Gemma Collins channels her inner diva as she rehearses for her tour The GC’s Big Night Out

Gemma Collins looked every inch the diva as she rehearsed for her UK tour, The GC’s Big Night Out, which kicks off on Tuesday night at the Manchester Opera House.

The TOWIE star, 41, looked in her element as she went through her performance on stage on Monday night.

She donned an all-black outfit and hid her eyes behind a pair of sparkly diamond sunglasses, as she threw up a peace sign.

Starring role: Gemma Collins looked like the diva she is as she was spotted rehearsing for her big UK tour, The GC’s Big Night Out, which kicks off on Tuesday night at the Manchester Opera House

She practiced hard alongside comedian Stephen Bailey, while she admitted on her Instagram Stories that she was getting in trouble for ‘jumping and prancing’ around the stage. 

The GC was seen leaving the theatre later, sporting a beige coloured coat, and looking excited.

The tour is two and half years in the making, after it was rescheduled from last October. 

Practice makes perfect! The TOWIE star, 41, looked in her element as she went through her performance on Monday on stage

Peace out! She donned an all-black outfit and hid her eyes behind a pair of sparkly diamond sunglasses, as she threw up a peace sign.

It comes as Gemma is gearing up to star in a very different theatre tour next month.

The reality star is set to play Mama Morton in the UK and Ireland tour of the Chicago The Musical in May, taking over the role from singer Sheila Ferguson. 

Gemma has long been passionate about the arts, having studied dance and earning a place at the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.

Sophisticated: The GC was seen leaving the theatre later, sporting a beige coloured coat, and looking excited

Exciting: The tour is two and half years in the making, after it was rescheduled from last October

British theatre producer David Ian said: ‘We were completely stunned by Gemma’s audition. She’s an undeniable force both on and off stage, and we can’t wait to see her portrayal of Mama Morton on tour. 

‘Audiences across the country are in for a treat!’

Gemma will be joined in the production by former Coronation Street star Faye Brookes, who will take on the lead role of Roxie Hart. Djalenga Scott stars as Velma Kelly, Jamie Baughan as Amos Hart and B.E. Wong as Mary Sunshine. The role of Billy Flynn is yet to be announced. 

Gemma will join the tour at the Sunderland Empire from Tuesday May 31, ahead of playing Cardiff New Theatre, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Sheffield Lyceum, Norwich Theatre Royal and New Theatre, Oxford.

Congratulations: The reality star is set to play Mama Morton in the UK and Ireland tour of the Chicago The Musical in May, taking over the role from singer Sheila Ferguson

Chicago follows the story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two murderesses who find themselves in jail together awaiting trial in 1920s Chicago. 

The role of Mama Morton, the corrupt but nurturing matron of the Cook County Jail, was made famous by Queen Latifah in the 2002 movie adaptation of the musical.  

Gemma previously flaunted her singing talents after she landed a record deal with Universal in August 2020, eight months after she blew the Spice Girls’ Geri Horner away with her performance on BBC’s All Together Now.

Iconic: The role of Mama Morton, the corrupt but nurturing matron of the Cook County Jail, was made famous by Queen Latifah in the 2002 movie adaptation of the musical

In November, she sang to support Sophie-Ellis Bextor’s Kitchen Disco Danceathon in aid of Children In Need, while she has also performed with pianist Peter J. Adamson at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

She had been planning to work with Naughty Boy but the musician pulled the plug on the project in 2020, saying he had other ‘priorities’ but wished her ‘all the best’.

In 2019, Gemma said she had been getting singing lessons whenever she could fit them in, including in her car, ahead of releasing the ‘summer banger’. 

Famous face: Gemma will be joined in the production by former Coronation Street star Faye Brookes, who will take on the lead role of Roxie Hart

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk