admitted he has been honing his skills thanks to a little help from the internet: “I’ve always admired flair and showmanship of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, so I bought some tap shoes! Now, it’s the highlight of my night,” he said.

“I love doing tap dance and learnt the moves off YouTube. I love Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis Jnr, it’s very, very good stuff and I’ve always admired the flair and showmanship.”

Jim plays a suave, confident and charismatic English gentleman, completely at ease with the role of a Crooner in this modern world- although things don’t always work out.

“Nobody has done it like this”, added Jim. “We’re playing the music of all the greats, completely live, with an ace band, and throwing in some British comedy that’s had me rolling around in laughter”

This musical is a collaboration between comedy writer and performer, Roman Marek, and one of the UK’s most prolific modern swing bands The Mini Big Band.

“I’m a song and dance man” says Roman.

“I was brought up on the music of the super cool crooners, but also on the quintessentially English stage humour of Morecambe and Wise, Bruce Forsyth, and Max Bygraves”

Echo: Swing time- Jim on stage in Crooners

Roman has been a Frank Sinatra tribute performer on a major UK Rat Pack show for over seven years and has learnt his craft of crooning well, but felt there was more to offer UK crowds; “The super cool Sinatra stuff is great” he says.

“Audiences love the songs and the acts. But I started throwing in the less cool British comedy stuff; tripping up the stairs, telling a joke wrong, and the audience would howl with laughter…this was the way I wanted to perform”.

The show features music of the Rat Pack singers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr, as well as Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and Britain’s very own crooner, Matt Monro with a set list of material never before heard in a theatre production.

“We wanted a show that makes British audiences laugh out loud. An all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy the likes of Morecambe and Wise,” stressed band leader Jon Hibbard. “It’s original, has a swinging big band, and brings variety back to the theatre.”

Catch Crooners at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend on Friday July 13. Tickets range from £12.50 for under 16’s to £23.50 -£26.50 for adults.

There’s also a family ticket offer available - four people for £60. southendtheatres.org.uk

Echo: Crooners