The Big Life - Stratford East

[jek]

This opens at my local theatre Stratford East this coming week.  It's a revival of a ska musica, based on Love's Labour's Lost,  which premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East and transferred to the West End twenty years ago.

www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-big-life

Stratford East is likely facing losing its £250,000 grant from the local authority (Newham) according to the council's draft budget. So they must be especially keen that this is a success.

[ThereWillBeSun]

I've booked this as well, the cast is what sold it to me.

Considering they got rid of their musical theatre championing a few years back; rather ironic.

Hopefully it will bring in the revenue they desire.

[showgirl]

I'm interested in this, though puzzled that I have no recollection whatsoever either of the previous production or of seeing it, given that it sounds like something I would have gone to. However, Stratford East is a long trip for me (not difficult, just time-consuming & therefore harder to fit in with other things elsewhere on the same day), so I'm waiting for the reviews. Plus it'd mean a matinee & my afternoons always fill up so fast.

[jek]

showgirl It won't be many months until you can combine a trip to Stratford East with a visit to the new V&A and/or Sadler's Wells which are both located on Stratford's newly christened East Bank, a ten minute walk from the theatre. Wait a bit longer and there will also be opportunities to see things at the new BBC Studios in the same location. Of course Murphy's Law will mean that there is then nothing on at Stratford East that you want to see!

[Someone in a tree]

Possibly pulling the funding plug on one theatre and yet building a new one next door.

I know its different funding pots buts it crazy, just like health and social care funding. This country really does pish me off. Rant over - i hope the show is fab

[ThereWillBeSun]

PineappleForYou : do you mean the former Stratford Circus which has a purple exterior?

[max]

Feb 12, 2024 4:24:09 GMT showgirl said:

I'm interested in this, though puzzled that I have no recollection whatsoever either of the previous production or of seeing it, given that it sounds like something I would have gone to. However, Stratford East is a long trip for me (not difficult, just time-consuming & therefore harder to fit in with other things elsewhere on the same day), so I'm waiting for the reviews. Plus it'd mean a matinee & my afternoons always fill up so fast.

It even transferred to the West End (the Apollo) in 2005 and was Olivier nominated. Some things just pass us by.

I know you're not saying it's a difficult journey, but from Stratford to Southwark or Waterloo is about a 20 min ride on the Jubilee line for Young Vic, Old Vic, NT; similar time on the Central line to Tottenham Court Rd for Shaftesbury Avenue. There can be a feeling that if tubes fail then working out buses from Stratford could be messy, and it just feels safer doing everything West End if on a two-show day. 

[ThereWillBeSun]

max + the Liz line too. I used to live in that neck of the woods and it's very easily accessible. I would say that it's easier to get to than Wembley by a mile. It's really not that hard a journey. Has so many transport links. (you could consider doing a matinee then an evening show if you're worried about timings)

[max]

Feb 12, 2024 10:55:29 GMT ThereWillBeSun said:

max + the Liz line too. I used to live in that neck of the woods and it's very easily accessible. I would say that it's easier to get to than Wembley by a mile. It's really not that hard a journey. Has so many transport links. (you could consider doing a matinee then an evening show if you're worried about timings)

Haven't done the Liz line yet from Stratford.  But yes, quicker to Tottenham Court Road than the Circle line - just a 13 min ride.  Wherever I am in London I just like to know there are lots of back-ups plans, and Stratford is near (or at) the top for 'other routes available', with plan B, C, and D even at similar durations.

[jek]

I am someone who lives in Stratford and as a service user I keep an eye on Newham Council's budget. It really is, like most other councils, in dire straits. The thing that is being raised most, in the context of the TRSE grant cut, is that Newham is, at the same time, bidding to be London borough of culture in 2025. As for the next door Stratford Circus that was repurposed a couple of years back as a youth centre of some sort. I think it has some sort of tie-in with the University of East London which has a building next door. Gone are the days when it housed jazz concerts or dance/circus performances by the likes of Ockham's Razor and Hofesh Schechter, or Saturday afternoon children's theatre.

[ThereWillBeSun]

max hopefully you can get to see it. I'm tying in a matinee and then seeing something in the evening.

Stratford Circus also was very popular with drama school shows - I know, as I performed there 😅 It was quite run down in my opinion. Thanks for the intel jek. I knew they repurposed it for a youth centre but had no idea what's happening now!

[fossil]

If you would like a taste of the original production:

[singingbird]

I saw the west end transfer of the original production and, honestly, it made almost no impression on me. Until this thread popped up I wouldn't even have been able to tell you what it was called. I have a vague memory of the ship set and some fairly up beat songs, but that's all!

[showgirl]

Feb 12, 2024 9:12:20 GMT jek said:

showgirl It won't be many months until you can combine a trip to Stratford East with a visit to the new V&A and/or Sadler's Wells which are both located on Stratford's newly christened East Bank, a ten minute walk from the theatre. Wait a bit longer and there will also be opportunities to see things at the new BBC Studios in the same location. Of course Murphy's Law will mean that there is then nothing on at Stratford East that you want to see!

Ty for the info jek; actually, I could already combine a trip to the theatre with a film at the nearby PH as I've been a member for years; also the nearby JL is a draw, though typically, the anchor store is located at the far end of the complex so as to force visitors to walk past as many other stores as possible; not helpful when it's so crowded.

Sounds as though the area will be worth a whole day before long.

