REVIEW
Made in Dagenham
Shoeburyness High School, Shoeburyness, Essex
6th December 2018
Made in Dagenham
Shoeburyness High School, Shoeburyness, Essex
6th December 2018
Oh. My. Goodness. Shoeburyness High School may have just performed one of the best school shows that I have ever seen. If this one doesn’t win all the awards, I really want to know why!
The musical is based on the real life story of the 1968 sewing machinists’ strike at the Ford car factory in Dagenham, Essex which influenced the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1970. It focuses on the reluctant leader of the strike, Rita O’Grady as she fights for equal pay for her co-workers. Set in an era where women’s lib was beginning to make its mark and at a time where young girls and women were still expected to get married, have kids and settle for a life of domesticity.
As always with Shoebury shows, you can see that a lot of work has gone into every performance. The dedication of the drama teachers at this school is second to none and they have clearly worked extraordinarily hard with a cast of over 120 pupils who, during the evening’s performance, all take to the stage providing a fabulous ensemble.
The show kicks off with the whole cast bringing an enormous amount of gusto to the opening numbers of Busy Women and Made in Dagenham, which is always a good way to immediately endear an audience. It also highlighted the fact that Shoebury can boast a massive number of boys in this cast - something that is usually a big struggle for Drama Departments; and, let me tell you, these boys are not here to muck about - they mean business and certainly deliver.
Shoebury have done a wonderful job with the set and props in this show and I love the sewing machines that the girls use. The desk accoutrements in the office scenes are perfect for the period as are all of the casts’ costumes which are all very authentic of the time.
The factory girls and the show is led by Mia Doney as Rita, who from the very first moment she opens her mouth to sing the opening lines, you realise that you are in safe hands. Mia has Rita’s character down to a ’t’ and gives a confident and competent performance throughout. She nails every single one of her scenes. Her ‘partners in crime’ on the factory line also show great characteristics and I particularly enjoyed Heidi Boualili’s portrayal of gobby Beryl. In contrast to Beryl’s character, is Clare, who can’t quite get to grips with what she wants to say and is played superbly by Leah Floyd, who also gets to sing one of the funniest songs in the show and who also really reminds be of a young Olivia Coleman.
There are some nicely played parts by the boys who also put in strong and confident performances: Oliver Corkett as Eddie, Rita’s long suffering husband - or so he thinks - not least in his number The Letter in Act 2 which is very touching with Rita sitting at her kitchen table alone, reading the letter and realising that he has left the marital home with the kids, as she heartbreakingly reacts to his words.
Lewis Barrington-Frost as Ford’s American Boss, Tooley, is full of swag and self importance (I wonder which American alpha male he based his performance on?) His This is America number is hilarious; and Tom Hutchins who somehow manages to endear in his role as Mr Hopkins. Rose Collis turns out a nice performance as posh mum and wife, Lisa.
Charlie Guiver and Milly Ward as Prime Minister, Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle both did fabulous characterisations in their roles; something that must have taken a lot of research and work. Milly as Barbara particularly smashed the role with some hilarious asides which really made me giggle and I enjoyed the three Parliamentary sidekicks' Beau Hurley, Clementine Huillet and Rosa Horrocks’ observations, - “She’s fiery, like her hair!”
There’s an awful lot of humour in this production and director, Heidi Young, has done a brilliant job in getting this from page to stage with the cast with plenty of laugh out loud moments to be had.
Likewise, Musical Director, Danielle Jameson, has done a cracking job in bringing everyone together to produce some top notch vocals and lovely harmonies throughout too.
A big hats off to the choreography team, Jane Lamberti, Heidi Young and Danielle Griggs, who had the mammoth task of getting 120 kids on to the Shoebury stage and then finding some pretty nifty dance routines to give them. Equally well done to the dance ensemble for executing said dance routines in the limited stage space they had and always with consistently big smiles.
The band, made up of teachers and pupils, sound as good as any I have heard in the Palace Theatre pit and hats off also to the backstage crew who must have worked their butts off with those super slick scene changes.
This was as good a show as I have seen at Shoebury and could have easily stood up alongside any of the talented am dram groups we have in Southend right now. Every single member of the cast showed commitment and dedication and constantly stayed in character as they danced and sung their way through a show that brimmed with passion and enthusiasm.
Shoebury’s Made in Dagenham was a show to truly lift your spirits on a cold, wet and dull December evening and every single member of the cast and crew should be exceptionally proud of what they have achieved with this production. The final number Stand Up is touchingly uplifting, packing a real feel good and emotional punch to end the show. The bar has certainly been set high for next year’s production. A huge well done to all involved and I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings!
