It’s Theatre National, a company ruled and run by Andrew Lloyd McIntosher, but it’s the manager Robin (a fantastic Daniel Page) who’s in charge of the ushers. And of course the ushers have bigger dreams than flogging programs, ice creams and bikinis (it’s the Love Island show (!!)) – they all want to be on stage (and preferably not on a touring production)! Gary (Cleve September) is off to Austria (not Australia!) to perform, while his boyfriend Ben (Luke Bauer) is not a happy camper working at that theatre.
Then there’s straight Irish boy Stephen (Christopher Foley) who has been on tours for various shows but has bigger dreams; meanwhile Rosie (Bethany Amber Perins) is snappy happy with her lot and her insider theatre Instagram posts, while new employee Lucy (Danielle Rose) is more than just a pretty girl with a dream, and Stephen is smitten with her. It’s all behind the scenes drama, with hilarious songs and lots of take offs on the names of current shows (Mamma Mia 7) that gives us a sneak peek at the drama in the lives of the hardworking ushers we all take for granted. ‘Ushers the front of house musical’ is laugh out loud funny, and they won’t even tell you off for laughing out loud, but don’t arrive late or you’ll become part of the show!
With music by Yiannis Koutsakis and lyrics by James Oban and Koutsakis, and book and additional lyrics by James Rottger, this is a show you won’t want to miss. Ends May 19th.
theotherpalace.co.uk/ushers-musical/