A dancer who appears with Alan Rickman and Kate Winslet in their latest blockbuster film helped transform Wrexham into the fashion capital of the UK for the day.
Edward Hayes-Neary has worked with a galaxy of stars, from Michael Crawford to Will Young, during his time in show business.
His latest high profile role is as one of the dancers in the new British movie A Little Chaos, which has just had its premiere and tells the story of how a female landscape-gardener – played by Winslet – is awarded the coveted assignment to construct the grand gardens at Versailles for King Louis XIV of France.
On Saturday, Edward was one of a team of six top models and dancers who were at the Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre for an all action, open-air extravaganza showcasing the latest outfits on offer for the summer season at the Fashion Frenzy event.
Coincidentally, the critically-acclaimed film is currently showing at the Odeon cinema at Eagles Meadow.
Among the stores taking part with special offers for the day were M&S, Ragazzi, Wallis, Topshop and Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, River Island, F.Hinds, Clarks and Mococo.
There were also free No7 makeovers available for shoppers at Boots and prizes on offer from Pizza Express, Debenhams and Next, the Odeon cinema and Tenpin bowling.
Models from Fashion on the Move, the professional outfit masterminding the occasion, went through their high energy paces at a series of five catwalk shows staged throughout the day from 11.30am and also mingled with shoppers.
Amongst them was Edward Hayes-Neary, who hails originally from Cork city in Ireland and trained for the stage at Laine Theatre Arts in London.
During a star-studded career he has danced in a host of top West End shows, including West Side Story, Chicago, Chess and A Chorus Line.
His latest big musical was The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, alongside supreme showman Michael Crawford.
Edward has also danced on videos for big names such as Will Young and Sophie Ellis Bextor.
He is particularly proud of his big screen dance date in A Little Chaos, a sumptuous costume drama set in late 17th century France.
Edward said: “Over the years I’ve been privileged to work with some really brilliant people, such as Michael Crawford and now Alan Rickman in his latest film.
“I appear in a really lavish sequence which depicts the dance, set to baroque music, which is held to celebrate the opening of the gardens which Kate Winslet’s character designs for King Louis at the Palace of Versailles.
“It was a fantastic experience. I did get to see quite a bit of them during the filming.
“Working so close to people like this you come to realise what amazing professionals they are.
“It was also interesting to learn about how films are made and see the attention to detail which goes into everything, like the costumes.”
Edward added: “It was great to be at Eagles Meadow today to be part of the latest Fashion Frenzy event.
“I really enjoy being one of the models because it’s all very inter-active and you actually get to mingle with the shoppers and have a lot of fun.”
One on-looker was so taken with the models’ performance that he joined them in a couple of dance routines.
Thirteen-year-old Tom Hernandez, from Hope near Wrexham, said: “I was out at Eagles Meadow with a few of my friends when we saw the models come out and start dancing and showing off the clothes.
“It looked and sounded so good that I knew I just had to get involved myself.”
Tom, who is in year eight at St Joseph’s School in Wrexham, added: “I love fashion and I lover dancing and just wanted to have a go too.
“It was fantastic and I’ve had a really great time.”
It was a similar story with Donna Deacon who had come over from her home in Llandudno Junction especially to see a slice of the Fashion Frenzy action.
Donna, 41, said: “The whole thing was very entertaining and it’s great to see a shopping centre like Eagles Meadow offering something really fun like this.”
Celebrity stylist Suzy Makin, who put the whole scintillating show together, said: “It was a fantastic day and I think everyone really enjoyed it.
“With the fashions on show we’ve seen lots of bright colours and clothes to which some nice key pieces can be added.
“Patterns are very much on trend this season and can either be worn as an accessory to the outfit or as pattern on pattern.”
Eagles Meadow Centre Manager Kevin Critchley said: “The latest in our series of Fashion Frenzy events has been yet another massive hit with everyone who saw it and underlines Eagles Meadows’ place on the fashion map.
“One of the strengths of the centre is that it’s not just about retail – there’s also a very strong leisure element and I know Fashion Frenzy has again won top marks from our shoppers for entertainment value.”
