Musical ‘lost gem’ now up for grabs

Sep 5 2008 Amateur Theatre By John Slim

THE first musical that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote was The Likes Of Us. Most people have never heard of it, which is not surprising: it was written more than 40 years ago and did not receive its world première until 2005, at the Sydmonton Festival, held periodically at Sydmonton Court, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s country home in Hampshire. It has never been in the West End. But now, with David Robinson, head of music licensing for the Really Useful Group (RUG), describing it as “a truly lost gem”, it is about to take on a new lease of life.

* RUG is co-operating with the National Operatic & Dramatic Association (NODA) in the release of The Likes Of Us for performance by amateur groups – but only if they are members of NODA, which is the umbrella organisation for amateur theatre in Britain – and enabling them to perform it from January 1, before it becomes available to professionals. The show tells the story of the early life of Dr Thomas Barnardo and his efforts to rescue children living on the streets of London’s East End.

Many other shows have been launched at the Sydmonton Festival. They include Evita, Byron, Jeeves Takes Charge, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down The Wind, By Jeeves and Starlight Express.

* PATRONS of Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre in the season that starts next week are going to have the opportunity to learn a little more about the play they have just watched. The plan is to launch a discussion, under the heading of an After-Dark Talk, after one of the performances in many of the productions. Audience members will be able to meet the cast and the production team. Five productions are listed in the current brochure for public examination on a Friday night, starting with the first show of the new season, Dick Barton, Special Agent, which opens on Saturday, September 13. It will receive the After Dark treatment on Friday, September 19.

* WOLVERHAMPTON Musical Comedy Company is looking for Jets and Sharks for its forthcoming production of West Side Story at the Grand Theatre. There will be a workshop from 7.30 pm on Tuesday next week at the United Reformed Church Hall, Penn Road, Wolverhampton – to be followed on Thursday by auditions for membership of the company.