Cast

Synopsis

Stephen Sondheim’s ground-breaking musical comedy, is a mature, intelligent, and deliberately ambiguous look at relationships, identity and vulnerability.

Set amid the gleaming chrome towers and skyscrapers of Manhattan, we follow bachelor Bobby contemplating his present and future life as he celebrates his 35th birthday.

Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Bobby is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

As he blows out the candles on his birthday cake, his friends make a wish for him: he ought to be happily married – just like them. But in the incessant buzz of his New York lifestyle, Bobby has found his own happiness – good times with friends, no strings, just ‘Company’.

The show features arguably Sondheim’s most accessible and diverse score containing many of his best known songs, including ‘Another Hundred People’, ‘You Could Drive a Person Crazy’, ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’ and ‘Being Alive’. The original Broadway production in 1970 was nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards, winning six including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book. It has also won 7 Olivier Awards in London.

Today, many say it is their favourite show and more than fifty years on from its ground-breaking debut, Company remains fresh, acerbic and original.

Directors Notes

Welcome to our production of ‘Company’. When it was first performed over fifty years ago, its unprecedented plotless structure was hailed as ground breaking.

At the heart of the story is Bobby who, on his 35th birthday, contemplates his past, present and future life. Sondheim described the musical as “the story of what happens inside Robert”.

The idea of recreating a story told by one person’s memories, imagination and fantasies was instantly appealing to me and I have tried to work that into and around a series of wonderfully insightful scenes between Bobby and his friends.

Whilst enjoying the freedom of bachelorhood, Bobby is forced to confront his fear of emotional intimacy and reluctance to give up personal identity in a relationship. Although many of the societal and cultural assumptions of the 1970s would now be challenged, the script is deliberately ambiguous and purposely thought provoking; it refuses to answer the questions it raises about relationships and marriage.

‘Company’ features some of Sondheim’s most iconic songs, including “Side by Side, The Ladies Who Lunch’, ‘You Could Drive a Person Crazy’, ‘Getting Married Today’ and ‘Being Alive’.

This is the first time I have directed a musical and I have been incredibly fortunate to work with lan Sapiro as musical director and Julie Boldy as choreographer and movement director. Both have a wealth of experience in their respective fields and they have shared that generously with me, whilst helping to guide me through a completely new genre. We have all been supported by a backstage team, without whom, the production could not take place.

As for the cast, well you can see for yourself! I am extremely grateful for their commitment and hard work and completely in awe of what they have achieved.