The Wiggles action-packed superhero concert had two sell-out shows at the Broken Hill Civic Centre on Monday.
“I am very excited to see the kids of Broken Hill here today, and I can’t wait to see them dancing and singing along to the songs,” Tsehay Wiggle (pronounced Sar-hi, an Ethiopian name) said before the concert.
When the little ones light up and enjoy themselves because of the Wiggle’s music, it inspires her, the concerts are like sewing a seed that hopefully will lead to a lifelong love for music and performing arts for the kids who attend, explained Tsehay.
A spokesperson for the Wiggles said the Wiggles were unable to tour for the past two years due to COVID-19.
When the world reopened, the Wiggles, Anthony, Lachy, Simon and Tsehay Wiggle, wanted to return to the rural towns they love, including Broken Hill, Renmark in South Australia and Mildura in Victoria.
“I’ve never been to Broken Hill before. We had a good day sightseeing yesterday, and I met a few families in cafes who said they were looking forward to today’s show,” Tsehay said.
Tsehay grew up listening to the Wiggles, so unlike other live performances and theatre where actors learn new material to prepare for an upcoming tour, the Wiggles have thirty years of songs that are more like muscle memory, some of the parents have that same reaction to the songs explained Tsehay.
“The songs hot potato and fruit salad are where the parents sing along because that’s what they remember from when they were little,” Tsehay said.
Local Mum, Silvy McNabb was excited about seeing the Wiggles with her children Theo and Isla and friend Debbie Turvey.
Tsehay has performed sixty-six shows in twenty-two days and has one more show in North Sydney next Sunday.
Elvis has entered the building
In addition to the Wiggles concert, Broken Hill was treated to an impromptu performance of a Wiggles song by Jack Gatto, one of the backup vocalists for the Wiggles at the Palace on Saturday night.
Mr Gatto is one of only two Graceland-approved Elvis impersonators. He performed an Elvis number and then a Johnny Cash song before the crowd egged him on to perform a Wiggles song which he did with permission, said a Wiggles spokesperson.
Broken Hill kids will be glad to know that Lachy Wiggle and all the other Wiggles went to bed at their usual bedtime after cleaning their teeth and putting their jim jams on.
The numbers at Monday’s concerts showed that Broken Hill residents appreciated the Wiggles coming to town.
They have been touring since February, and Broken Hill was their last stop for the regional part of their tour.
A Wiggles spokesperson said they hope to return to Broken Hill next year.
