Robbie set to play... South Kirkby

Quoted from: http://www.leedstoday.net/

'Exclusive
By Jo Rostron

INTERNATIONAL superstar Robbie Williams could be gearing up for his world tour next month - in a former pit village in West Yorkshire.
The staging, set and props for the singer's tour next month is currently being put together at a studio in South Kirkby and rumours are rife that the man himself is set to rehearse there sometime soon.
Security is in place at the £2m Northern Studios at Langthwaite Grange Industrial Estate which offers rehearsal facilities for bands before they go on tour.
Alan Bennett, from Show and Events Security, which is hired by Robbie's production team said: "The backing singers are due to come here possibly next week or the week after. Half the stage is being built here, the equipment is getting sent up and they are doing sound checks. Then it will be stripped down next week and shipped to Belgium.
"The other part of the stage is being made in Belgium where the whole set will be put together for final rehearsals before the tour kicks off in Dublin on June 9.Mr Bennett, who is head of security, denied that Robbie Willliams would be coming to the South Kirkby site but said: "All of it is being kept hush, hush."He added: "We don't want crowds outside."The studios, which are tucked away on the sprawling industrial estate, are a discreet spot for a wealth of international bands who can rehearse at the major warehouse style venue without attracting attention.One local shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said: "The production crews are down here all the time. They come from all over the country and from what we've heard Robbie Williams will be down here next week. Scissor Sisters, Phil Collins and Coldplay have all been down here before - we've never seen them themselves but their crews stay around here in the tour buses so they pop in all the time."A spokesman for Robbie Williams refused to confirm whether he would be rehearsing at the site.

jo.rostron@ypn.co.uk
11 May 2006'