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Sounds of the Century - 2026
DIRECTOR - Jennifer Hawley-McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron CHOREOGRAPHER - Robyn Miller As part of our celebrations of 120 years of bringing West End-quality performances to West Cumbria, we took a trip down memory lane in this all-singing, all-dancing concert performances of favourite tunes. Featuring songs from iconic productions such as The Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express, Les Miserables and Oliver!, there’ll be something for everyone. |
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West Side Story - 2025
DIRECTOR - Natasha McKenzie MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie West Side Story is a retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, set against the backdrop of 1950’s New York. Two young lovers Tony and Maria are caught between warring gangs The Jets and The Sharks, as they struggle to find happiness in a world of hate, prejudice and violence. Featuring beloved songs Tonight and Somewhere, as well as thrilling dance numbers and an iconic love story, West Side Story is a tragic yet timeless love story. |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 2024
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 2024
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie What makes a monster and what makes a man? This is the central theme of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a sweeping, grand-scale musical from Disney Theatrical. Based on the 1996 Disney film and Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame tells the story of Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame, and his desire to one day be a part of the outside world. When he summons the courage to attend the Feast of Fools, he meets Esmeralda, a compassionate gypsy who protects him from an angry mob. But at the same time, Quasimodo’s master, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, and the new captain of the guard, Phoebus de Martin, fall in love with the beautiful girl. Adding to Quasimodo’s struggle is his punishment and derision from Frollo, following years of psychological abuse, and the danger posed by the gypsies, who are willing to kill any outsiders who venture into their secret hideout. But before Paris is burned to the ground, will Quasimodo be able to save Esmeralda from Frollo’s lust and anger? Will she return Quasimodo’s affection? Who is the true monster of Notre Dame? |
The Phantom of The Opera - 2023
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The Phantom of The Opera - 2023
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee & Jennifer Hawley-McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: Based on the 1910 horror novel by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera is a thrilling and romantic account of the legendary Phantom, a musical genius who dwells deep beneath a majestic opera house in Paris. Shunned by society for his horrible facial deformity, he takes a promising young soprano, Christine, under his wing and grooms her for operatic fame, all the while falling deeply in love with her. As Christine grows ever more successful, and a handsome young man from her past begins to successfully court her, the Phantom descends into a jealous rage and terrorizes the opera company with increasingly dangerous threats. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score soars with such famous tunes as “Think of Me,” “All I Ask of You,” “The Music of the Night,” and the title song, “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Phantom has gone on to become a cultural tour de force, and one of the most successful musicals of all time. |
Shrek The Musical - 2022
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Shrek The Musical - 2022
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Shrek the Musical is a one-of-a-kind, hilarious fairy tale in which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Grumpy, gruff, green ogre Shrek lives alone in his swamp. The world is fearful and mocking of him, and he is more than happy to leave the world to itself, in turn. Suddenly, his hermit existence is thrown open, when a group of homeless fairy tale characters — Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, the Three Little Pigs, and more — burst upon his swamp, seeking refuge from the persecution of the cruel, vertically-challenged Lord Farquaad. Shrek seeks out Farquaad, who offers him a deal: if Shrek rescues the Princess Fiona (whom Farquaad wishes to marry for her crown), then Farquaad will ensure the return of Shrek’s swamp by returning the fairy tale creatures to their homes. In a desperate attempt to regain his swamp’s hermetic piece, Shrek enters the world for the first time in his life. He travels to Princess Fiona’s prison, rescues her from a fire-breathing dragon, and then – scariest of all – is forced to get to know the princess as he tries to bring her back to evil Farquaad. To the determinedly unsocial ogre’s dismay, Fiona is very different from what he expected a princess to be. She may even provoke Shrek’s most novel experience yet: love. |
