Scraping by on seven quid a week with her husband and three kids in a tiny terraced house in Castleford, Yorkshire, Viv Nicholson's life was as near rock bottom as it could get. Until that day in 1961 when Viv borrowed £5 from her Mam to play the Pools and she was catapulted from obscurity to fame with the biggest win ever - £152,319 (£5 million today). And that was it, Viv and Keith's lives changed overnight and Viv declared to the world she was going to spend, spend, spend. 'Booze, big cars, big spending, big headlines' and a succession of husbands soon led to bankruptcy. From rags to riches and back to rags again, a gritty and poignant musical about the extraordinary story of a brash and naïve, northern lassT01647823972Producer Union Productions. Director Christian Durham. Choreographer Heather Douglas. Musical Director Inga Davis-Rutter. Design Olivia Ward. Lighting Tim Deiling. Performer Julie Armstrong (Old Viv). Performer Katy Dean (Young Viv). Performer David Haydn (George). Performer Kerry White3side (Mother). Performer James Lyne (Keith). Performer Tom Brandon (Matt). Performer Charlie Johnson (Ensemble). Performer Jayne Ashley (Ensemble). Performer Christina Meehan (Ensemble). Performer April Sullivan (Ensemble). Performer Sally Frith (Ensemble). Performer Xandy Champken (Ensemble). Performer Adam Colbeck-Dunn (Ensemble). Performer Stuart Simons (Ensemble). Performer Oliver Jacobson (Ensemble). | |
| 25 Mar 15 to 18 Apr 15 | Union Theatre, Inner London :: V1167 listing details L1162094055 |
T01289928579Presented byAdrian Jeckells (for the London School of Musical Theatre). Director Lotte Wakeham. | |
| 29 Apr 14 to 3 May 14 | Bridewell Theatre, Inner London :: V171 listing details L911059948 |
T0539758102Director Darren Lawrence. | |
| 26 Feb 13 to 2 Mar 13 | The Cockpit, Inner London :: V182 listing details L01805456339 |
T01151470505Company Worle Operatic Society. | |
| 26 Apr 12 to 28 Apr 12 | The Blakehay, Weston-super-Mare :: V01754281771 listing details L01286148965 |
T2115533132Producer Watermill. Director Craig Revel Horwood. Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood. Musical Director Sarah Travis. Design Diego Pitarch. Lighting Nick Richings. Sound Chris Full. Performer Greg Barnett (Keith). Performer Jack Beale (Matt / Estate Agent). Performer Neil Ditt (Brucie / Bank Manager). Performer Tom Gearing (Show MD). Performer Kirsty Hoiles (Young Viv). Performer TJ Holmes (Graham). Performer Graham Kent (George). Performer Karen Mann (Older Viv). Performer Jane Milligan (Mother). Performer Tara Nelson (Sue / Tart). Performer Susannah Van Den Berg (Mrs Watermann / Florrie). Performer Tom Yeates (Policeman / Tax Inspector). | |
| 9 Nov 10 to 13 Nov 10 | New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich :: V81 listing details L0371862504 |
| 2 Nov 10 to 6 Nov 10 | Richmond Theatre, Outer London :: V327 listing details L01236844141 |
| 26 Oct 10 to 30 Oct 10 | Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham :: V90 listing details L01365507702 |
| 19 Oct 10 to 23 Oct 10 | Leeds Playhouse (formerly West Yorkshire Playhouse), Leeds :: V977 listing details L0530368472 |
| 12 Oct 10 to 16 Oct 10 | The Lowry, Salford :: V0655996499 listing details L01207145626 |
| 5 Oct 10 to 9 Oct 10 | Oxford Playhouse, Oxford :: V803 listing details L713892028 |
| 28 Sep 10 to 2 Oct 10 | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford :: V702 listing details L1037779031 |
| 9 Sep 10 to 25 Sep 10 | The Watermill Theatre, Newbury :: V733 listing details L01172298685 |
T948827269Company Thistles Musical Theatre Company. | |
| 22 Oct 09 to 24 Oct 09 | Kenneth More Theatre, Outer London :: V313 listing details L1249410324 |
T2120024422Producer Watermill. Director Craig Revel Horwood. Musical Director Sarah Travis. Design Diego Pitarch. Lighting Nick Richings. Sound Chris Full. Performer Greg Barnett (Keith). Performer Robin Colyer. Performer Neil Ditt. Performer Christian Edwards. Performer Kirsty Hoiles. Performer Graham Kent. Performer Liz Kitchen (Liz). Performer Karen Mann (Older Viv). Performer Tara Nelson. Performer Kit Orton. Performer David Osmond. Performer Susannah Van Den Berg. | |
| 9 Jul 09 to 29 Aug 09 | The Watermill Theatre, Newbury :: V733 listing details L0467401959 |
T676228468Company Longwood Amateur Operatic Society. | |
| 2 Oct 06 to 7 Oct 06 | Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield :: V972 listing details L1211336223 |
T01695532390Company Middlesbrough Little Theatre Company. | |
| 14 Mar 05 to 19 Mar 05 | Middlesbrough Theatre, Middlesbrough :: V560 listing details L0108857955 |
T283868755Company Sheffield Teachers Operatic Society. | |
| 16 Nov 04 to 20 Nov 04 | Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield :: V962 listing details L01794183974 |
T1223883617Company Norfolk and Norwich Threshold Theatre Group. | |
| 2 Jun 04 to 5 Jun 04 | Playhouse, Norwich :: V69 listing details L01757387552 |