[showgirl]

Feb 12, 2024 10:55:29 GMT ThereWillBeSun said:

max + the Liz line too. I used to live in that neck of the woods and it's very easily accessible. I would say that it's easier to get to than Wembley by a mile. It's really not that hard a journey. Has so many transport links. (you could consider doing a matinee then an evening show if you're worried about timings)

The Elizabeth Line would be great - if only it was running when I want to use it.  Every time I've checked recently there has been a closure due to engineering work or whatever.  For instance this coming Saturday, it would have pared off a big chunk of my journey to the east side of London, though I'd still have had to complete it by another tube or bus/walking.  But of course that end of the Elizabeth Line is closed yet again.  Rhetorical q but how can so new a route need so much engineering work and so soon?

[cartoonman]

I saw this years ago at Stratford East and thought is was OK. I wouldn't bother to see it again. As a youngster the best thing I saw there was Zorro with Silvester McCoy. A really good actor. The melodramas there were great fun. The Invisible Man, Five Guys named Moe, Josie Josie were all great shows. I think there was a change of director and the shows became less fun.

[harry]

I thought this was fabulous. Really infectiously warm and funny - genuinely laugh-out-loud at times with a terrific cast. Excellent colour coded costumes and lighting help keeping track of the four simultaneous love stories. Special mention to Tameka Empson who is just pitch perfect hilarious and completely earns her moment of seriousness towards the end so even though it is completely on-the-nose you can’t help but cheer the sentiment. Maybe it’s a touch too long and they literally have to manufacture the jeopardy when it all seems too easy and like it might wrap up 15min into Act 2 but I happily forgave all that for the joyous ride it provides. Highly recommended.

[capybara]

I obviously love all things musical theatre but another passion of mine is ska. Whether it’s first, second or third wave, it is one of the most joyous and underrated genres of music.

So when the two meet, there’s going to be a hell of a lot of undue expectation on my part. I’m pleased to say that, for the most part, The Big Life delivers on all counts. With a wonderful original score from Paul Joseph and Paul Sirett, this revival is a must-see.

It’s truly an ensemble piece with sharp wit, as well as social commentary, telling just some of the stories of the Windrush generation. Rachel John and Gabrielle Brooks stand out, while Khalid Daley’s comic timing is spot on.

Tameka Empson, who co-authored the show’s book alongside Sirett, becomes the star though. Sitting from a dress circle box, she provides ongoing (often hilarious) comments and quips about the stories unfolding. Her monologue about the vital role Caribbeans have played in post-war Britain is powerful and moving.

It is a great piece of theatre, although the story arcs are fairly basic and ultimately predictable. That doesn’t affect the overall enjoyment of the piece though. I don’t think it will transfer to the West End but I wish that it would. It would, however, need to cut its running time. At three hours long, this is a show that could and should lose 30 minutes.

Four stars.

[petittournesol]

Joyful and hilarious! I enjoyed this so much, highly recommend.

[Deleted]

Tameka is incredible. Worth going for her alone. But luckily it's an all round great offering. The time flies and the cast have great chemistry.

[showgirl]

I held off booking due to the location, so then had to pay more than ever before & sit in a area of the theatre also unfamiliar to me. I've previously only sat a few rows back in the stalls - more or less in line with the exit for a speedy departure - but had to book for the circle this time. So can anyone please advise what the view would be like from there? Not keen to be so far back and high up as I feel less connected to the performance that way, though I've sure the view will be OK.

[johnie21]

Saw the matinee performance of The Big Life. This amazing show is brilliant both witty emotional and so current.

A large celebration of the windrush generation. I loved this cast. Absolutely amazing. Go and see it if fans of musicals. Fans of ska music. And just general theatre goers. Was amazing to support an off west end theatre.

[Steve]

Saw yesterday's matinee and LOVED it!

I agree with the positive comments (above) that it's a joy from first to last and that Tameka Empson should just commentate every West End comedy show, as she's belly laugh funny, even in improvised moments.

Some spoilers follow. . .

The comedic Shakespeare Love's Labours Lost plot about men swearing off women, and women determined to sway them back, is the prime focus, so, despite touching on weighty themes of hostile environments and racism faced by the Windrush generation, this is surprisingly lightweight and jovial fun bouncing it's way on ever-joyful ever-bouncing waves of ska music.

Emblematic of the show is the Annie Get Your Gun reminiscent "Better than You," which is basically a ska-inflected full- ensemble spin on "Anything You can Do I can do better."

At yesterday's matinee, there were moments Tameka Empson's Mrs Aphrodite was improvising hilariously. At the beginning, after Mrs Aphrodite told us the boat was arriving in England, a technical fault meant the actors had to withdraw and start again, prompting Empson to promptly suggest "dem leaving Inglan already," and when a large piece of set came crashing down instead of being gently lowered, a pause for safety reasons had her explaining how, in the original run, the "actress Tameka Empson" was told she had missed out on a main part but was asked if she would be willing "to sit in a box like the Muppets" characters, Statler and Waldorf, and criticise the action. And indeed, she sits in the left balcony box like Statler and Waldorf for the first half, though, for democratic visibility reasons, she switches to the right balcony box for the second half.

Empson is hysterically funny. The scripted bit where she decides to demonstrate her "flexibility" and gets stuck with her foot over the edge of the balcony box is peak physical comedy.

I couldn't help thinking that if Empson were commentating "The Unfriend," for example, it would be ten times funnier.

Anyway, all the principal singers were utterly charming and delightful, including Jamal Franklin filling in as Bernie. Khalid Daley's especially cheeky and buoyant Dennis completely won my heart, while my ears especially swooned at the sound of the super smooth Danny Bailey as Eros.

This may be forgettable in the long run for being such light entertainment, but Empson's performance and role is unforgettable, and I'd give this 4 and a half stars.