My Fair Lady - 2021
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My Fair Lady - 2021
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: Hailed by critics and audiences for its heart and its wit, My Fair Lady is a beautiful musical about transformation, patronage, gender politics and class, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play, Pygmalion. Acclaimed Professor and confirmed bachelor Henry Higgins makes a wager with his linguistic colleague Colonel Pickering that in six months he can pass off “gutter snipe” Eliza Doolittle as a duchess at an embassy ball. Through arduous training, day and night, Eliza learns how to speak English “properly,” and transforms into a lady respected and adored by all classes. Along the way she bewitches young Freddy Einsford-Hill into falling in love with her, and convinces a supposed linguistics expert that she is royalty. Through her transformation process, Eliza forges a deep connection with Colonel Pickering and most especially with Professor Higgins. However, she finds herself in a difficult position, now too refined to go back to her old life and not with any means or desire to live life as a lady of leisure – especially by herself. When Higgins completely fails to acknowledge Eliza’s role in her own transformation, she leaves his home. It is only then that Higgins realizes that he cares deeply for Eliza. |
The King and I - 2019
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The King and I - 2019
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Liz Condron & Mike Ames CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I is a moving, radiant story of East meets West. It is the early 1860s when newly widowed Anna Leonowens and her son, Louis, set sail from their native England for Bangkok, Siam (now Thailand). Anna, still grieving, has set her sights on a new adventure and taken a position as the schoolteacher for the royal offspring of the King of Siam. The King is determined to usher Siam into the modern world, and he thinks Western education can be a part of that – yet, Anna is horrified at first by many of the traditions that he holds dear. Anna and the King struggle to find common ground. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by rulers of the West, and he takes Anna on as an advisor, asking her to help change his image – if not his actual practice. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King teach each other about understanding, respect, and love that can transcend the greatest of differences. Beneath the fraught, fiercely opinionated, conflict-ridden surface of Anna and the King’s relationship lies one of the most unique love stories in the musical theatre canon. |
Spamalot - 2018
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Spamalot - 2018
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical also diverts a bit from more traditional versions of the legend. Instead, Spamalot features shenanigans including a line of beautiful dancing girls, flatulent Frenchmen, and killer rabbits. Outside, there is plague with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine. Throughout the show, Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad. Besides the rabbits and farting Frenchman, they meet such characters as the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight, and the Knights who say Ni. |
White Christmas - 2017
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White Christmas- 2017
DIRECTOR - Tony McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: Soldiers Bob Wallace and Phil Davis served under General Henry Waverley in World War Two and, ten years later, they are still working together in a popular song and dance duo, Wallace and Davis. When they meet the singing sisters, Betty and Judy Haynes, Phil becomes enamoured with the beautiful Judy, while Bob is more reserved about his feelings for Betty. The two men follow the sisters up to their seasonal engagement at The Columbia Inn in Vermont. They discover the inn is owned by General Waverley but, unbeknownst to him, the inn is struggling to survive. With the help of Martha, the concierge, and the General’s granddaughter, Susan, Bob, Phil, Betty and Judy decide to put on a big show to draw in business. Bob arranges for his old friend Ralph Sheldrake to bring the General’s former troops up to Vermont to support the show. Betty overhears Bob’s plans and misinterprets his intentions, believing that he wants to buy the inn instead. Confusion ensues as Betty leaves to go back to New York alone. Bob follows her to attempt to reconcile but, believing he has lost her, he goes on the Ed Sullivan Show to reach out to his former comrades. Back in Vermont, the rehearsals are coming to an end and the General is convinced to wear his uniform to watch the show. He is moved to see his former men return to support him and decides to put his efforts into making the inn a success. Betty returns to apologize to Bob and the couple finally declare their love for each other. With the show a huge success, Bob leads the whole theater in a rendition of “White Christmas”. |
