Backbeat - Duke of York's

Review Summary

Average Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 2 review(s)



Latest Review: "I was privileged to attend the opening night of 'Backbeat'. This was the most enjoyable two hours..."

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The West End is one of the best places in the world to catch some outstanding jukebox musicals. After all, this is the home of high profile hits like “Mamma Mia!” and “We Will Rock You”, which take original stories and amplify the proceedings with the songs of ABBA and Queen respectively. Then there’s “Jersey Boys” which tells the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with a musical accompaniment. Now a brand new musical is set to arrive in town and one that has something in common with the latter – it is a true story associated with the Beatles and goes by the name “Backbeat”.

“Backbeat” is set to provide plenty of entertainment at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 2011, a venue that has also been the home of “Ghost Stories” and “Journey’s End” during the course of the year, and it does so under the direction of David Leveauz. The show is based upon the movie of the same name which hit cinema screens in 1994 under the direction of Iain Softley and he has worked alongside Stephen Jeffreys to put this stage version together. The show has already been seen in Glasgow, where it premiered at the Citizen’s Theatre in 2010, and should find enough West End success to stand up alongside the likes of “Thriller Live” and beyond.

Though the show will not feature music from the Beatles, it will feature some classic rock ‘n’ roll songs from decades gone by (including Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally”, which was later covered by the Beatles). So expect hits from the likes of the Isley Brothers and beyond as the story covers the relationship between Stuart Sutcliffe (the original bass player of The Beatles), his girlfriend Astrid Kirchherr and John Lennon.

Director David Leveaux has enjoyed a successful career as a theatre director on these shores and is well known for various work in the West End and on other stages in the capital. He has directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre and 2009’s production of “Arcadia” at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

“Backbeat” is due to arrive in the West End for previews in September, with an official run from Monday 10th October 2011 to Saturday 24th March 2012.