25 November – 3 January
The Ustinov Studio’s Christmas production opening today is one of the most famous modern Broadway musicals.
The Last Five Years is a funny and heartfelt observation of a rollercoaster romance between a young writer and an aspiring actress.
The musical opened earlier this autumn at Reading Rep Theatre before moving onto the Barn Theatre, Cirencester and you can read StageTalk’s review of The Last Five Years when staged at the Barn Theatre here:
https://stagetalkmagazine.com/p/37604
“Energetic and whole-hearted performances give shape and feeling to this unusual musical”
Follow writer Jamie and actress Cathy on their five-year journey from blossoming romance and first dates, through their wedding day, and as their lives begin to move in different directions. Jamie’s side of the story starts at the beginning of their relationship, a time filled with the fizz of new romance and continues chronologically, while Cathy’s retelling begins at the end, poignantly reflecting on a lost love and moving back to the excitement of early dates and a shared future, their timelines crossing on their wedding day.
One of the most acclaimed composers of his generation, Jason Robert Brown’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece reflects the experiences of all who have shared lives, romances, holidays and break-ups together. His other Tony Award winning works include Parade and The Bridges of Madison County, and the acclaimed productions Songs for a New World, 13, Mr. Saturday Night and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Martha Kirby plays Cathy. Her recent credits include Eva Peron in Evita at Leicester’s Curve theatre, Raven in the UK tour of Bat Out Of Hell, Bella Cohen in Rags and Sandy in the UK tour of Grease.
Jamie is played by Guy Woolf, whose recent stage credits include a Broadway World award nomination for his appearance in The Cher Show, As You Like It at the Globe Theatre and Yankl and the Beanstalk at the Pleasance Theatre.
The Last Five Years is directed by Hal Chambers (Yippee Ki Yay with Seabright Productions, As We Face The Sun at Rose Bruford College, The Holly King and The Oak King at Battersea Arts Centre) with set and costume design by Ethan Cheek (This is My Family at Southwark Playhouse, The Woman is White at Electric Theatre, Twelfth Night with the National Youth Theatre), lighting design by Jonathan Chan (Sinbad the Sailor at Sadlers Wells, Get Happy at Omnibus Theatre, Volpane at Central School of Speech and Drama), choreographer and movement director will be Georgina Lamb (Great British Bake Off: The Musical on the West End, Much Ado About Nothing at The Globe, Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse), music direction from Ellie Verkerk (School for Scandal with Royal Shakespeare Company, Starter For Ten at Bristol Old Vic, Oh What A Lovely War at Blackeyed Theatre) and Harry Blumenau on casting direction.
The Ustinov Studio at Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Thursday 25 November – Saturday 3 January
Evenings 7:30pm
Matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays 2.30pm
Photography credit: Alex Tabrizi
