THE SKA MUSICAL
Book and lyrics by Paul Sirett
Music by Paul Joseph
One of the most acclaimed and heart-warming new musicals of recent years is returning to the Theatre Royal Stratford East. It received universal rave reviews when it was staged at the Theatre Royal in May and played to sold-out audiences.
THE BIG LIFE is a feel-good ska musical which transports the plot of Shakespeare's 'Love's Labours Lost' to 1950s London. On the Windrush over from the Caribbean to England, a pact is made by a group of men not to get involved with women for three years while they work to better themselves....but Cupid has another plan!
THE BIG LIFE is a funny, sad, uplifting, joyous, rip-roaring, toe-tapping, tear-jerking white-knuckle-ride. An emotional roller-coaster that sweeps you back to the time when Caribbean migrants came to London in the hope of carving out a better life for themselves.
"It's an important story from recent British history told in a wonderful, joyous way," says Kerry Michael, the new Artistic Director of Theatre Royal. "Demand the first time was overwhelming, with many people not able to get tickets. That is why we're bringing it back."
Philip Hedley, former Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal, said earlier this year, "In my 25 years at Stratford East, I have never known a show that has generated such a strong feeling from its audience. They wanted to come back and bring their family and friends to it."
THE BIG LIFE has received much praise from all sides and was compared favourably to other musical landmarks such as 'West Side Story' and 'Blood Brothers'. It is still down to go to the West End within the next six months, but fans of THE BIG LIFE have decided that they can't wait that long!
'EastEnders' star Rudolph Walker said of the show, "It bowled me over. It was a joy to see the story of Caribbean immigrants who came to London in the 1950's treated with such respect. It is a very funny, joyous musical with great music. It deserves a wider audience."
The Big Life is a show with a huge heart.' The Times
‘social history with music and laughter triumphantly added' Critics Choice Time Out
‘excellent tunes take in calypso and jazz as much as ska' Metro
‘hilarious' The Guardian
‘authentic, original, heartfelt and meaningful' The Stage
‘a celebration of a brave generation' The Observer
‘every element...is perfectly balanced in an irresistible whole' The Independent
Go to our Gallery if you like to hear the music of The Big Life
