This autumn Fascinating Aida’s acclaimed singer (and comedienne!) Liza Pulman celebrates the legend of Barbra Streisand in concert with her fabulous band and musical director Joseph Atkins.
Renowned as one of the very few artists that can truly emulate the vocal skills of the iconic Barbra Streisand, Liza’s Streisand show has played London’s West End to packed houses and five-star reviews and it’s back for some select dates this autumn with more to come in 2026!
What can you tell me about your show celebrating the life of Barbra Streisand?
Well, it’s not a “Tribute show”! It’s not a “Stars in your eyes” Christmas special, I don’t put on a curly wig or do an impersonation and no one dresses up as Neil Diamond, but it is a show that celebrates this remarkable woman by digging into some of the iconic songs that she has sung and recorded throughout her life, songs that have come with us through our lives and that mean so much to each of us. I have a live band of amazing players on stage with me all night and the show is funny and moving and peppered with great stories about her life and her career.
What inspired you to create this show?
I’ve always been told that I sound like Streisand (my mother used to say it was my polish/Jewish cheek bones) but I guess I wanted to spend a bit of time with this woman and work out just how she has been such a huge influence on my creative life. Also, throughout her 62-year career, she has recorded virtually every song I’ve ever loved so I knew that I wouldn’t have to search hard to find some great songs to sing!
How has Barbra's work shaped your own career and life?
She is someone who has always refused to be put into any one particular artistic box. She’s a comedian, a dramatic actress, an extraordinary singer, a director, producer, writer. At a time when the studios owned everything and everyone, at 21 she fought to retain creative control over her final recording product. She has set the bar for all of us singers and performers.
How do you prepare for a performance when showcasing an icon like Barbra?
Choosing what songs go into an evening like this is a bit of a “Sophie’s Choice” as there are so many to choose from. My musical director Joseph Atkins I work hard on all the arrangements but ultimately you have to create an evening where both the music and the narrative flow. As for the show itself, I warm up, eat, and hope I’ve managed to avoid whatever particularly lurgy it is that’s going around that day so that I’m in good voice to do this woman justice.
You continue your hit work with Fascinating Aida. How do you reflect on the journey
together so far?
Fascinating Aida have just celebrated 42 years and we’ve been together for so long now (I joined 22 years ago) that we’re like some marvellously dysfunctional family. We know each other so well and have been together for all the big things that we have a very easy shared language. We are all still really excited by the work and there is sadly still plenty of new material out there to keep us going. On top of that, our audiences seem to continue to grow so I guess until we can’t, we will!!
How do you approach bringing something fun and fresh to every new show?
No show is the same as another, no audience is the same as another so every show feels fresh and new to me. The stage is my happy place so whatever is going on in my world that day, getting out in front of an audience and singing and chatting with them is only ever a joy for me (and hopefully for them!)
Renowned as one of the very few artists that can truly emulate the vocal skills of the iconic Barbra Streisand, Liza’s Streisand show has played London’s West End to packed houses and five-star reviews and it’s back for some select dates this autumn with more to come in 2026!
This ‘world-class show’ (Encore Radio) brings Liza’s personal slant on Streisand’s life and music, with warmth, humour and compelling storytelling.
Liza also has Fascinating Aida shows this October, November and December and is working on her brand-new show Hooray for Hollywood with Joe Stilgoe, which goes out on tour in February.
Liza Pulman might be the busiest woman in showbiz!
We caught up with Liza to chat about these projects.
Well, it’s not a “Tribute show”! It’s not a “Stars in your eyes” Christmas special, I don’t put on a curly wig or do an impersonation and no one dresses up as Neil Diamond, but it is a show that celebrates this remarkable woman by digging into some of the iconic songs that she has sung and recorded throughout her life, songs that have come with us through our lives and that mean so much to each of us. I have a live band of amazing players on stage with me all night and the show is funny and moving and peppered with great stories about her life and her career.
What inspired you to create this show?
I’ve always been told that I sound like Streisand (my mother used to say it was my polish/Jewish cheek bones) but I guess I wanted to spend a bit of time with this woman and work out just how she has been such a huge influence on my creative life. Also, throughout her 62-year career, she has recorded virtually every song I’ve ever loved so I knew that I wouldn’t have to search hard to find some great songs to sing!
How has Barbra's work shaped your own career and life?
She is someone who has always refused to be put into any one particular artistic box. She’s a comedian, a dramatic actress, an extraordinary singer, a director, producer, writer. At a time when the studios owned everything and everyone, at 21 she fought to retain creative control over her final recording product. She has set the bar for all of us singers and performers.
How do you prepare for a performance when showcasing an icon like Barbra?
Choosing what songs go into an evening like this is a bit of a “Sophie’s Choice” as there are so many to choose from. My musical director Joseph Atkins I work hard on all the arrangements but ultimately you have to create an evening where both the music and the narrative flow. As for the show itself, I warm up, eat, and hope I’ve managed to avoid whatever particularly lurgy it is that’s going around that day so that I’m in good voice to do this woman justice.
