My Top 5 Showtunes: Lucy Rivers
© Kieran Cudlip
Lucy Rivers is a co-founder of Gagglebabble, a multi-award-winning Cardiff based theatre company specialising in gig-theatre.
Written and performed by Rivers and directed by Titas Halder, Sinners Club has songs inspired by Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK. After its premiere in Wales and a run at Latitude Festival in now comes to the Soho Theatre from 5 to 30 December.
"Cool" from ''West Side Story"
West Side Story probably remains my favourite musical mainly because of that iconic film and Bernstein’s music is so phenomenal – they certainly don’t make them like that anymore. There are so many great numbers to choose from but "Cool" has to be one of the coolest songs and best dance routines ever!
"Good Morning" from Singin' In the Rain
Growing up I was a big fan of the old song and dance musicals and in particular Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly films still never fail to entertain. That combination of the great American songwriting (Irvine Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter) with the dazzling choreography and superb talents of those stars is something very special. Many of the songs have been adopted and made famous by most of the top jazz singers of the 20th century and stand alone as classics in their own right. It felt incredibly difficult to choose one routine from all of them but I decided I’d go with one of the most joyous songs and musicals.
"Tight Connection to My Heart" from Girl From the North Country
I saw Girl From the North Country by Connor McPherson recently at the Old Vic and really loved the production. I’m a big fan of Bob Dylan and those great American plays and novels set in the depression era, so it was right up my street, plus I love a live band onstage. The beautiful arrangements and performances of the songs were outstanding and very moving. They are coming back into the West End soon so grab a ticket while you can.
"Surabaya Johnny" from Happy End
Kurt Weill has been a big influence on my music, and I’ve always relished the challenge of singing his wonderful songs. I love the plays with music he did with Brecht, and his dark, Weimar cabaret, political songwriting excites me and still feels fresh and relevant today. He’s also written so many amazing songs for women thanks to his partner and muse Lotte Lenya, and it was hard to choose which brilliant version to use as Ute Lemper is normally my go-to for Weill but I’ve chosen this performance by the fabulous cabaret artist Meow Meow, who I’ve seen a number of times and she really knows how to get the emotion and story out of a song. Meow Meow will be at the Globe the Christmas.
"Smash It All to Dust" from Sinners Club
Although I do love a good musical I don’t find myself writing in that genre very much and often write songs which suit a gig-theatre style. My influences are usually more alt-pop, blues-rock and Americana. With "Smash It All To Dust" I wanted to write an angry break-up song that had punch, and when I sing this in the show it feels like I go through the wringer and come out the other side feeling triumphant – it’s a cathartic experience. I’m afraid there’s no video (yet) but you can hear it on Spotify or Apple Music, or get the full 3D experience by coming along to Soho Theatre, 5 to 30 December.
