World Premiere
A Roaring Success !!
The World Premiere of 'CHURCHILL - The Musical' took place to a packed house at the Lagoa Auditorium in the Algarve, southern Portugal on Friday 1st of October 2010. The opening night was sold out before the tickets were even printed and the after show response has been unanimous in its praise with the audience using adjectives such as 'Fantastic', 'Brilliant', and 'Emotional'.
The on stage cast of 42 actors, singers and dancers starred Jonathan Reynolds as Winston Churchill, Sarah Pryde as Clemmie Churchill, Oliver Lanford as Percy (Winston's Aide) and featured Jade Willis as Anne Frank. With 18 people backstage keeping the show moving, 289 costumes and uniforms brought from the UK, 57 specially made wigs also brought from the UK, 189 lighting changes
created by top lighting designer Andy Chafer and custom built sets designed by Director Ray Jeffery - 'CHURCHILL - The Musical' brought West End standards to the Algarve.
The build up to the show saw Press, TV and Radio reporters and journalists from seventeen different stations and publications holding interviews with the two writers - Trevor Holman (music and stage play) and Derek Charles Ash (lyrics and stage play). Audience members had travelled to the Algarve from 11 different countries including the UK, France, Holland, Spain, Brazil and the United States, including Musical Theatre Buffs, David and Abi Stutz who flew 7,000 miles from San Diego, California just to see the show, and to use David's own words after the opening night - 'It was worth every mile - the West End and Broadway had better be
ready, there are new kids on the block!'
Described as an emotional roller-coaster, the show brought back a lot of memories for many of the audience, while at the same time giving an accurate historical insight into the life of Sir Winston Churchill and the Second World War for those fortunate enough to have been too young to have experienced it. The show also includes many lighter moments such as a glorious dinner party scene at Winston and Clemmie's home at Chartwell and also during an air raid when the locals are taking shelter in Bethnal Green underground station.
One comment regularly coming from the audience was that this was a show with 'proper' tunes you could hum along to and there is a real eclectic mix of music. Seventeen new songs, with music
from Trevor and lyrics by Derek help give an insight into both the public and private life of the man voted: 'The Greatest Briton to have ever lived'. Songs from the show include big dance numbers such as 'Watch me Dance' which was brilliantly performed by choreographer Ryan Francois's 'Swing Extreme', generally recognized as the best Lindy Hop dancers in the world. There are also very emotional ballads such as 'That's What I Believe' and 'When you come home to me' along with big 'Last night of the Proms' style songs such as 'Road to Victory' and the wonderful 'Our Finest Hour'.
The show received massive praise at every performance and now the current run in Portugal has ended the writers and producers are preparing to take the musical to the UK in 2012 and then on to the United States.
