THE UK TOUR OF
BILL KENWRIGHT’S ELECTRIFYING NEW MUSICAL
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
ADDS ANOTHER BEE GEES CLASSIC TO THE SCORE
FOR THE FIRST TIME
Having already put the Bee Gees front and centre for the first time in the musical’s stage history with the famous trio bring portrayed live on stage by Ed Handoll, Alastair Hill and Matt Faull, Bill Kenwright’s new production of Saturday Night Fever continues to bring audiences never-before-seen elements to this classic musical, which now includes another Bee Gees classic that is not featured in the film.
After the addition of Too Much Heaven in 2018, this year Words makes its first appearance, with a totally new dance sequence choreographed by the Olivier Award winning Bill Deamer and performed by an all-star cast led by Richard Winsor.
Voted number four in the Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Songs Of All Time, Words was first recorded on 3 October 1967, and has been covered by some of the world’s biggest artists from Roy Orbison to Elvis and gave Boyzone a number one hit.
Barry Gibb famously said the song was written for the Bee Gees’ manager, the late Robert Stigwood, when he was staying at his home. Robin added later that the song ‘was written after an argument – about absolutely nothing! And simply reflects a mood; words can make you happy or words can make you sad.’
Bill Kenwright said: “I fell in love with the Bee Gees way, way back then, when my brother brought home their recording of ‘Spicks and Specks’ after he had lived in Australia for several years.
All of the tracks on the best-selling album are classics, but I was originally anxious to get ‘Too Much Heaven’ into our soundtrack primarily because I felt it fitted and also because it’s one of my favourite ever Bee Gees’ hits, and came out roughly at the same time as Saturday Night Fever. It was actually Robert Stigwood’s managing director, Patrick Bywalski, who suggested I take a look at ‘Words’ as I was keen to find one more song for the first half of the show. We rehearsed it during the Christmas break, and everyone believes it’s a wonderful addition.”
For a sneak peak of their rendition of ‘Words’ click here for an authorised excerpt from a live performance…
40 years since its famous UK cinema release, Saturday Night Fever is a reimagined and revitalised music and dance spectacular. The 70’s classic Paramount/RSO movie, with story by Nik Cohn, was an instant hit when it was released in cinemas. The album remains the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time. The musical features the Bee Gees’ greatest hits including Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy, More Than a Woman and now Words, as well as 70’s favourites Boogie Shoes and Disco Inferno.
Whilst paying homage to the movie, this new stage version delivers added music and hot new choreography. It is directed and produced by Bill Kenwright, with choreography by Olivier Award winning Bill Deamer, designs by Gary McCann, lighting by Nick Richings, and sound by Dan Samson. The stage adaptation is by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes.
LISTINGS
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
UK TOUR
| Canterbury Marlowe Theatre 5 – 9 February | marlowetheatre.com01227 787787 |
| York Grand Opera House 12 – 16 February | atgtickets.com/grandoperahouseyork0844 871 3024 |
| Carlisle The Sands Centre 19 – 23 February | thesandscentre.co.uk01228 633766 |
| Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 26 February – 2 March | sheffieldtheatres.co.uk0114 249 6000 |
| Newcastle Theatre Royal 5 – 9 March | theatreroyal.co.uk08448 11 21 21 |
| Leeds Grand Theatre27 – 31 August | leedsgrandtheatre.com0844 848 2700 |
| Chester Storyhouse 10 – 14 September Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre 8 – 12 October | storyhouse.com 01244 409 113 aberdeenperformingarts.com 01224 641122 |
Website: www.kenwright.com