Chris & Shimi present What a time to be alive!

Chris & Shimi, the exciting Piano & Tenor act, have been making music together for twenty years since meeting at Guildford School of Acting. Individually they are consummate musicians, but when they join forces, their synergy on stage creates a unique, arresting and magical atmosphere which cannot help but charm the audience.

Chris is a multi award winning composer and lyricist. He also writes songs with Shimi, two of which were recently featured on TV and will be included in their show.

Their programme is eclectic, ranging from Mario Lanza to the Pet Shop Boys, each song carefully chosen and presented with passion and flair. They impress the audience with their clever and interesting medleys of familiar songs performed in perfect harmony and stunningly arranged by Chris on piano, gliding effortlessly between different styles.

The audience is utterly entranced as they combine the classical and popular worlds, interweaving the beautiful Clair de Lune with Moon River and is often inspired to get up and dance when in the next moment they launch into an energetic number!

The audience love feeling part of the show when this dynamic duo test its musical knowledge. Everything they do exudes class and panache but remains eminently fun and hugely entertaining.

Chris started playing the piano at the age of four. He has performed in cabaret internationally from the House of Commons to Bangkok. He has been described by New York critics as “the real deal” and “a total showman”. In the UK The Daily Telegraph hailed him as “an ace pianist”. New York cabaret legend Steve Ross called him “a wizard on the keys” and Twiggy commented after one of his shows: “I haven’t heard the piano played like that in years”. In 2017 he appeared in A Spoonful of Sherman where he was regularly singled out by critics: “Star of the show is Chris Hamilton with his sparkling, pitch perfect accompaniment and occasional show stealers”. Shimi’s West End debut was as Akaash in the musical Bombay Dreams. He played Mary Sunshine in Chicago alongside Brooke Shields and Christie Brinkley, was a featured singer in the original cast of the West End show Dirty Dancing and played the role of Che in Bill Kenwright’s acclaimed production of Evita. He also created the lead part of Samuel in the world premiere of Salt & Honey in Jerusalem. “He’s a looker, a hoofer and BOY can he sing” (Whatsonstage). Shimi sang in front of the Spanish King Felipe VI in the Teatro Real Opera House, Madrid. Together Chris & Shimi performed at a gala tribute to former Israeli president Shimon Peres at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane. They headlined a cabaret burlesque night at the Savoy Hotel and topped the bill at London’s Hippodrome. They perform regularly as headliners on luxury cruise ships and have been developing an online presence, recently hosting the launch night of Forum+ and Camden & Islington’s LGBT History Month.