Miss Littlewood | |
Music: | Sam Kenyon |
Lyrics: | Sam Kenyon |
Basis: | The life of Joan Littlewood |
Premiere Location: | Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
Miss Littlewood is a stage musical with music, lyrics and book by Sam Kenyon.
It is based on the life of theatre director Joan Littlewood and the formation of the Theatre Workshop which found residency at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
The musical was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and made its world premiere at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon on 3 July 2018 (with previews from 22 June) for a limited 6 week run until 4 August 2018. The production was directed by Erica Whyman with design by Tom Piper, lighting design by Charles Balfour, musical supervision and orchestrated by Sarah Travis, musical direction by Tarek Merchant, sound by Jonathan Ruddick and movement by Lucy Hind. The musical was developed in collaboration with Theatre Royal Stratford East.[1] The full cast was announced on 13 April 2018.[2]
The playtext was published by Samuel French Limited on 21 June 2018.[3] A cast recording, featuring 13 tracks and produced by Gareth Cousins, was recorded at the Swan Theatre during the musical's preview period and is available from the RSC shop[4] and Spotify[5]
2018 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Joan Littlewood | align=center | Clare Burt | |
Sister Mary/Rosalie Williams/Reporter | align=center | Daisy Badger | |
Robert Littlewood/Jimmie Miller/Cedric Price | align=center | Greg Barnett | |
Kate Littlewood/Beattie/Shelagh Delaney | align=center | Laura Elsworthy | |
Gerry Raffles | align=center | Solomon Israel | |
Nellie | align=center | Natasha Lewis | |
Gielgud's Macbeth/Howard Goorney/Murray Melvin/Bellboy | align=center | Tam Williams | |
Joan 1/Pearl Turner/Barbara Young/Lionel Bart/Barbara/Barbara Windsor | align=center | Emily Johnstone | |
Joan 2/Frank Norman | align=center | Aretha Ayeh | |
Joan 3/Avis Bunnage | align=center | Sophia Nomvete | |
Sister Gertrude/Woman with pears/Jean Newlove/Joan 4 | align=center | Sandy Foster | |
Sister Susannah/Nick/Archie Harding/John Bury/Joan 5/Victor Spinetti | align=center | Amanda Hadingue | |
Caroline Emily/Hal Prince/Joan 6 | align=center | Dawn Hope |
The production, orchestrated by Sarah Travis, uses 7 musicians, including 1 reed player (clarinet/bass clarinet/flute), 1 brass (trumpet), 2 strings (violin/viola and cello/double bass), a percussionist and 2 keyboards (keyboard/accordion and keyboard programming).[7]