Becoming Nancy, Birmingham Rep, 08 October to 02 November 2024, 4✩✩✩✩. Review: Hannah Phillips.
Photo Credit: Mark Senior.
Becoming Nancy, Birmingham Rep, 8 October to 2 November 2024.
Runs 2 hours 25 minutes including interval
4✩✩✩✩ Review: Hannah Phillips.
“Watching a diverse audience in The House at Birmingham Rep dance and sing along with Donna Summer made my younger Brummie queer heart sing!”
Adapted from Terry Ronald’s best-selling novel this long-awaited coming-of-age story, Becoming Nancy is fabulously directed and choreographed by the iconic, two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, director of hit musicals, Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, The Devil Wears Prada, Hairspray and Pretty Woman: The Musical to name but a few. The camp new musical is about first love, family and finding your voice and is reminiscent of the storyline of the drama Heartstopper and the nostalgia of the TV series, Changing Ends with the added bonus of live upbeat musical numbers by George Styles and Anthony Drewe.
It is 1979 and David Starr played convincingly by Joseph Peacock is auditioning for the school musical, he has his heart set on getting the role of Fagin but unexpectedly is cast as Nancy and soon has his heart set on his enigmatic new classmate and football player, Maxie Boswell (Joseph Vella) instead who has been cast as Bill Sikes. This show is equally traumatic and gratifying, there are plenty of moments which depict historic racism and homophobia that no one wants to watch again. Yet, in 2024 when hate crime is on the rise it is an important reminder that both our individual and collective voice matter. David’s asides to the audience where he tells us what he wished he’d said in the moment, reduce the threat and give him a voice whilst the powerful performance by Paige Peddie as Frances Bassey would wipe the floor with any bully.
There are beautiful and touching performances from the supporting adults in David’s life, mum (Rebecca Trehearne) Aunt Val (Genevieve Nicole) and David’s drama teacher (Stephen Ashfield). These actors also show up via the power of posters as Debbie Harry, Kate bush and Sting hilariously guiding David in his vulnerable moments through song.
The theatre was alive and the audience were clearly having a ball during this preview. This heartfelt musical exuberates both queer pain and queer joy, I felt both. The theatre was momentarily transformed into a gay club, watching David’s wonder and excitement reminded me of my first experience of walking into a bar in hurst street many years ago. Watching a diverse audience in The House at Birmingham Rep dance and sing along with Donna Summer made my younger Brummie queer heart sing!
Cast
David Starr: Joseph Peacock
Maxie Boswell: Joseph Vella
Frances Bassey: Paige Peddie
Kath Starr: Rebecca Trehearne
Aunt Val: Genevieve Nicole
Eddie Starr: Mathew Craig
Hamish McClarnon: Stephen Ashfield
Marcia Tubbert: Layla Armstrong-Hughes
Swing and Dance Captain: Elliot Copeland
Swing: Jessica Daugirda
Squirrel: Isaac Elder
Abigail Henson: Daisy Greenwood
Bus Conductor, Mr Boswell & Ensemble: Tom Andrew Hargreaves
Jason Lancaster: Seb Harwood
Dennis Gordon: Lucas Impey
Swing: Jordan Isaac
Chrissie Starr: Dominique McIntyre
Bob Lord: Richard Meek
Muriel, Mrs Boswell & Ensemble: Rachel Rawlinson
Ensemble: Shannon Bourne, Joseph Craig, Cameron Gabriel, Ollie Hart-Bradford, Peter Lavery, Zara McLellan, Harry Warburton.
Creatives
Book by Elliot Davis based on the novel by Terry Ronald
Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
Music by George Styles
Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
Musical Director: Sarah Burrell
Set Designer: David Rockwell and TJ Greenway
Costume Designer: Jean Chan
Lighting Designer: Philip Rosenburg
Sound Designer: Tony Gayle
Video Designer: Dick Straker
Hair and Make Up Designer: Susanna Peretz
Musical Supervisor & Arrangements: Steve Anderson
Casting Director: Jill Green CDG
Associate Director: Dominic Shaw
Associate Choreographer: Tinovimbanashe Sibanda
Fight Director: Yarit Dor
Associate Light Designer: Chris Hirst
Associate Sound Designer: Simon Fox
Associate Video Designers: Jachym Bouzek, Benjamin Persaud for Mesmer Studio
Production Manager: Dan Kay for Lloyd Thomas Production Management
Costume Supervisor: Michelle Bristow
Props Supervisor: Jamie Owens for Lily Mollgaard
Music Technology: Phij Adams
Band Fixer: Rich Morris for Music Solutions Ltd
Music Technology Associate: David Chin
Intimacy Coordinator: Rosie Fletcher
Dialect Coach: Ellen Hartley
Associate Casting Directors: Tom Shiels & Olivia Laydon
Copyist: James Humphreys
Assistant Costume Supervisor: Natalie Jackson