T01004781436Company Stow College. | |
| 3 Jun 04 to 5 Jun 04 | Gilmorehill G12, Glasgow :: V1423875763 listing details L01273159825 |
T914702869Producer Ivan Hale. Producer Greg Ripley-Duggan. Producer Lee Dean. Lighting Mark Henderson. Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood. Design Lez Brotherston. Director Jeremy Sams. Music John Cameron. Sound Rick Clarke. Director Dane Preece (music). Performer Barbara Dickson. Performer Rachel Leskovac. | |
| 27 Nov 01 to 8 Dec 01 | Opera House, Manchester :: V488 listing details L518700065 |
| 13 Nov 01 to 24 Nov 01 | New Victoria Theatre, Woking :: V709 listing details L0595859605 |
| 29 Oct 01 to 3 Nov 01 | Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe :: V749 listing details L1007507889 |
| 16 Oct 01 to 27 Oct 01 | Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes :: V754 listing details L101105315 |
| 2 Oct 01 to 6 Oct 01 | Festival Theatre, Edinburgh :: V600 listing details L1550738633 |
| 17 Sep 01 to 22 Sep 01 | Belgrade Theatre, Coventry :: V153 listing details L01385628048 |
| 3 Sep 01 to 8 Sep 01 | King's Theatre, Glasgow :: V613 listing details L113415307 |
| 17 Jul 01 to 28 Jul 01 | Mayflower Theatre, Southampton :: V774 listing details L0520524984 |
| 3 Jul 01 to 14 Jul 01 | Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne :: V570 listing details L2005448654 |
| 19 Jun 01 to 30 Jun 01 | Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent :: V124 listing details L0582972736 |
| 11 Jun 01 to 16 Jun 01 | Arnolfini, Bristol :: V863 listing details L1778102601 |
| 6 Jun 01 to 16 Jun 01 | Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol :: V856 listing details L1168859959 |
| 22 May 01 to 2 Jun 01 | Theatre Royal, Norwich :: V72 listing details L833915620 |
| 4 May 01 to 19 May 01 | Churchill Theatre, Bromley :: V302 listing details L576146590 |
T1460081700Winner of The Evening Standard/Carlton Television Best Musical of the Year, Evening Standard Theatre Awards, 1999.Winner of Best Musical, Critics' Circle Awards 2000. WebsitePerformer Diane Langton (Viv Nicholson). Performer Steven Houghton (Keith Nicholson). Performer Rachel Leskovac (Young Viv Nicholson). Performer Jonathan Burn. Performer Tania Caridia. Performer Susan Fay. Performer Kate Harbour. Performer Marjorie Keys. Performer Gary Milner. Performer Craig Nicholls. Performer Stuart Nurse. Performer Stuart Pendred. Performer Robin Samson. Performer Jeff Shankley. Performer Nicola Sloane. Performer Duncan Smith. Performer Jamie Somers. Performer Mary Stockley. Performer Paul Thornloy. Lighting Mark Henderson. Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood. Design Lez Brotherston. Director Jeremy Sams. Music John Cameron. Sound Rick Clarke. Director Dane Preece (music). Producer Andre Ptaszynski (for Pola Jones-Michael Watt-Joop Van Den Ende - in association with Hat Trick Productions and the Theatre Royal Plymouth). | |
| 5 Oct 99 to 5 Aug 00 | Piccadilly Theatre, West End :: V406 listing details L2064625107 |
T1303191576Winner of The Evening Standard/Carlton Television Best Musical of the Year, Evening Standard Theatre Awards, 1999.Winner of Best Musical, Critics' Circle Awards 2000. WebsitePerformer Barbara Dickson (Viv Nicholson). Performer Steven Houghton (Keith Nicholson). Performer Rachel Leskovac (Young Viv Nicholson). Performer Jonathan Burn. Performer Tania Caridia. Performer Susan Fay. Performer Kate Harbour. Performer Marjorie Keys. Performer Gary Milner. Performer Craig Nicholls. Performer Stuart Nurse. Performer Stuart Pendred. Performer Robin Samson. Performer Jeff Shankley. Performer Nicola Sloane. Performer Duncan Smith. Performer Jamie Somers. Performer Mary Stockley. Performer Paul Thornloy. Lighting Mark Henderson. Choreographer Craig Revel Horwood. Design Lez Brotherston. Director Jeremy Sams. Music John Cameron. Sound Rick Clarke. Director Dane Preece (music). Producer Andre Ptaszynski (for Pola Jones-Michael Watt-Joop Van Den Ende - in association with Hat Trick Productions and the Theatre Royal Plymouth). | |
| 13 Sep 99 to 25 Sep 99 | Theatre Royal Plymouth, Plymouth :: V895 listing details L0491269680 |
T01861373137Director Justin Green. Design Niki Turner. Lighting Robert Bryan. Sound Mic Pool. Performer Rosemary Ashe. Performer Sophie Louise Dann. Performer Jonathan D Ellis. Performer Michelle Fine. Performer Melissa Jacques. Performer Andrew Kennedy. Performer Neil McCaul. Performer Nigel Richards. Performer Paul Thornley. Performer Sara Williams. | |
| 26 May 98 to 27 Jun 98 | Leeds Playhouse (formerly West Yorkshire Playhouse), Leeds :: V977 listing details L01202729704 |
Other listings | |
| 27 Nov 22 | Cottingham Civic Hall, Cottingham :: V1635220820 listing details L1603302252 |
| 8 May 13 to 11 May 13 | Waterside Arts Centre, Sale :: V0383692381 listing details L1590873722 |
| 11 Sep 99 to 25 Sep 99 | Pavilions, Plymouth :: V896 listing details L1777286986 |
