Reasons to be Cheerful

Details

It's 1979. Ian Dury and the Blockheads' new single Reasons to be Cheerful (part 3) is climbing the charts. Labour has just lost the recent election to the Tories. Vinnie and his mates are big Ian Dury fans and they are desperate to see him at the Hammersmith Odeon but the gig is sold out. Vinnie will do anything to get tickets, but life is complicated. His dad is dying; the girl he loves is going out with his boss at the supermarket, and his own band never stops fighting. But the opportunity to get tickets for the gig arises and events take a surprising turn. Set during a time of political change and economic hardship, Dury's songs provide a powerful political and emotional backdrop to this coming-of-age tale. All performances include captioned dialogue, BSL-interpreted songs and audio description.

Cast/Performers

Stephen Lloyd (Vinnie), Stephen Collins (Colin), Beth Hinton-Lever (Janine), Gerard McDermott (Bill / Bobby), Karen Spicer (Pat), Jude Mahon (Debbie), Wayne Norman (Pickles), Joey Hickman (Cousin Joey), John Kelly (Lead Vocals), Nixon Rosembert (Bass), Paula Stanbridge-Faircloth (Drums), Max Runham (percussion), Louis Schultz-Wiremu (saxophone), Paul Sirett (guitar)

Creatives/Company

Book by: Paul Sirett
Music: Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Producer: Graeae Theatre Company (in association with the Belgrade Theatre Coventry)
Director(s): Jenny Sealey, Daryl Beeton (associate director), Sarah Hughes (CDG casting director)
Design: Liz Ascroft
Lighting: Ian Scott
Sound: Lewis Gibson
Choreographer: Mark Smith
Musical Director: Joey Hickman