Five incredible reasons to see The Last Five Years at Southwark Playhouse

We asked director Jonathan O'Boyle (The View UpStairs, Hair) to give us five reasons to be excited about this five-star revival of the extraordinary musical at Southwark Playhouse.

1. It's written by the brilliant Jason Robert Brown

Though the composer has written musical smashes such as 13 and Bridges Over Madison County, The Last Five Years is arguably Jason Robert Brown's most iconic score. In our production, we've given the show a new twist by casting two incredible actor-musicians as Cathy and Jamie – Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson.

2. It's packed with wall-to-wall hit songs

The Last Five Years is packed full of brilliant songs and encompasses a whole range of musical styles. From ballads such as "Still Hurting" and "See I'm Smiling" to the upbeat "Moving Too Fast", there's even a Klezmer number in "The Schmuel Song"!

Watch Molly Lynch performing the beautiful opening number "Still Hurting":

3. It has an unusual form

Just like Sondheim and Furth's Merrily We Roll Along and Pinter's Betrayal, The Last Five Years plays with form. While Jamie's story is told chronologically, Cathy's is told in reverse, with the pair's timelines crossing only once – at their wedding. This unusual form allows us to delve into the complexities of love and relationships.

4. The cast

Molly Lynch* (Wasted, The Light in the Piazza) and Oli Higginson (The Haystack) not only sing and act Brown's score beautifully, but also play it. With new arrangements by George Dyer, they accompany each other on the piano throughout, adding a different dynamic to the show. Alongside a live four-piece band, Brown's score is as rich as ever!

*Lydia White (a recipient of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship with credits including Chess and CinderELLA at Nuffield Southampton Theatres) will join Oli Higginson while Molly Lynch is signed off with illness.

Watch the pair in action in our video of "See I'm Smiling":