Lovestuck - Theatre Royal Stratford East

[jek]

This is on next June/July and describes itself as a new musical comedy inspired by true events.  Written by James Cooper with music by Bryn Christopher with Martin Batchelar.

stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/lovestuck

It's been announced as part of a wider season at TRSE (marking its 140th year) but stands out because, in recent years at least, there haven't been many musicals in this venue.

[ThereWillBeSun]

They had a new mt writing department but then it disappeared.

Can’t say I’ve been impressed with the standard of shows there.

[n1david]

It's a lovely theatre but still hasn't really found its place. For years it went after a local audience and then when Nadia Fall took over in 2017 she said she wanted to refocus the theatre and turn it into an East London version of the Almeida or the Bush. Obviously Covid came along which completely messed up her plans but I'm not sure it ever got close. It was my local theatre when I moved to London and I'd love it to do well but I'm not sure it's quite there yet.

[amyja89]

I’m sure this will draw in plenty of My Dad Wrote A Porno fans for James’ involvement alone.

[stuart]

I believe it is based on this story - where a girl on a first date was embarrassed that she had done a poo, threw it out of the window, it got stuck between another internal window, she climbed in to retrieve it and got stuck.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-41167296.amp

[jek]

I could listen to the end of the Archers at home and be comfortably in my seat at TRSE for a seven thirty start but I can't remember the last time I went there. I'm not saying that it should be putting on things that appeal to me but, as someone who goes to a lot of theatre, I find it strange that there's not even the odd production that I think is worth walking round the corner for. I think, in part, it's an expectation - from the years when I did go and wasn't ever wowed - that it may be lacklustre or even slightly hectoring. And it suffers from precisely what should also be a selling point - just how good transport connections are from Stratford. I can pay the same amount of money for a (more comfortable) seat and see something at the National (an easy tube journey away) with production values that Stratford East could never hope to rival. I do really want it to do well though - especially since both Stratford Circus and Stratford Picturehouse have closed - and am glad to see that Abigail's Party looks to be selling well. My kids all went yearly to the panto there with their local primary school but that school no longer makes that trip as it is too much money to ask of struggling parents (and Newham Council is no longer able to fund its Every Child a Theatregoer initiative). If that is replicated across local schools then they must have a real hole in their budget.

[jr]

I booked for a pay what you can day. Not sure if it is all or just some selected days.

As for Stratford East I've seen pretty good things there. Equus was great. Beautiful thing quite good too. The Britten for children (can't remember the name now) with local kids was very cute. They are diversifying now with comedy and one-offs. I think there might be a bit of snobbery about travelling East to see theatre. They don't have the budget for big names but I think they do fairly well. Come East!

[Jon]

Sept 6, 2024 8:26:29 GMT jek said:

I could listen to the end of the Archers at home and be comfortably in my seat at TRSE for a seven thirty start but I can't remember the last time I went there. I'm not saying that it should be putting on things that appeal to me but, as someone who goes to a lot of theatre, I find it strange that there's not even the odd production that I think is worth walking round the corner for. I think, in part, it's an expectation - from the years when I did go and wasn't ever wowed - that it may be lacklustre or even slightly hectoring. And it suffers from precisely what should also be a selling point - just how good transport connections are from Stratford. I can pay the same amount of money for a (more comfortable) seat and see something at the National (an easy tube journey away) with production values that Stratford East could never hope to rival. I do really want it to do well though - especially since both Stratford Circus and Stratford Picturehouse have closed - and am glad to see that Abigail's Party looks to be selling well. My kids all went yearly to the panto there with their local primary school but that school no longer makes that trip as it is too much money to ask of struggling parents (and Newham Council is no longer able to fund its Every Child a Theatregoer initiative). If that is replicated across local schools then they must have a real hole in their budget.

The casting of Abigail's Party is very good, I want to go as I like Tamzin Outhwaite and Kevin Bishop but Stratford East is a bit of a trek even though getting there is easier thanks to the Elizabeth Line.

[max]

I have to try and hold myself back from being critical, because these writers have no burden on them to create anything other than what they want to write. Yet I do feel a bit depressed by the proportion of shows that are this self-referential and kooky, whether it's high school, uni, or dating, the scope of stories is becoming so narrow and 'cute'. Nadia Fall even describes this as a 'meet cute' - pass the sick bag.

I'll argue against myself and say that '....Jamie' did much more than just school; and you could say 'Babies' (also school days) was really about being a secret carer to a damaged mum.

But I don't know... this... at Stratford East of all places. The home of Joan Littlewood's 'Theatre Workshop'. This sounds like a Soho Theatre thing.  

I think my worry is that the landscape is shifting so far that it may become impossible to write a show that doesn't ingratiate itself with the audience before the first note is sung.  

[PineappleForYou]

Little preview video of this:

www.x.com/coopdloop/status/1833092184486138149?s=19

[max]

If they're not marketing this as 'A New Poosical' they're missing a trick.