Cast of Dirty Dancing swap Kellerman's for Roker Beach to perform iconic lift

Dog walkers, paddle boarders and ice cream eaters were given a surprise performance when the cast of Dirty Dancing hit the beach.

Baby and Johnny swapped Kellerman’s for Roker’s sandy shores to recreate possibly the most famous lift in cinema.

Actors Charlie Varlet (Baby) and Joel Benjamin (Johnny) turned plenty of heads as they perfectly pulled off the lift on an albeit more difficult surface to navigate than the stage floor.

This week’s Sunderland Empire run of the classic musical based on the hit film starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze is somewhat of a homecoming for Joel whose parents live in Boldon Colliery.

“My parents moved to Boldon eight years ago when they retired so it’s been my base for a couple of years, “ said Joel. “It means I’ll have friends and my parents in the audience this week and it’s always great to have that support system, for them to be able to see the result of all our hard work.

“The North East always has great audiences, but Sunderland in particular. I’ve performed at the Empire multiple times over the years, in previous Dirty Dancing and in Chicago, and it’s such a great theatre.

“It’s always wonderful coming home.”

Speaking about stepping into Baby’s dance shoes every night, Charlie said: “It’s such an honour to play these roles. We have such fun and they’re really special parts.”

She added: “The lift costume is my favourite, it’s just so iconic, but all of the outfits are great, the ‘60s was such a gorgeous time.”

The musical is famously true to the film, as Charlie says: “I really try to honour Jennifer in my Baby, while putting my own spin on the character. She is my source material and I keep that in mind.

“Baby is writer Eleanor Bergstein’s creation and I, and all the others who have played Baby, try to reflect her creation as best we can. Eleanor is actually still involved in the casting, she is so passionate about the show and the story.”

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is back treading the boards after last touring in 2023.

Fans of the film can expect the classic story alongside its trademark toe-tapping score Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’.

*Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is at Sunderland Empire from September 22-26. Tickets from atgtickets.com