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Liverpool Daily Post - UK (July 1st 2003) by Gareth Hughes

'Chris Hoping his Tie Break will prove a winner.'

With the Wimbledon championships reaching a climax a North Wales tennis coach is keeping his fingers crossed for a breakthrough. But Chris Turner's hopes are pinned on a musical on a tennis theme which he has been writing and refining for the past five years.

The musical, titled Tie Break, combined Chris's two loves, as he is also a talented musician. The former Rhyl High School pupil, who as a teenager played at Junior Wimbledon, now lives in Torremolinos where he coaches in international tennis schools. In the evenings he plays piano and saxophone in local bars and hotels.

"I have always wanted to write a musical and no-one has ever written anything on a tennis theme," he said. Chris wrote the story and music, and, with the help of his friend Anthony Barlow the lyrics.
"The hard part is trying to convince the Lawn Tennis Association that it is an ideal way of promoting the game, as it could be performed in places such as schools as a showcase," he said.

The musical, which tells the tale of two young rivals as they prepare to meet in the Davis Cup final after growing up together, and is set against the background of their fathers' antagonism towards eachother.

Tie Break was shortlisted for the Vivien Ellis Award for new musicals, but Chris, whose parents still live in Rhyl, said he was conscious of the fact that the script needed improving.

"I would like to see it performed in Britain, and in North Wales in particular, so have applied for an Arts Council grant," said the 40-year-old.

"It would be nice for it to be showcased by someone like Theatre in the Community (TiC) or Rhyl Operatic, and producers could then come along to see it," he said.

The project has attracted interest from several prominent people including Sir Cliff Richard. To enbale potential backers to learn more about the musical he has created a website www.tennismusical.com

More press releases and interviews can be found on www.mancunianway.com