Hull New Theatre – until 22nd April 2023
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
Hessle Theatre Company presented Our House The Musical at Hull New Theatre last night. Written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots) with music and lyrics by the group Madness. I’ve always been a fan of the music of Madness but I did wonder how their music could be written into a musical. Well, the answer is it can and it was brilliantly performed by this very talented local theatre company who have been producing high quality theatre for over 101 years!
The story opens when Joe’s Mum, Kath Casey, (Katherine Fitzgerald) tells his dad (Neal Edlin) that she’s pregnant. We then fast forward to Joes surprise 16th birthday party. His Dad is no longer around (but we do see him in some very cleverly done flashbacks throughout the musical).
At Joe’s (Connor Wilson) party his two best friends Emmo (Joe Porte) and Lewis (Joe Spence) are there as well as his new girlfriend Sarah (Rachel Wheatley) and her two friends Angie (Elinor Kirby) and Billie (Megan Wilson).
After the party Joe takes Sarah to Casey Street which was built by his great, great Grandad. Trying to impress her he decides to break into a building site. The police are called and Joe has to make the decision to which path to take. The right path and give himself up or the wrong path and run away. The story unfolds with us watching both paths very well done by costume and scene changes.
Connor Wilson (Joe) played this role so well he was very believable in this role and is a very talented singer and actor. Rachel Wheatley (Sarah) plays her role with such sensitivity and her singing voice…just wow!!!
Joe Porte (Emmo), Joe Spence (Lewis), Elinor Kirby (Angie) and Megan Wilson (Billie) played their characters with excellent comic timing and brought a lot of laughs from the audience.
Hessle Theatre Company always put on a really good productions but this time they have really surpassed themselves. From the excellent band to the very slick ensemble and the rest of the talented cast everyone gave 100%. They are obliviously very well-rehearsed as the comic timing, singing, chorography, dancing and acting was flawless.
Our House was a pleasure to watch, it was an uplifting, joyful production and it would be “Madness” for people not to go and watch!!