STARMAKER’S next production requires more clothes than it takes to kit out 14 football teams, 10 rugby teams, or two London double decker buses of passengers.
It’s madness.
No, really, it is Madness – the youth theatre company’s latest show, Our House, is based around English ska and pop band from Camden Town, Madness.
Formed in 1976, the two-tone band rose to fame in the early 1980s, with hits such as Baggy Trousers, It Must Be Love, Wings of a Dove, and Our House.
The musical, Our House, featuring many of the band’s best known songs, was written by playwright Tim Firth, and was first performed in London in 2002.
Set in the 1980s it follows the story of 16 year old Camden lad Joe Casey.
Trying to impress his girlfriend at the start of the show, Joe is faced with a dilemma.
Will he do the right thing and stay on track with his life choices, or will he step off the rails?
In this show he does both.
At the same time.
“It’s such a great fun musical,” said Vicki Widdis, Starmaker’s operations director, “it’s one to enjoy, and not to take too seriously.”
With two parallel lives, one on the right, the other on the wrong side of the law, Joe’s poor life choices risk shame, failure, and time behind bars, but whether on or off the good path, his heart remains always with teenage sweetheart Sarah.
The story is basically a great vehicle to pack in as many Madness hits as possible.
“As with our previous shows, we have a live eight piece band,” said Vicki.
There will be plenty to keep the band busy, and Madness fans happy.
The show also involves a shed load of costumes – quite literally.
“We brought some of our 160 costumes along for the cast to start wearing recently, and they loved them,” said Vicki.
“But having this many outfits is quite a headache – we just can’t bring them all to rehearsals.
“We need them all because with 24 cast members, around 15 of whom are playing multiple ensemble roles, there are a lot of quick changes.”
Charlie Kendall, playing Joe, knows all about costume changes.
“As he switches in the story back and forth between good Joe and bad Joe, Charlie’s costume changes indicate to the audience which path he’s on.
“He’s got so many 15 second switches that we’ve had to adapt his clothing,” said Vicki.
To help with fast costume changes, Vicki and her team have had to use a combination of velcro and magnets to make clothes super easy to rip off and put on.
“We’re pretty sure that Charlie is going to overheat at some point with all the extra layers and changes,” she added.
Audience members can look forward to a fun music-filled night with plenty of Madness.
The event takes place at the Allan Cornish Theatre, Woodley, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 27, 28, and 29.
Performances start at 7.30pm each evening, with an additional Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets cost £18 for adults, and £15 for concessions.
All shows are now sold out except for Thursday, March 27.
For tickets and information, visit: starmaker.org.uk
