Set
against the evocative backdrop of London’s West End in the 1960s – its famous
clubs, trend setting fashions and host of hippies and hipsters, Carnaby Street
relives a time when the world was changing, London was its centre and for a new
generation – and anything was possible.
Inhabiting
this world of mods, mini-skirts and mopeds, Carnaby Street tells the story of
Jude - a working class boy from Liverpool - new to town, and armed with nothing
but his guitar and his dreams of fame and fortune. Follow the highs and lows,
the passion and heartbreak, of his journey in pursuit of stardom.
Featuring
an era defining soundtrack, celebrating the most vibrant decade of the 20th
Century, Carnaby Street is packed with over 30 solid gold hits including;
Shout, My Generation, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Sweets For My Sweet, Roll
Over Beethoven, Go Now, Keep On Running, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Twist And Shout,
54321, We’ve Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Do You Love Me?, and many, many more.
With a
book inspired by writer, producer and music industry legend Carl Leighton
Pope’s real life experiences, he said: “In 1964 I was 18 years old. My father
had a pub in Dean Street, Soho called The Crown and Two Chairman and I was an
out of work actor. I worked five nights a week in the now iconic venue - The
Marquee Club - the hottest club in London for new bands. The Who, The Yardbirds,
Rod Stewart, Moody Blues and many more started their careers there in 1964.
“Being a
mod meant I rode a Vespa scooter, bought my clothes in Carnaby Street and
followed the cool bands of the time. The Who led the way. We fought on the
beaches and lived for the weekends. Our whole lives were based around music. It
told us who we were, who we hung around with, what girls we knew. What dances
we did - in fact - our entire lifestyle. Soho was called the Square Mile, and
that’s where the 60’s really began.
“My 40
years in the music business has given me many road stories, all of which, told
with a drink are entertaining. There have been many suggestions about ‘the
book’, but my intention was never to write one. The musical is my document, it
is mildly autobiographical in that all that the characters were real people
that I met during that time.
“The
songs are classic 60’s hits and the fashion and the colour gave me my story. I
didn’t want it to be a song-led concert style musical, so the book, together
with the music is the story I wanted to tell. It took 16 years to write. It was
a real labour of love. Please enjoy it as much as I do.”
Directed
by Bob Tomson, whose West End credits include Blood Brothers and Dreamcoats and
Petticoats, Designed by Matthew Wright (La Cage aux Folles, Evita),
choreographed by Carole Todd (Dreamboats and Petticoats, Soul Sister), with
Music Supervisor Colin Cattle, Lighting Design by Nick Richings and Sound
Design by Ben Harrison, Carnaby Street is the feel good show that never fails
to have audiences dancing in the aisles.
Eastenders’
favourite Aaron Sidwell (Loserville, Children of Eden) re-joins the cast as
Jack alongside Tricia Adele Turner (Legally Blonde, Blood Brothers) as Jane,
Jonny Bower as Jude, Aimie Atkinson (Cannibal! The Musical, Dirty Dancing) as
Penny, and also features; Paul Hazel (Lily), Mark Pearce (Wild Thing), Hugo
Harold-Harrison (Arnold), Greg Clarke (Al), Dan Smith (Tommy/MD), Mike Slader
(Dave/Bass), Jake Buckley (Vic/Drums), Sandy Grigelis (Chris/Guitar), Katia
Sartini (Phoebe), Jill Cardo (Alicia), Rachel Nottingham (Debs), Craig Anderson
(Keith), James Winter (Mike/Sidney) and Claude Pelletier (Stuart).”
Tickets
are now on sale and are available in person from The Regent Theatre Box Office,
by calling 0844 871 7649 or visiting www.atgtickets.com/stoke
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