Love Dance

Meet the cast starring in this uplifting rom-com at the Chiswick Playhouse

by Áine McGinty Jacoba Williams and Derek Murphy will be gracing the Chiswick Playhouse stage this month in heartwarming romantic-comedy, Love Dance.

Directed by Lesley Manning and written by animatorturned-playwright Andy Walker, the play explores the rocky path of the two most unlikely characters finding love. ‘‘It’s like your favourite rom-com movie on stage,’’ Derek tells The Chiswick Magazine. Whilst Jacoba describes it as, ‘‘A rom-com about two people who couldn’t be further from each other.’’

Brought to audiences from the team behind Chiswick Playhouse’s 5-star play Delivery, Love Dance looks at the balance of highflying careers and motherhood goals. Jacoba’s character Rose has a fiveyear plan, whereas Adam, she says, ‘doesn’t even know what he did 5 minutes ago’. An accomplished surgeon, Rose’s life is sorted apart from one thing - she desperately wants a child but not a long-term relationship. Immature musician Adam agrees to help Rose find a father for her child in exchange for a sofa to sleep on, all the while unaware he’s falling in love with her.

When asked why he wanted to star in the play, Derek says, ‘‘It has fun, lovable characters and an interesting story. That on top of the opportunity to work with Lesley Manning and Jacoba is just the icing on the already delicious cake!’’

Jacoba echoes Derek’s view. ‘‘Writer Andy Walker’s text is so bouncy, when I first read it I couldn’t put it down until I had finished. I love the growth of their relationship and the twists and turns. I have worked with Lesley Manning before and I was so excited to see her spin on it. The pair of them together is a creative match made in heaven.’’

This is actually the first time both Jacoba and Derek will be

Derek Murphy Jacoba Williams

performing at the Chiswick Playhouse. Jacoba spoke about her excitement to share the play with Chiswick audiences, ‘‘The team have worked here pre pandemic and said how warm and welcoming audiences were.’’ Derek adds, ‘‘The Chiswick Playhouse is a venue that has always been on my radar and has such a great reputation, so I am ridiculously excited to get the opportunity to perform there.’’

If you’re yet to revisit your local theatre, this seems like the perfect play to get back to what you love whilst being able to escape the stresses of everyday life. ‘‘Fingers and toes crossed, things are getting back to normal. It’s so sad how many theatre companies and theatres have really struggled and some have not returned. It’s incredibly lucky to be in this position and it’s a pleasure to go and watch theatre again, in person! Nothing beats it, ’’ says Jacoba.

Love Dance has everything you need to cheer you up during these colder, darker nights. As Derek explains, ‘‘Comedy. Tick. Romance. Tick. Heart-warming. Tick. What’s not to love? Come see us.’’

Love Dance at the Chiswick Playhouse

Wednesday 10th November 2021 - Saturday 27th November 2021

Tuesday - Saturday, 7.30pm Saturday matinee, 4pm

Tickets £22.00 or £19.50 preview

www.chiswickplayhouse.co.uk/ lovedance 0208 995 6035 You can also follow Derek on Twitter @DerekMMurphy or Instagram @Dirkelsmurf