[Bronagh Lagan]

GIRLFRIENDS 

 

October-November 2014 Union Theatre

 

Written by Howard Goodall

Directed by Bronagh Lagan

Produced by Union Theatre & Aria Entertainment

 

Howard’s second musical, Girlfriends, was first performed at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, in May 1986. Howard wrote the music and lyrics, based on the book he had written in collaboration with Richard Curtis and John 

Retallack. Girlfriends is cast for twelve women and two men, with a band of six, and is set on an RAF Bomber Command base during World War 2. Its first cast included Maria Friedman, Andrew C Wadsworth, Jenna Russell and Carla Mendonca. Its season in Oldham was a sell-out, with enthusiastic reviews and audiences.

 

Girlfriends was substantially revised and produced in October 1987 at the re-opened Playhouse Theatre in London, starring Hazel O’Connor and David Easter, but the show was later reworked along the lines of its Oldham version in 1992 and performed at the Arts Theatre.

 

Girlfriends was part of a triple billed season of the work of Howard Goodall which was produced by The Union Theatre & Aria Entertainment in October 2014. 

 

UNION THEATRE

 

CREATIVES

 

WRITER- Howard Goodall

DIRECTO- Bronagh Lagan

MUSICAL DIRECTOR- Freddie Tapner

CHOREOGRAPHER- Iona Holland

LIGHTING DESIGNER- Iain Dennis

DESIGNER- Nik Corrall

PRODUCER- Sasha Regan for Union Theatre & Katy Lipson Aria Entertainment

 

CAST

 

Corrine Priest

Perry Lambert

Catherine Mort

Amelia Rose Morgan

Catriana Sandison

Sarah Harlington

Amy Cooke Hodgson

Jessica Hern

Marcia Brown

Katie Sherman

Tom Sterling

Michael Rees

 

 

REVIEWS

 

 

"Bronagh Lagan directs the cast of 12 with her usual polish.”

MUSICAL THEATRE REVIEW

 

"Bronagh Lagan’s production is an atmospheric triumph..”

 

"intimate, intricate and heartfelt.."

 

"score of surging choral anthems.."

 

"tapestry of emotion in music..”

THE STAGE Mark Shenton

★★★★

 

 

'A real theatrical treat. This is one of the best musical productions at the Union Theatre in the last five years’

BRITISH THEATRE

★★★★

 

'In Girlfriends Goodall has dissipated the chill of wartime with one of his richest, warmest scores. If you love his work, beautifully staged, then go see this show.’

JONATHAN BAZ

 

"..rousing finales to both acts."

 

"It is worth the price of a ticket just to hear the harmonies created by the ten ladies in this company..”

THE PUBLIC REVIEWS

 

"beautifully sung with intensity, drive and passion..."

 

"haunting and captivating..”

A YOUNGER THEATRE