Use the form below to search for tickets on your desired date. Dates from
Synopsis Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll is the story of 18-year-old twins, Ellie and Arden whose lives are turned upside down when up and coming rock band The Ice Cubes visit Eccles. The raw magnetism of the band and the pulsating rhythms of the music they play suggests a world away from the narrow streets of Eccles and the narrower minds of family, relatives and fawning fiancés. But will Ellie and Arden be allowed the freedom to choose their own futures?
Modern musicals often rely on a gimmick to attract the audience which acts as a unique selling point. From the helicopter in Miss Saigon to the crashing chandelier in Phantom, these set pieces have become iconic. Manchester's new musical, Sex Chips and Rock 'n' Roll, based on the TV series of the same name, features a chip van - which makes audience members smile as they get the irony.
In 1960's Manchester, rock band The Ice Cubes are tipped as the next big thing. Bookish Ellie (Emma Williams) and her flighty sister Arden (Elaine Glover) are both captivated by the lads and their music. But once the singles start climbing the charts, the girls both realise that their mother's words, "I want never gets", start to ring true. Ellie is sworn to another man and cannot seem to escape her Northern roots, while Arden tells a white lie to hitch a ride to London as The Ice Cubes start to become really cool.
This may sound incredibly corny but it works wonderfully. Almost every aspect of this lively, funny and poignant musical is superbly realised. Debbie Horsfield's sharp writing has real grit alongside the humour. Likewise, she and Hereward Kaye have crafted some catchy songs which have a pure, original sound minus the ‘worthy’ elements so often associated with musicals.
"Eighteen" is delivered with panache by Tracie Bennett as the girls' mum, and "Is This What's Down For Me" highlights Ellie's struggle and is sung perfectly by Williams. Such a shame, then, that the play almost fizzles out via the finale track "Tread Softly", which, as the title suggests, lacks the impact required to end a musical.
The cast are energetic and in great voice, and they move across the round with real precision. When emotion is called for, Williams, Glover and Bennett each get the tear ducts flowing. As the Ice Cubes, Ben Barnes, Dean Stobbart and Ben Sutherland have the ability to get the crowd going and make people really believe the guys are in a band.
Conor Murphy's superb set features a mini, the aforementioned chip van, and a spinning stage, which transports viewers to the swinging sixties. Jonathan Moore directs the piece with a good eye for what works and each scene has real resonance.
The show reminded me of the sublime Spend Spend Spend and Blood Brothers. Judging by the audience reaction, Sex Chips deserves to keep on rocking for years.
On a happier note than today’s distressing news from London, I can report that the Debbie Horsfield / Hereward Kaye musical, currently at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, is a triumph.
Based on her TV series from 1999, this show contains the same plotline (trimmed) and a new set of songs with lyrics by Horsfield and music from Kaye (ex Flying Pickets and composer of such shows as Moby Dick and Cramp as well as MD and Arranger for many other shows including Return to the Forbidden Planet and Are You Lonesome Tonight?). The songs form one of the strongest ‘new’ scores for a musical I have heard in many years, involving Rock’n’Roll (obviously), but also some lovely ballads ‘London Belongs to Me’, a torch song ‘Eighteen’, comedy numbers ‘You’re My Mona Lisa’, chorus work a Lowry-ish ‘Northern Rain’ and a few duets or trios ‘This Isn’t Happening’ and ‘The Two of Us’. A pretty varied assortment! Most work extremely well, however I felt a more vigorous finish to the show was required than the lovely duet ‘Tread Softly’. Also the title number was possibly the weakest of all and could do with replacing IMHO.
The cast are superb. Emma Williams and Dean Stobbart as the two leads particularly so, with Williams having a very fine voice indeed, well suited to her ballad numbers. Elaine Glover and Tracie Bennett had both strong numbers to sing and great delivery of them. The cast are particularly young – several make their professional debuts after graduating – but there is no lack of performing confidence in the intimate and unforgiving theatre-in-the-round stage of the Royal Exchange.
Ann Yee (assisted by Matthew Wolfenden) produced some impressive choreography (especially the ‘Northern Rain’ and ‘Right Here Right Now’ numbers), although some of the cast need a little more assurance in stepping on and off the revolve.
There is a six-piece orchestra located in a segment of the First Gallery – it includes the composer on Guitar.
- 84.67.73.116)
St Ann's Square Manchester Greater Manchester M2 7DH
Telephone
0161 833 9833
Station
Description
Closed by Manchester bombing 1996. Reopened Dec 1998 with a new 120 seat studio space added. Seats 750. Founding sponsor of The Studio - Selfridges and Co.
Whatsonstage.com - Discount London theatre tickets, theatre news and reviews, Theatre videos, Theatre discussion, National Theatre Listings. Covering London's West End, all of Theatreland and all UK theatre. The best
for London Theatre Ticket Discounts.
