Theatre News

Davis & Bourne’s Loserville confirms West End transfer, opens 17 Oct

As previously tipped by Whatsonstage.com, Elliot Davis and James Bourne‘s new musical Loserville will receive its West End premiere at the Garrick Theatre on 17 October 2012, following previews from 1 October.  

The show, which premiered at West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year, charts the rise of a typical American high-school nerd from 1971 as he and his sci-fi-obsessed misfit friends try to change the world from their position of insignificance.

It was inspired by Welcome to Loserville, a 2005 album by Bourne’s solo project Son of Dork. Bourne was previously a member of chart-topping group Busted.

25,000 tickets to Loserville will be available for £25 or less during the first booking period, which runs until 2 March 2013.

Nica Burns, CEO of Nimax Theatres, which owns the Garrick, said: “I had a ball when I saw this show at West Yorkshire Playhouse. Be daring! For only £25 you too can discover this fresh, fizzy, fun and delightfully original contemporary musical with a young cast bursting with talent.  If you aren’t 25, you’ll feel like it!”

Loserville’s creators Elliot Davis and James Bourne (photo: Dan wooller)

Loserville stars Aaron Sidwell as Michael, Eliza Hope Bennett as Holly, Stewart Clarke as Eddie, Charlotte Harwood as Leia, Richard Lowe as Lucas, Lil’ Chris as Francis and Daniel Buckley as Marvin

The ensemble also features: Jade Albertsen, Sophie Ayers, Laura Bennett, Robbie Boyle, Matthew Bradley, Olly Buxton, Andrew Carthy, Freya Field, Daniel Hall, Lauren Hall, Ollie Hannifan, Dan Krikler, Duncan Leighton, Ashley Luke Lloyd, Megan Louch, Andy Shaw, Sarah Watson and Witney White.

The show is directed by Steven Dexter and choreographed by Nick Winston, with set by Francis O’Connor, costumes by Francis O’Connor and Stephen Snell, lighting by Howard Harrison and sound by Simon Baker.

Davis and Bourne have also written the musical Out There, which was recently commissioned and staged by Youth Music Theatre UK at the Riverside Studios. Elliot also co-wrote Soho Cinders with George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, which is currently on at the Soho Theatre.  His other musicals, Best Friends and Butterflies and Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi, won the Ticketmaster Composer Award for Best Musical for Young People and the TMA Award for Outstanding Musical respectively.

Loserville was originally commissioned by Youth Music Theatre UK (YMT) and workshopped on one of its courses with young people drawn from across the UK. It’s produced in the West End by Kevin Wallace Limited, TC Beech Limited, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Youth Music Theatre UK.

Loserville on-stage