Teddy

[stevej678]

Elephant and Castle, London. 1956. Saturday night.

Teddy and Josie are about to hit the streets of London for a good time. Hair quiffed. Red lipstick. Dressed toe to head in the latest threads. So what if it’s pouring down, they’re totally skint, and someone wants them dead? A little trouble never stopped a Ted from having a good time. Desperate times call for rock ‘n’ roll.

From the writer-director team behind Boudica at the Globe and Frankenstein at The Watermill Theatre and Wilton’s Music Hall in London comes Teddy, an award-winning, punchy new musical that races through the dark and damaged world of post-war London: a brand new Britain bombed to bits by the Blitz, belts tight with austerity, but ripe and ready for revolution.

With electrifying original songs plus some of the hugest hits from the 1950s performed by the on-stage live band Johnny Valentine and the Broken Hearts, Teddy is the ultimate story of teenage rebellion and the birth of a new musical era. Bursting with the energy of a live gig, this is theatre that leaves you on a high and jiving all the way home.

Coming to The Lowry from 13th-17th February 2018 prior to a London run at The Vaults from March. On sale to Lowry members today and general sale tomorrow.

[Deleted]

Isn't this 'Dreamboats and Petticoats'?

[TallPaul]

Oct 19, 2017 12:57:07 GMT @ryan said:

Isn't this 'Dreamboats and Petticoats'?

Bill and Lawrie are kicking themselves. They've been so busy working on This Is Elvis, they've taken their eyes of the ball.

[David J]

Seeing this at the Watermill

This is just one small nostalgia trip. A shallow story following these two youngsters out on a saturday evening getting into trouble. Meanwhile an onstage band led by a Johnny Valentine play tunes from the 50s

It is what it is, and with a running time of 2 hours I can’t complain. Otherwise it isn’t anything to run out for

[Phantom of London]

Did this play the Southwark Playhouse about 3 years ago?

[showgirl]

Jan 15, 2018 21:33:51 GMT Phantom of London said:

Did this play the Southwark Playhouse about 3 years ago?

Yes and OH and I loathed it then; amazed to see such a good review now.  Maybe it has changed a lot - getting rid of the rhyming dialogue would be a big improvement.

[Phantom of London]

Jan 16, 2018 17:25:24 GMT showgirl said:

Jan 15, 2018 21:33:51 GMT Phantom of London said:

Did this play the Southwark Playhouse about 3 years ago?

Yes and OH and I loathed it then; amazed to see such a good review now.  Maybe it has changed a lot - getting rid of the rhyming dialogue would be a big improvement.

Agreed.

[David J]

Nah it’s still there

This was more like a play with songs than a musical

[stevej678]

Really enjoyed this yesterday at The Lowry.

Effervescent, relentlessly compelling lead performances from George Parker as Teddy and Molly Chesworth as Josie drive the narrative forward, supported by an awesome, charismatic live band comprising Dylan Wood, Freya Parks, Andrew Gallow and Harrison White. 

There's shades of Once, with the band staging a jamming session before the show and bookending the second act with mini sets of original music that suited the era perfectly, none more so than Ready Teddy, Shake Rattle N' Rail, and Heartache Express. The energy and alchemy of all on stage made this half gig and half a whirlwind of a play. It's certainly not your typical, traditional musical.

I actually found myself captivated by the beautiful poetic style of lyrical writing, done full justice by the two central performers who were a tour-de-force inhabiting a range of characters beyond just Teddy and Josie, always with a tangible chemistry between them. The story builds effectively, with darker moments of real tension. Then, just when the plot seems to have evaporated into nothing, there's a final denouement that delivers a satisfying, unsettling conclusion. 

Overall, I thought the production does a great job of bringing the teen movement of the Teds to life. The production is certainly a grittier representation of an exciting, iconic era than the fluffy Dreamboats and Petticoats but still delivers an energetic slice of rock n roll heaven. Well worth catching during its (now extended) run at The Vaults or elsewhere on its UK tour. The music from the show has also been released on CD and Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music etc, under the band name Johnny Valentine and the Broken Hearts.

4 stars.

[tmesis]

Jan 16, 2018 18:10:07 GMT Phantom of London said:

Jan 16, 2018 17:25:24 GMT showgirl said:

Yes and OH and I loathed it then; amazed to see such a good review now.  Maybe it has changed a lot - getting rid of the rhyming dialogue would be a big improvement.

Agreed.

I hated it too!

[paddy72]

If this is the same production that was at the Southwark Playhouse I'd say give it a go. I went not expecting much and remember thinking it was really good. Especially the lead girl who's name I can't remember. Sorry. Maybe it was also because it was set locally and so I go all the references to long gone E&C landmarks. Be interesting now to see what everyone out of Newington and Walworth thinks and whether it can travel.

[stevej678]

Feb 18, 2018 17:40:16 GMT paddy72 said:

If this is the same production that was at the Southwark Playhouse I'd say give it a go. I went not expecting much and remember thinking it was really good.

The original production at Southwark was by Snapdragon Productions. The tour is a co-production between Snapdragon and the Watermill Theatre.

[grannyjx6]

I'm seeing it in a couple of weeks on a special offer through Travelzoo (so it's obviously not selling well). As it's only cost £27 for two tickets, I can't complain really.

[manu]

Has anyone already gone to see it at the vaults?

[foxa]

I'm seeing this tomorrow at the Vaults. Anyone else seen it? Same writer and director as Boudica which is why I booked, but don't really know much about it.

[foxa]

Actually not going today. Just got a message saying today's performance is cancelled due to performer injury.

Poor cast - hope they get well soon.

[pajonk]

Has anyone seen this? I'll be seeing this next Sunday, as (aparrently) it's the only show possible to see before my flight home (besides The Lion King, in which I'm not interested). I have no idea what to expect, as there is little information about it online. Well, it's only 12 pounds, and a bad show is still better than hanging aroung London senselessly.

[pajonk]

May 11, 2018 20:11:58 GMT pajonk said:

Has anyone seen this? I'll be seeing this next Sunday, as (aparrently) it's the only show possible to see before my flight home (besides The Lion King, in which I'm not interested). I have no idea what to expect, as there is little information about it online. Well, it's only 12 pounds, and a bad show is still better than hanging aroung London senselessly.

Ok, so I saw this. I enjoyed the show, but I'd enjoyed it much more if my English would be better. While the plot was quite easy to catch, it was very difficult to literally understand the script for me. Regardless, to me it's not a musical, but rather a play with some music involved.

[grannyjx6]

Jun 25, 2018 13:25:00 GMT pajonk said:

May 11, 2018 20:11:58 GMT pajonk said:

Has anyone seen this? I'll be seeing this next Sunday, as (aparrently) it's the only show possible to see before my flight home (besides The Lion King, in which I'm not interested). I have no idea what to expect, as there is little information about it online. Well, it's only 12 pounds, and a bad show is still better than hanging aroung London senselessly.

Ok, so I saw this. I enjoyed the show, but I'd enjoyed it much more if my English would be better. While the plot was quite easy to catch, it was very difficult to literally understand the script for me. Regardless, to me it's not a musical, but rather a play with some music involved.

I am English and I found it difficult to follow as did my husband (who isn't English).