You continue your hit work with Fascinating Aida. How do you reflect on the journey
together so far?
Fascinating Aida have just celebrated 42 years and we’ve been together for so long now (I joined 22 years ago) that we’re like some marvellously dysfunctional family. We know each other so well and have been together for all the big things that we have a very easy shared language. We are all still really excited by the work and there is sadly still plenty of new material out there to keep us going. On top of that, our audiences seem to continue to grow so I guess until we can’t, we will!!
How do you approach bringing something fun and fresh to every new show?
No show is the same as another, no audience is the same as another so every show feels fresh and new to me. The stage is my happy place so whatever is going on in my world that day, getting out in front of an audience and singing and chatting with them is only ever a joy for me (and hopefully for them!)
You have a new show currently in the works ahead of a tour next year. What can you tell me about Hooray For Hollywood?
Joe Stilgoe and I both grew up in similarly theatrical and musical family worlds and as a result have a great love and a slightly nerdy knowledge of the old Hollywood musicals. When we were chatting about putting together a new show, the movie of “Wicked” was storming the box office and it reminded us that the movie-musical still endures so we wanted to celebrate that tradition and bring our own, particular style to these wonderful songs.
How did the collaboration with Joe Stilgoe come about?
I was recording an album called “The Heart Of it” and I wanted to include “Bye Bye Blackbird,” a song that meant a lot to me as my sister and I used to harmonise to it as children. I knew that Joe would bring something really special to it so I rather cheekily asked him if he would collaborate on it with me. We’d never met before that day in the studio and we instantly gelled. And laughed. A lot. After that, we knew we wanted to do something more together so we created “A couple of Swells,” which was our first show.
How do you wind down after a performance?
A glass of something red and delicious and perhaps a podcast while I take my make up off.
What was the first piece of theatre that had a big impact on you?
I was taken to see my mother (the actress Barbara Young) in a seminal production of Arnold Wesker’s “Chicken soup with barley” at the Shaw theatre when I was about six years old. I remember watching my mother (who was playing Wesker’s mother) age throughout the play which was most disconcerting!
What keeps you inspired?
Somebody asked me the other day if I would ever retire, and I was amazed at the question. I feel so privileged to be able to earn a living doing what I love. There are still so many songs to sing and so much music still to make, that’s really the inspiration.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
The joy of music. The joy of live music. The joy of sharing that experience with a room full of strangers who all love this music as much as you do. Also, their rubbish!
Where can audiences see the show?
Liza Pulman Sings Streisand: Monday 17 November, Thursday 8 January and Friday 9 January at Chichester Festival Theatre
Fascinating Aida on tour til Saturday 6 December
Pulman & Stilgoe – Hooray For Hollywood from Wednesday 4 February 2026
www.lizapulman.com
Joe Stilgoe and I both grew up in similarly theatrical and musical family worlds and as a result have a great love and a slightly nerdy knowledge of the old Hollywood musicals. When we were chatting about putting together a new show, the movie of “Wicked” was storming the box office and it reminded us that the movie-musical still endures so we wanted to celebrate that tradition and bring our own, particular style to these wonderful songs.
How did the collaboration with Joe Stilgoe come about?
I was recording an album called “The Heart Of it” and I wanted to include “Bye Bye Blackbird,” a song that meant a lot to me as my sister and I used to harmonise to it as children. I knew that Joe would bring something really special to it so I rather cheekily asked him if he would collaborate on it with me. We’d never met before that day in the studio and we instantly gelled. And laughed. A lot. After that, we knew we wanted to do something more together so we created “A couple of Swells,” which was our first show.
How do you wind down after a performance?
A glass of something red and delicious and perhaps a podcast while I take my make up off.
What was the first piece of theatre that had a big impact on you?
I was taken to see my mother (the actress Barbara Young) in a seminal production of Arnold Wesker’s “Chicken soup with barley” at the Shaw theatre when I was about six years old. I remember watching my mother (who was playing Wesker’s mother) age throughout the play which was most disconcerting!
What keeps you inspired?
Somebody asked me the other day if I would ever retire, and I was amazed at the question. I feel so privileged to be able to earn a living doing what I love. There are still so many songs to sing and so much music still to make, that’s really the inspiration.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
The joy of music. The joy of live music. The joy of sharing that experience with a room full of strangers who all love this music as much as you do. Also, their rubbish!
Where can audiences see the show?
Liza Pulman Sings Streisand: Monday 17 November, Thursday 8 January and Friday 9 January at Chichester Festival Theatre
Fascinating Aida on tour til Saturday 6 December
Pulman & Stilgoe – Hooray For Hollywood from Wednesday 4 February 2026
www.lizapulman.com
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