Made In Dagenham

Made in Dagenham, simply one of my favourite musicals and one I have been Musical Director for on 2 separate occasions. I love the show and was very much looking forward to seeing this new production, what a joy it was to be back. 

Saundersfoot Footlights continue to raise the bar with each production, and their latest presentation of Made in Dagenham at The Regency Hall is undoubtedly the strongest show I have seen from the company to date. From the opening number to the well-earned standing ovation at the curtain call, this was an evening of musical theatre packed with energy, humour, emotion and heart.

Leading the company was an outstanding Gabby Williams as Rita. She delivered a wonderfully natural and believable performance, capturing both the determination and vulnerability of the character. Vocally she was exceptional, with warmth and power in equal measure, and she carried the production with confidence.

Alongside her, Jordan Dickie gave an excellent portrayal of Eddie, creating a believable relationship with Rita and providing genuine warmth throughout. Dan Williams brought authority and plenty of comedic timing & personality to Harold Wilson, while Andrea Thomas impressed as Barbara Castle, commanding the stage whenever she appeared delivery those lines with a very good Yorkshire accent. 

There were many other notable performances across the principal cast. Jack Butler was a likeable yet villainous Tooley, James Marjoram provided plenty of laughs and tender moments as Monty, and Rebecca Beynon-Harris and Vince Brinton-Haywood were both excellent as Lisa and Hopkins respectively. Angela Prickett also gave a warm and enjoyable performance as Connie.

The factory girls were a real highlight, creating a believable camaraderie and bringing great energy to every scene. Lana Lewis, Sophie Eastwood, Sadie Hall and Anna Nelmes all made strong individual contributions while working brilliantly as a unit. I also thoroughly enjoyed the performances from Lowri Davies as Grahame and Hallie Griffiths as Sharon, both of whom added plenty of character and stage presence.

The ensemble deserves enormous praise. Their commitment never wavered, the choreography was performed with confidence, and the vocal standard across the entire company was outstanding. It is rare to hear such consistently strong ensemble singing, and it added significantly to the overall impact of the production. Musical Director Angharad Saunders should be congratulated for producing such confident vocal performances and leading a very capable band. There were occasions during the first half where the balance between the orchestra and performers was not quite right, making some lyrics difficult to distinguish. After moving further back in the auditorium for the second half, the sound improved noticeably, suggesting this may have been due to speaker placement rather than the performance itself.

The production was confidently directed by Andrea Thomas, maintaining excellent pace while allowing the emotional moments to land effectively. The choreography by Victoria Pearce suited both the company and the production well, with energetic, well-rehearsed routines that were performed with enthusiasm throughout.

Ultimately, the audience reaction spoke volumes. The standing ovation at the end was entirely deserved and reflected the affection and appreciation felt throughout the theatre. Saundersfoot Footlights should be immensely proud of what they have achieved with this production. For me, this is the finest production I have seen from the company, and it demonstrates just how high the standard of amateur theatre in the region continues to be.

Congratulations to everyone involved on a thoroughly entertaining and memorable evening.

 

The views in this report are solely of the author.

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