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