'Oh me, Oh my, this is getting very weird,
And the truth actually is that I'm really quite a-feared,
That I'm trapped in this world for the rest of my days
Where I can't avoid the sickening urge to rhyme on every phrase'

SPONSORS

Arts and Business, London
NASUWT

Additional Thanks to:
Joanna Clephane and all the staff at Fettes College, Theatre Workshop Edinburgh, The Jack Petchey Foundation, Dave Tynan at Sound Control, The Fedoration of Scottish Theatre, RC Sherriff Trust, Oldham Sixth Form College, Asda (Portlthen), Marks and Spencer (Aberdeen), Acergy UK Ltd, First Aberdeen Ltd, Middlesborough Council.

THE COMPANY

Cast:

Lucy Amos, Ellen Armstrong, Joe Aston, Miriam Breckner, Sophie Brown, Hannah Butterfield, Lucie Campbell, Macey Cherrett, Robert Cliff, Shannon Cordiner, Aoife Cumiskey, Georgia Rae Goodyer, Robyn Grant, Becky Groves, Oliver Hayes, Rosie Kemp, Riana Lynch, Pamela MacDuff, Suzi MacGregor, Finlay MacRae, Steven Millar, Hannah Nuttall, Dayo Opaleye, Ruth Petersen, Kiera-Lorelle Rhomes, Vanessa Rumbidzyai, Callum Simpson, Isobel Steane, David Thomas, Alison Tillson, Kathryn Twigg, Matthew Walker, Nicholas Ward, Holly Webley-Naylor, Christopher Weeks, Michael Wilkins

Director: John Nicholson
Composer and Musical Director: Alexander Rudd
Movement Director: Emily Bruni
Assistant Director: Luke Sheppard
Assistant Designer: Ellie Welch

Head Chaperone: Judith Lobendhan

Chaperones: Catherine Bain, Graeme Keir, Debra Grundy

REVIEWS

Broadway Baby

 

Force 9 ½ (2007)
Youth Music Theatre: UK
Theatre Workshop, 10 August 16:00, 11 August 14:00 (1hr)

The show is about a day in the life of a schoolboy named Billy (Elliot, of course). At first we see a normal, unexciting day in his life, including his failure to ask out the girl of his dreams, Brenda. Then, in the park, he meets a magic tramp, who grants his wish and changes his life for the better. Unfortunately for Billy, one side effect of this is that his life has now become a Hollywood musical; his mother, father and sister are all happy and smiling at breakfast and break into song at every opportunity. So do his friends, teachers and everyone he meets. He and Brenda get together but then everything happens too quickly; before he knows it he’s engaged and then married, and he’s only thirteen!

Finally, Billy manages to find the magic tramp who reverses his wish and everything is back as it was, except that Billy now manages to ask Brenda to go out with him. A happy ending to a very enjoyable production. [Alan Chorley]

Music Theatre Matters Review 10th August 2007

YMT:UK present Force 9 ½ having spent a two-week devising period working with around 40 11-21 year olds to create a new piece of music theatre. Directed by Peepolykus' John Nicholson, the result is a very witty and highly physical piece which tells the tale of 'Billy Elliot' (a coincidence!) and how his life one day became a musical - to his horror!

There are some great set pieces in this show, it's packed full of comedy alongside the physical theatre that keeps you engaged for the full hour. they even manage to work in the use of a glitter ball!

There are some very clever lyrics which can't help to make you smile. There is also some lovely musical theatre pastiche, if this is what YMT: UK can produce from scratch in only two weeks, then I can't wait to see what they do next!