Theatre September.qxp_Layout 1 25/08/2021 12:44 Page 1
Theatre
Theatre previews from around the region
School Of Rock Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 21 - Sun 25 September; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 19 - Sat 23 October; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Mon 31 January - Sat 5 February
There’s a school of thought that School Of Rock would’ve been even better without Jack Black. And the great thing about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage version of the hit 2003 movie is that you actually get to find out if that’s true!
SIX The Musical Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 14 - Sat 18 September; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 1 - Sat 5 February
From Tudor queens to battling boss-women, SIX sees the wives of Henry VIII take to the stage to tell their own versions of their lives. The one-act production, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, was enjoying a runaway success until Covid put the brakes on, but a show that sits somewhere between a Girls Aloud gig and a traditional musical should have no trouble whatsoever refinding its momentum. A loud and colourful celebration of girl power, the production sees the cast being ably supported by all-female band The Ladies In Waiting.
26 whatsonlive.co.uk
Alongside its lack of Black, the show has plenty else to recommend it, including no fewer than 14 new songs from Lord Lloyd Webber. All the original numbers from the movie also feature. For those not in the know, School Of Rock tells the story of wannabe rock star Dewey Finn. Posing as a substitute teacher at an elite prep school, Dewey not only introduces the students to ‘his kind of music’ but also helps the uptight headmistress to rediscover her inner wild child...
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 14 Sat 18 September; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 5 - Sat 9 October
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie may have come from humble beginnings - it was inspired by a television documentary and premiered in Sheffield - but after only a matter of months it had transferred to the West End. Since then, the musical - which follows a young man’s quest for acceptance on his journey to becoming a drag queen - has enjoyed blockbusting success, with numerous Olivier nominations, an extensive UK tour and a feature film, released this very month, testifying to its incredible popularity. “Jamie is a production that tries to tell people to stay true to who they are,” explains Layton Williams, who plays the title character. “It tells people to be proud of themselves, and that if they’re different or feel like they don’t fit in, then there’s a place for them in the world anyway. It’s all about having hope.”
Heathers The Musical The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 21 Sat 25 September
Although far from being an unqualified success with the critics, Heathers The Musical did great business in the West End, and is equally likely to pack them in during its first ever UK tour. Based on the cult 1989 movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, the show follows the character of Veronica Sawyer, a high school student who’s tired of being part of a feared and popular clique with three girls named Heather. Eager to opt out, she finds herself drawn to new student Jason ‘JD’ Dean, a rebellious young man with murder in mind...
