The Band

As STOS theatre company celebrate 125 years of entertaining Sheffield audiences, their first in 1901 being The Gondoliers up to their current production, only rarely have they performed the same show twice. A true testament to the management and production teams continually striving for something new. The Band, a new musical is just that. As scripts are sourced the production team have to study every line, look at how to integrate the score with movement and shaping, having a show full of well known songs creates an additional layer which the writer cleverly interspersed within portions of prose , each song symbolic to the scene being currently performed. The production team of Jill Beckett, Keeley Kilby, Katie Granger and Dominic Ridler must be complemented for their combined vision in linking this production together. Acting and singing brilliantly directed along with outstanding Choreography and shaping. The set was based on a series of steel steps to left and right with a wide walk over bridge allowing sufficient acting space in addition to the excellent five-piece band performing from there.

The musical based on five sixteen-year-old school girls obsessed by ‘The Band’ which meant everything to them, they eat and sleep it, it fills every conversation. One of the girls wins a competition to see their heroes but sadly having run out of money for the home journey, hitching a lift on a bus then after being thrown off, eone of the girls is tragically killed. The bond of friendship and promises is pushed to the limit. Shelby Foster, Charlotte Waxmen, Ruthie Lee, Ellie Hudson and Lucy Mulvihill really capture the youthful energy of the early 1990s with excellent portrayals of the five very differing character parts. Some truly memorable scenes particularly on the ‘Hill’ along with balloon promises to last a life time. Whilst the story scenes are being set we are introduced to the boys of ‘The Band’, the way you all performed was truly memorable. Your staging and timing so cleverly thought out by the production team, singing your way through so many showstopper songs, each with its own story and performed to a very high standard, individually excellent and brilliantly together with harmonies of the highest order. Marcus Kamsika, James Hadabora, Andrew Stanley, Declan Saxton and Gabriel Lima. The five of you complemented each other so well and in true boy band status, thrown together at the start of rehearsal to now perform to this standard was quite wonderful.

Skip 25 years ahead, the four remaining friends meet up again after one of them again wins a competition to see their idols perform in Prague. We now see the differing roads they have all taken with their lives, unease and the realisation that nothing ever stays the same causes friction between them and whilst attempting to re live their youthful giddiness, only ends up in them being arrested. They miss the concert resulting in rebuilding the bridges created and finally accepting that time has moved forward. These four roles performed brilliantly with power, emotion, love and comedy by Gina Holmes, Louise Walker, Kate Parkin and Suzanne Peach. Special mention towards the end of Act 1 as they meet up and ‘Shine’ is sung followed by a stirring start to Act 2 with ‘Greatest Day’. The young 16 year olds then re appear and cleverly mirror their older person with depth and poignancy through much of Act 2. The vision, as previously mentioned, by the production team was performed really well by the well drilled, disciplined ensemble. The candles, the air hostesses the balloons, all scenes so well shaped and performed. Andy Green playing the part of Jeff, long term partner of Rachel by Gina Holmes, gave a truly believable performance, with the special moments of post it notes with song words explaining how he felt, culminating in the moving scene between them as marriage was finally accepted. 

The lighting was excellent and sound balances good throughout. The costumes excellent and perfect for the time. Back stage along with cast moved the simplistic set around seamlessly. The programme quite brilliant, so cleverly thought out and presented.

There is a saying that Teamwork makes the Dreamwork. To me there were Six teams in this production….

The production team, the young ladies, the band, the grown-up ladies, the ensemble and last but by no means last all the unseen unsung team……

You certainly made the DREAMWORK. 

The finale complete with the iconic use of the balloons, the return of the wrist bands, uplifting dancing and singing certainly had the audience singing clapping and loving every minute of this production.

Thank you to the FOH who made us very welcome once again,

Philip Smith

Noda NE District 6 Regional Rep

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