Hairspray - 2016
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Hairspray- 2016
DIRECTOR - Natasha McKenzie MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: It’s 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, and quirky, plus-sized, teenage Tracy Turnblad has one dream: to dance on "The Corny Collins Show". When she gets put in detention with the African-American students in the school, they teach her some of their dance moves, and her new found groove wins her a spot on Corny’s show. Overnight, Tracy transforms from a nobody into a star, and uses her newfound influence to advocate for racial integration on the television show. Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying from the network producer, Velma, and her popular, but vicious, daughter, Amber. With the help of the teenage heartthrob Link, host Corny Collins, and Motormouth Maybelle (the host of "Negro Day" on Corny's show), Tracy overcomes the odds and succeeds in her mission to integrate "The Corny Collins Show". Tony Award-winning Hairspray continues to be one of the most widely produced musicals today, not only because of its wit and charm, but also because of the beautiful message of acceptance and progress that it portrays. The bright, energetic story of Tracy Turnblad teaches us all to look past the color of one’s skin and fight for every human being’s equal rights. |
Evita - 2015
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Evita - 2015
DIRECTOR - Ed McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Natasha McKenzie Description: Evita is based on the historical story of María Eva Duarte de Perón, a poor Argentinian girl who grows up to be the wife of the president of Argentina, worshipped by her people. As a young woman who longs for an acting career, fame, and fortune, Eva quickly learns that her feminine wiles hold power among a culture, and a political system, run by men. Once she makes it to Buenos Aires, Evita finds fame and power in her powers of seduction, eventually seducing the rising political figure, Juan Perón, who becomes the President of Argentina. As First Lady of Argentina, she aligns herself with the poor, winning herself, and Perón, popularity among Argentinians. Evita becomes a hero to the poor and the working class—and an enemy to the rich. A young and unknown revolutionary, Ché, narrates the rise and fall of the beloved matriarch of the Argentinian people. This blockbuster musical, made even more famous as a 1996 Hollywood film starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, shows both the righteous determination, and the ruthless power, of Argentina’s 20th century matriarch. |
Jesus Christ Super Star- 2014
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Jesus Christ Super Star- 2014
DIRECTOR - Ed McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Adrienne Kelly Description: Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of biblical Jesus in the final days leading up to his crucifixion. A rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the musical has no spoken dialogue and is sometimes considered a modern rock-opera. Loosely based on the Gospels, Superstar focuses on the personal conflicts between Jesus, his disciples, the people of Israel, and the leadership of Rome. Special attention is played to the relationship between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, as well as Jesus’ relationship with Mary Magdalene. The musical is unique among biblical retellings in that it focuses on both Judas’ struggle making the decision to betray Jesus and Jesus’ human psychology, fear, and anger in understanding and accepting his role as both leader and martyr. The show is a product of its era, permeated with 1970’s rock, gospel, folk and funk themes, modern language and colloquialisms, and high-energy dance numbers. |
Whistle Down the Wind - 2013
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Whistle Down the Wind - 2013
