SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
6th Feb to 3rd March 2024
“Written and composed by Tony Award® winner Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Parade, Bridges of Madison County), the raw and magnificent show features musical theatre fan favourites including ‘I’m Not Afraid of Anything’, ‘Stars and the Moon’ and ‘King of the World’. Stunning vocals combined with beautifully written lyrics and a moving score create this visceral, raw production that takes audiences on a journey, teetering on the edge of one moment that can shape the rest of your life. Each sensational song captures a different moment, all strung together to creatively explore the human condition from vastly different New World perspectives.”
Review by Richard Lambert, 3 Stars
JRB has a following and it’s not difficult to see why when you look at his catalogue of songs. The title song from this song cycle production is beautiful. It’s haunting and the musical director has weaved it in and between the many other songs of the evening.
The cast are terrific, putting everything into their songs.
But sadly, the production is presented very black and white with very little colour to brighten even the up-tempo numbers. Many of the faces remaining quite dark. The costumes slightly frugal. It’s not helped by many long static solo numbers. Sometimes sitting on, or standing in front of, the piano for an entire song. The cast do what they can but are left staring into space to a distant horizon with very little eye contact and minimal engagement with the audience.
The band are brilliant, especially the string section, and the drums are behind a noise shield. Despite this and the use of mics, the cast occasionally sound over-amplified so it’s hard to understand the lyrics here and there.
The musicality remains shining through the production.
Photo credit: Clarissa Debenham
Cast
Woman 1 Lizzy Parker
Woman 2 Eleanore Frances
Man 1 Luke Walsh
Man 2 Christopher Cameron
Standbys Elizabeth Chambers and Jonah Sercombe
Writer and Composer Jason Robert Brown
Director Kai Wright
Associate Director Tara Noonan
Musical Director Liam Holmes
Sound Design Glenn Oxenbury
Lighting Design Jason Fenn
Production Designer Sophie Goodman
Dates
Tuesday 4th February – Sunday 3rd March 2024
Tuesdays-Fridays 7.30pm
Saturdays 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Sundays 4pm
Location
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
1 North Road, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD
How to get there The nearest tube station is Highgate (on the
Northern Line)
Tickets Tickets are available from £26.50 at
https://upstairsatthegatehouse.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173647540
Run time 1 hour 45 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)
Age restriction 11+
Content warnings Some modern explicit language
Accessible Performances Relaxed performance 2.30pm, February 24th
BSL signed performance TBC
Socials @quitegdtheatre @GatehouseLondon