Reasons to be Cheerful

It’s 1979. Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ new single REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL (part 3) is climbing the charts. Labour party has just lost the recent election to the Tories. Vinnie and his mates are big Ian Dury fans and they are desperate to see him at the Hammersmith Odeon but the gig is sold out. Vinnie will do anything to get tickets, but life is complicated. His dad is dying; the girl he loves is going out with his boss at the supermarket, and his own band never stops fighting. But the opportunity to get tickets for the gig arises and events take a surprising turn.

Set during a time of political change and economic hardship, Dury’s songs provide a powerful political and emotional backdrop to this coming-of-age tale.

MY THOUGHTS: There was an exceptional cast for this wonderful and surreal play, that sometimes left me juxtaposition as to present times and the actual script; the story is introduced by the Vinnie and as references are made to Labour party losing the election in 1979 to the Tories, one can’t help the feeling of past and present colliding. This also brought an air of release for the audience who cheered and jeered while the characters abused the winning political party. The play puts you in the heart of rebellion, in the days of Doc Martins, Skin Heads, T-Boys, Punks and Rockers. This is a must see, especially if you want a change from the fantasy, adventure scripted plays around.

You will be encourage to join in and sing. let go and enjoy the sex, drugs and rock n roll.

A WORD OF WARNING THERE IS SWEARING, CURSING AND RUDE LANGUAGE INCLUDE.

All performances include captioned dialogue and BSL-interpreted songs. All performances are audio described.

VENUE: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN

Box Office & Info Tel: 020 8534 0310 Mon – Sat, 10am – 6pm

DATE: 22 October – 13 November

Tickets

22/23/26 Oct: £10

Tues – Thurs & Sat matinee (6 Nov only):
£17/£12
Concs (£12/£7)

Fri & Sat
£20/£15
Concs (£15/£10)

Written by Paul Sirett
Directed by Jenny Sealey

Cast:

Nadia Albine as Janine, Stephen Collins as Colin, Stephen Lloyd as Vinnie, Daniel McGowan as Dave, Garry Robson as Bobby, Karen Spicer as Pat

Band:

Mat Fraser, Robert Hyman, John Kelly, Nixon Rosembert, Paul Sirett