Club Mex - Hope Mill MCR

I’m disconcerted by “immersive” and “you’ll find yourself in the dance floor in the heart of the action”.




(I speak as the only person not to get up at the end of Hair. Arms folded, Burlyface on). 

I did have my pants on!

Did anyone catch the preview song from this show on Sunday Showtunes a fortnight ago? It was basic and generic and nothing to write home about - it reminded me of 'Touch Me" from SMASH. I suspect this will be the sort of show you'll have to see in the flesh to really appreciate it. I'm a big fan of Julie Atherton, we trained at the same sixth form college and drama school, so I'd love to see this project do well.

From the same producers as SIX. Tamar Broadbent is a fantastic songwriter, but I am also put off by the "immersive" tag.

Here's one of the songs from the show. It was originally called Club Mexicana when Perfect Pitch were work shopping it.

I think this sounds interesting, having never seen an interactive musical I think I'll give this a go.

I went last Friday night at the 9pm performance. I was quite nervous about the "immersive" bit.

The audience are standing up (and occasionally dancing!) and at first are passengers at an airport and then punters at a Mexican resort. There are two catwalk-style stages down the middle of the space and at one end is a DJ stand and at the other a hotel room. The cast use the whole room - lots of the time you are right by them or they brush past you.

It's the story of three girls who go on a hen-do on holiday to Mexico. Loads of stereotypes - does the bride really love her fiance, shall we sleep with a holiday rep? kind of stereotypes but I did find it enormous fun.

The songs are quite 'clubby' and the arrangements had a Calvin Harris feel to most of them - a mixture of ballads and up-tempo numbers. Nothing overly profound or shocking but fun and entertaining.

It's filthily rude and it is very loud. There is a very funny Mexican holiday rep.

The performances are good and the singing is generally excellent. If you go expecting great art, you may be disappointed but I found it a really good night out. 90 mins no interval.

It was snowing on Manchester last Friday - and so a night pretending you're in warmer climes is one to be enjoyed!

I hope it does well - Hope Mill is such a fab place.

I’m giving it a swerve. They’ll not want me stood there in a “tropical club setting” with my coat and bobble hat on looking disapproving I’m sure.