DIRECTOR - Ed McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Adrienne Kelly Description: Based on the book of the same title by Mary Hayley Bell, and later produced as a movie in the hands of Richard Attenborough, Whistle Down the Wind is set in a small, deeply religious town in Louisiana of the 1950s. A poor farming family led by father, Boone, and his three children--Swallow, Brat, and Poor Baby--have recently buried their mother and they are still struggling with the grief. As Christmas approaches and the family cannot afford any presents or luxuries, the three children are desperate to find something to hold on to and believe in. One day, they find a stranger injured and hiding in their run-down barn. Unknown to the children The Man is probably an escaped convict, but Swallow seizes on the idea that he is Jesus and the rumor quickly spreads amongst the children of the town. Meanwhile, the town is on the lookout for the runaway convict, urged by their Sheriff to stay vigilant. When Candy, a rebellious African-American youth learns of the prisoner’s hide-out, she is quick to reveal it to the town and the residents all descend on Boone’s farm. However, mysteriously, The Man has disappeared and Boone realizes that Swallow still needs him to depend upon and restore her faith in their family unit. |
The Sound of Music - 2012
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The Sound of Music - 2012
DIRECTOR - Ed McGee MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Stephen Hunter Brown CHOREOGRAPHER - Adrienne Kelly Description: The final collaboration between Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, The Sound of Music, has become a play beloved around the world. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, this play captures a personal tale of growth and hope amidst the horrors of World War II. The Sound of Music tells the tale of young postulant Maria Rainer, whose free spirit has trouble fitting into the rules and regulations of Nonnberg Abbey. Commissioned by the Mother Abbess to serve as the governess for seven motherless children, Maria transforms the Von Trapp family home from a place of dour rules and regulations to one filled with joy, with laughter, and with music. In the process, Maria wins the hearts of all seven children--and their widower father, Captain Von Trapp. With the Mother Abbess’ blessing, and to the children’s delight, Maria follows her heart, and Maria and the Captain marry. Upon returning home from their honeymoon, Maria and the Captain learn that their beloved Austria has been taken over by the Nazis, and the retired Captain is asked to report for immediate service in the Nazi Navy. When the Nazis show up at their door to take Captain Von Trapp away, it is a family singing engagement (wily navigated by their friend Max) that buys the family time to make their narrow escape. Their Austrian convictions compel Maria, the Captain, and the children to flee over the mountains of Switzerland to safety, taking the words of the Mother Abbess to heart: “Climb Every Mountain… till you find your dream.” |
2002 - My Fair Lady
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2001 - Mack & Mabel
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2000 - 1981
2000: Scrooge 1999: Barnum 1999: Fiddlesticks 1998: Me and My Girl 1997: Singin’ in the Rain 1996: Meet Me in St Louis 1995: 42nd Street 1994: Chess 1993: Pirates of Penzance 1992: Fiddler on the Roof 1991: Anything Goes 1990: Camelot 1989: Oliver 1988: The New Moon 1987: The Boyfriend 1987: Ruddigore 1986: Guys and Dolls 1986: The Mikado 1985: Annie 1985: The Gondoliers 1984: Call Me Madam 1984: Iolanthe 1983: Bless the Bride 1982: Brigadoon 1981: Oklahoma |
1980 - 1961
1980: The Merry Widow 1979: Pirates of Penzance 1978: Gigi 1977: The Sorcerer 1976: Hello Dolly 1975: HMS Pinafore 1975: Half A Sixpence 1974: The Gondoliers 1973: Dancing Years 1973: Fiddler On The Roof 1971: Student Prince 1971: The Mikado 1970: The Sound Of Music 1970: Iolanthe 1970: Iolanthe 1969: Showboat 1969: Pirates of Penzance 1969: Trial By Jury 1968: My Fair Lady 1968: Ruddigore 1967: King’s Rhapsody 1967: Yeomen of the Guard 1966: South Pacific 1966: Patience 1965: The King and I 1965: The Gondoliers 1964: The Quaker Girl 1964: The Mikado 1963: Bob’s Your Uncle 1962: The Boyfriend 1961: Anything Goes |
1960 - 1941
1960: Me and My Girl 1959: The New Moon 1958: Call Me Madam 1957: White Horse Inn 1956: Wedding in Paris 1955: Annie Get Your Gun 1954: Bless the Bride 1953: Waltz Without End 1952: Good Night Vienna 1951: John Peel 1950: Wild Violets 1949: The Arcadians 1948: Katinka 1948: Gypsy Love |
1940 - 1921
1938: New Year Revels 1938: A Country Girl 1937: The Girl Friend 1936: The Merry Maskerade 1936: The Vagabond King 1935: The Maid of The Mountains 1934: Viktoria and Her Hussar 1933: No No Nanette 1932: The Rebel Maid 1931: Blue Eyes 1930: The Balkan Princess 1929: The Marriage Market 1927: Mousme 1926: A Greek Slave 1925: The Yeomen of the Guard 1924: The Mikado 1923: Les Cloches De Cornville |
1920 - 1900
1912: The Gondoliers 1911: Pirates of Penzance 1911: The Mikado 1910: Iolanthe 1909: The Yeomen of the Guard 1908: The Gondoliers 1907: Patience |
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