Review: Kim Tobin
The musical is based on the real life story of the 1968 sewing machinists’ strike at the Ford car factory in Dagenham, Essex which influenced the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1970. It focuses on the reluctant leader of the strike, Rita O’Grady as she fights for equal pay for her co-workers. Set in an era where women’s lib was beginning to make its mark and at a time where young girls and women were still expected to get married, have kids and settle for a life of domesticity.
As always with Shoebury shows, you can see that a lot of work has gone into every performance. The dedication of the drama teachers at this school is second to none and they have clearly worked extraordinarily hard with a cast of over 120 pupils who, during the evening’s performance, all take to the stage providing a fabulous ensemble.
The show kicks off with the whole cast bringing an enormous amount of gusto to the opening numbers of Busy Women and Made in Dagenham, which is always a good way to immediately endear an audience. It also highlighted the fact that Shoebury can boast a massive number of boys in this cast - something that is usually a big struggle for Drama Departments; and, let me tell you, these boys are not here to muck about - they mean business and certainly deliver.
Shoebury have done a wonderful job with the set and props in this show and I love the sewing machines that the girls use. The desk accoutrements in the office scenes are perfect for the period as are all of the casts’ costumes which are all very authentic of the time.
The factory girls and the show is led by Mia Doney as Rita, who from the very first moment she opens her mouth to sing the opening lines, you realise that you are in safe hands. Mia has Rita’s character down to a ’t’ and gives a confident and competent performance throughout. She nails every single one of her scenes. Her ‘partners in crime’ on the factory line also show great characteristics and I particularly enjoyed Heidi Boualili’s portrayal of gobby Beryl. In contrast to Beryl’s character, is Clare, who can’t quite get to grips with what she wants to say and is played superbly by Leah Floyd, who also gets to sing one of the funniest songs in the show and who also really reminds be of a young Olivia Coleman.
There are some nicely played parts by the boys who also put in strong and confident performances: Oliver Corkett as Eddie, Rita’s long suffering husband - or so he thinks - not least in his number The Letter in Act 2 which is very touching with Rita sitting at her kitchen table alone, reading the letter and realising that he has left the marital home with the kids, as she heartbreakingly reacts to his words.
Lewis Barrington-Frost as Ford’s American Boss, Tooley, is full of swag and self importance (I wonder which American alpha male he based his performance on?) His This is America number is hilarious; and Tom Hutchins who somehow manages to endear in his role as Mr Hopkins. Rose Collis turns out a nice performance as posh mum and wife, Lisa.
Charlie Guiver and Milly Ward as Prime Minister, Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle both did fabulous characterisations in their roles; something that must have taken a lot of research and work. Milly as Barbara particularly smashed the role with some hilarious asides which really made me giggle and I enjoyed the three Parliamentary sidekicks' Beau Hurley, Clementine Huillet and Rosa Horrocks’ observations, - “She’s fiery, like her hair!”
There’s an awful lot of humour in this production and director, Heidi Young, has done a brilliant job in getting this from page to stage with the cast with plenty of laugh out loud moments to be had.
Likewise, Musical Director, Danielle Jameson, has done a cracking job in bringing everyone together to produce some top notch vocals and lovely harmonies throughout too.
A big hats off to the choreography team, Jane Lamberti, Heidi Young and Danielle Griggs, who had the mammoth task of getting 120 kids on to the Shoebury stage and then finding some pretty nifty dance routines to give them. Equally well done to the dance ensemble for executing said dance routines in the limited stage space they had and always with consistently big smiles.
The band, made up of teachers and pupils, sound as good as any I have heard in the Palace Theatre pit and hats off also to the backstage crew who must have worked their butts off with those super slick scene changes.
This was as good a show as I have seen at Shoebury and could have easily stood up alongside any of the talented am dram groups we have in Southend right now. Every single member of the cast showed commitment and dedication and constantly stayed in character as they danced and sung their way through a show that brimmed with passion and enthusiasm.
Shoebury’s Made in Dagenham was a show to truly lift your spirits on a cold, wet and dull December evening and every single member of the cast and crew should be exceptionally proud of what they have achieved with this production. The final number Stand Up is touchingly uplifting, packing a real feel good and emotional punch to end the show. The bar has certainly been set high for next year’s production. A huge well done to all involved and I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings!
Review: Kim Tobin