BRISTOL-born dancer Charlie England is finally heading home to perform on the most elusive stage of his career so far.

Charlie, who first found a love of the performing arts at Bristol Stagecoach, is part the dance team on a national tour of New Jersey Nights which celebrates the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Although Charlie, who lived in Clifton and Ashton before moving to London, is looking forward to all the stops on the UK tour, the Bristol Hippodrome next week will certainly be the most long-awaited.

“It sounds really corny but I have always wanted to work at the hippodrome,” said Charlie, who graduated from the London Studio Centre in 2006. “For one reason or another I have always missed out. But it is my hometown and I can’t wait.

“All my family and friends are going on opening night and I’m sure it will be special.”

Charlie, who has appeared in various pantomimes, Spirit of Broadway in Brazil and a US tour of Spirit of Christmas, is one of a number of dancers to accompany the four singers who will belt out the Four Seasons’ best-loved hits including Working My Way Back To you, Walk Like a Man, Bye, Bye, Baby, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Oh What a Night.

“It has been great. The show has been selling out everywhere and everyone seems to be really enjoying it,” he said. “I am quite surprised actually by the age range of people coming. I thought it would be an older generation thing but there are a lot of younger people coming as well.”

He told the Gazette the show gives audiences the chance to relax, let their hair down and enjoy some of the best music ever made.

“Rather than Jersey Boys which tells their story, New Jersey Nights honours their music more and the singers talk in between songs,” said Charlie. “It’s really good fun, there are a lot of up-tempo numbers where we really get to go for it and jive and perform some great dance routines.

“People are up dancing right from the beginning.”

New Jersey Nights is on at the Bristol Hippodrome from Tuesday, April 9 until Saturday, April 13.