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WOS Radio: Theatregoers Level Up at Pippin Q&A

| London's West End |

12 January 2012

Last night (11 January) over 100 theatregoers made their way to the Menier Chocolate Factory for the first major revival of Steven Schwartz’s darkly humorous coming-of-age story Pippin which hasn’t had a major London airing since 1973.

This high-concept revival which incorporates some of Bob Fosse’s original Tony Award-winning choreography is directed by Mitch Sebastian and stars Harry Hepple, last seen in the West End in The 25th Annual Puttnam Country Spelling Bee, in the title role. As heir to the Charlemagne throne Pippin searchs for beauty, glory, fame and magic but in doing so has to come to grips with lust, sex, war, politics and religion. Starring alongside Hepple are Ian Kelsey, Matt Rawle, Frances Ruffelle, Caryl Bawden, Stuart Neal as well as a cameo performance from Caroline Quentin.

After the performance we were joined by Hepple, Rawle, Ruffelle, Bawdy, Neal and Quentin as well as Anabel Kutay and Kate Tydman of the ensemble all of whom shared with us their insights into rigours of the technical period and having Fosse’s assistant in rehearsals. We also gained an insight into the perils of lycra costumes and having lighters on stage. Co-producer Natalie Macaluso was also able to join us to giving us a different perspective on this unusual piece and hints to a future for it.

To listen to an edited recording of the Q&A, which was chaired
by Whatsonstage.com Managing and Editorial Director Terri Paddock, click the ‘play’
button below; or to subscribe and download from iTunes, click here.

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