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THIS PAGE WAS AN ACTIVE PAGE WHEN THE PRODUCTION
WAS RUNNING IN THE WEST END OF LONDON IN 2002
by Richard Cameron
Play Description | Cast | Writer | Theatre Details | Box Office Number | Photos | Quotes
Richard Cameron's The Glee Club transferred to the Duchess Theatre in London's West End on Wednesday 17 April 2002 playing through until Saturday 1 June 2002, The production had initially opened at the Bush Theatre on Friday 22 February receiving great critical acclaim and a sell-out extended season. In the West End the production was presented by Julius Green & Ian Lenagan, John Newman, Big Dog Productions and Bush Theatre Productions. The production will then be touring in the Spring of 2003.
The Glee Club, made up of five hard working, hard drinking miners and a church organist, is preparing for the local gala. Though they’re established on the working men’s club circuit, they aren’t exactly at the vanguard of the musical revolution. Sometimes compassion and understanding, as well as bigotry and cowardice, can come from the most unlikely places.
This is the summer of 1962 – music and much else is about to change – so too the lives of these six men. Nothing and no-one will ever be the same again.
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The cast comprises some of British theatre's finest actors David Bamber (an Olivier Award-winner for his role in My Night With Reg and numerous leading roles at the RNT, Royal Court, Hampstead), James Hornsby (regular major roles with Hull Truck, Northampton theatres and on tour), Oliver Jackson (credits include numerous productions at the Open Air Theatre and Les Miserables in the West End), Shaun Prendergast (a prolific actor and award-winning writer for stage, screen and radio), David Schofield (leading roles at the RSC, RNT and the Royal Exchange, Manchester and films such as Gladiator) and Roderick Smith (major roles in leading theatres including RNT, The Gate and Riverside Studios, and a regular TV face).
Richard Cameron has written a number of plays for The Bush Theatre including All Of You Mine, The Mortal Ash and Pond Life. Other plays include Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, Not Fade Away, Strugglers, The Moon's A Madonna, Indoor Flight and Great Balls Of Fire (West End). His TV and film work include Stone Scissors Paper (BBC1), which won the inaugural Dennis Potter Award, Conspirators (Meridian), The Horse Marine (BBC Films) and Cameron's Tales (Feelgood Fiction). Richard is three times winner of The Sunday Times Playwriting Award.
Catherine Street, London, WC2
0870 890 11 03
or book on line at:
www.rutheatres.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Performance Times:
Monday to Saturday at 8pm,
Wednesday and Saturday matinee at 3pm
General prices:
£16.50 - £29.50
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes including one interval
Dramatic dynamite.
The songs forge a hotline to the heart.
Rachel Halliburton, Evening Standard
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A right cracker
a ribald, touching, song-filled play.
Mike Bradwell’s ebullient production. First-rate performances.
Passionate close-harmony rendering of romantic ballads.
Michael Billington, The Guardian
A cracking new play
cast and directed to the highest possible standards – has all the hallmarks of
a hugely appealing popular hit.
Splendidly warm, sad and funny.
The songs are superbly performed and all six characters come to vivid life.
Charles Spencer, The Daily Telegraph
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A hugely entertaining evening.
Plenty of ribald humour and much enjoyment to be had from well-delivered songs.
Ian Johns, The Times
No 1 Critics Choice.
Nigh-on perfect.
The cast are uniformly excellent.
Dominic Maxwell, Time Out
A tuneful celebration, winning cheers and a lively encore.
John Thaxter, What’s On
The great cast is a joy.
Catch this.
Kate Bassett, Independent on Sunday
this glorious production is
a smash hit.
The bursts of close harmony singing are sheer joy.
Tremendous musical muscularity.
Michael Coveney, Daily Mail
