Having a pop party with the Dolly Popz
The Dolly Popz are three pop culture princesses: Flossy, Blossom and Honey, living their best lives and helping each other to achieve their dolly dreamz.
The trio – who their creators say embody the trends of today through music, fashion and friendship – will be bringing their high-energy pop party to Haverhill at the end of May.
Featuring elaborate costumes and carefully-choreographed dance moves, as well as a playlist of feel-good, pop favourites from the likes of Meghan Trainor, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, Little Mix, Taylor Swift, and Lizzo, the show is for people of all ages.
The Dolly Popz are the brainchild of Jane Moran, a dancer and choreographer based in Colchester who runs Jammy Creative Studios, the company behind the production, with her husband (“he does all the boring stuff like the contracts and negotiations, and I do all the nice things that everybody sees on stage”).
“I created the Dolly Popz,” says Jane, who began her professional career as a famous Blue Coat at Pontins.
“A couple of years ago, I had this idea and then it’s just exploded, it’s gone crazy – they’ve done really well.”
Jane states that each of the three Dolly Popz have their own individual personalities, personalities which she herself devised and developed (Jane also designed the costumes).
“You’ve got bossy Flossy, Honey’s a little bit quirky and just very excitable, and then Blossom is a little bit more shy,” she explains.
“It’s about friendship, and they build each other up – they encourage each other and they’re there for each other and support each other, and it’s all told through song and dance. That’s what the Dolly Popz are all about.”
As well as hit songs by some of the world’s top contemporary acts, Jane notes that “we’ve got some oldies in there as well” – classic hits such as I Will Survive.
On the concept behind the fun-loving threesome’s desire to always be there for each other come what may, Jane says: “I’ve got a son who’s 13 who was badly bullied at school, and he didn’t have many friends supporting him.
“Inevitably, we moved schools for him and he now has a great group of friends that are all there for him. So I think it [the Dolly Popz] was really inspired by what he had gone through.”
Jane insists that even though the three stars of the show are ‘pop princesses’, they are first and foremost ‘Dolly Popz’.
“They don’t speak in silly voices or anything like that,” she says, “they’re their own voices, their own people, and it’s just all told through songs…
“It’s scripted as well, so Blossom will ask Flossy if Flossy will ask the audience if it’s OK that she sings a song, and then they try and support Blossom and encourage her and things like that.
“It is literally about three best friends living their best lives, supporting each other and the Dolly Popz’ motto is that they believe ‘everybody is a shining star, no matter who they are’.”
Jane calls the show “full-on family entertainment” and notes they they’ve done “theatres, holiday parks and cruise ships”.
“We’re growing it gradually and nurturing it and then changing things if things aren’t quite right,” she continues, “but so far so good.
“They do workshops, they workshop with children as well, teach them routines, they meet and greet… eventually we’re going to do Dolled Up Parties as well, but for now they just do their shows.”
Jane reveals that the current Dolly Popz trio have been together since the end of January and describes them as “absolutely tremendous”.
“What we did this year, to find the right people, was we did a Dolly Popz workshop,” she explains, “we invited so many girls and they came to London, to Dance Attic [Rehearsal Studios], and we actually did a full day of Dolly Popz workshops.
“So whoever was offered the contract knew exactly what they were coming into, and they had to get into character there in the audition. They went through a really long process.
“They went through the whole process of learning the choreography, then they had to sing, then they had to act – and then they had to add their own character in it so it makes it more believable.
“It was a really tough process so I know that the right three Dollies are out there this year.”
She adds: “Anybody can put costumes on, stand on stage and sing songs but I definitely wanted it to have a meaning, and for it to just be for everybody.
“Because at some point in our lives, someone can always relate to one of those dolls – there’s a character for everybody there.”
The Dolly Popz show will be on at Haverhill Arts Centre on Friday, 31 May, at 2pm. Tickets are available from haverhillartscentre.co.uk, priced £15. For more on Jammy Creative Studios, go to jammyshowsandproductions.co.uk.
