Alleyn’s on stage

The School Musical returned to Alleyn’s this month with Guys and Dolls on the bill 20 years on from its last performance at the School. Cast your mind back two decades and you may remember that the sell-out show ran from 13-16 February and, according to the in-depth and enthusiastic review by Ms L Gabitass in Scriblerus 2001 ‘it was clear from the outset that this production was to have a fine attention to detail and also that it was to simulate the glitz and glamour of Broadway’. This musical triumph was not without set-backs - magnificently overcome – with many of the cast and crew struck down by a virus (sound familiar?) and the Great Hall being out of commission (and no MCT in existence at this stage), thus necessitating the performances being moved to the theatre at Dulwich College.

Amongst the cast were Charlotte Smith, now Dr Charlotte Roberts, (Dutton’s 2002) as Sarah Brown, Rob Layton (Spurgeon's 2001) as Sky Masterton, Jessie Ware (Brading's 2003) was Adelaide and Nick Flynn (Roper's 2001) as Nathan Detroit, Tom Cousins (Spurgeon’s 2003) as Benny and Jack Peñate (Spurgeon's 2003) as A. Drunk.

‘We've been looking forward to this moment for a long time now. It feels very emotional to be working with a full cast. We had a great time taking the Travelling Pantomime around the city last Christmas, but, oh my word, it's just lovely to be back inside the theatre.’ Juliet Forster (Brading’s 1986)

On stage elsewhere:

Nancy Carroll (Brading’s 1992) plays Diana in the Manor at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre until 1 January 2022
Tom Godwin (Roper’s 1994) is in Best of Enemies at the Young Vic
Tom Glenister (Tulley’s 2014) plays J.R.R. Tolkein in the recently released film C.S.Lewis biopic - The Most Reluctant ConvertPeter Darling’s (Roper’s 1982) genius choreography continues to delight in Matilda playing at London’s Cambridge Theatre

We say a special ‘break a leg’ to composer Dobrinka Tabakova (Tyson’s 1997) whose work Insight is showcased at the Southbank Centre today (Friday, 3 December) as part of Manchester Collective: Heavy Metal. 

Last but not least, Sky Yang (Roper’s 2017) and Holly Atkins (Tulley’s 1991) have just had their opening night in the stage adaptation of Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage at the Bridge Theatre. Adapted by Bryony Lavery and directed by Nicholas Hytner, the show runs until 26 February 2022. If you get to see it, watch out for Holly who plays Mrs Polstead / Sister Maria Therese and the Witch and Sky who plays Ben (Alice's Daemon) and Andrew.