Theatre
13 - 17 March 2012
Reasons to be Cheerful
Part gig, part play, this critically acclaimed, award-nominated smash hit musical raised the roof when first staged in 2010, with its red-hot live band and jaw-dropping energy, and left audiences shouting for more.
It’s 1979: Labour loses to the Tories, strikes rock the nation and Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3) climbs the charts. As the ultimate fans, Vinnie and his mates would do anything to see Dury at the Hammersmith Odeon, only the gig is sold out. But life has a habit of throwing strange things at you, and one night of frustration becomes something else entirely...
Watch the audience's reactions here
This gritty coming of age tale directed by Graeae’s Jenny Sealey, the Joint Artistic Director of the 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony, and featuring Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ greatest hits such as ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll’,‘Sweet Gene Vincent’, ‘Spasticus Autisticus’ and ‘Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick’, will pack the Palace with raucous glee.
Original production co-produced by Graeae, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich,and Theatre Royal Stratford East.
All performances include captioned dialogue, BSL interpreted songs and audio description.
Suitable for ages +14
WEEKDAY EVENINGS AND MATI NEES:
£20, £17.50, £11.50 (concessions: £4 off)
Senior Citizens: half price on matinees
SAT EVE: £22.50, £19.50, £15, £12 Concessions: £2 off (excludes Premium)
PREMIUM SEATS: £33 (Sat eve only)
Enjoy the best seats in the house, a complimentary programme and a drink in our Premium guest area. (Seat-only also available for £28)
Suitable for ages +14
All performances include captioned dialogue, BSL interpreted songs and audio description:
- For best access to the captioning screen, Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons are advised NOT to book seats in the first five rows of stalls seating. Please book stalls tickets in Row F or further, or any seats in the dress and upper circles.
- Patrons wishing to access the audio description are encouraged to arrive at the theatre 30mins ahead of the start time to pick up headsets, explore the set model box and listen to the audio introduction before the performance.
Writer
Paul Sirett
Director
Jenny Sealey
Musical Director
Robert Hyman
Designer
Gaelle Mellis
Lighting Designer
Ian Scott
Choreographer
Mark Smith
Sound Designer
Lewis Gibson
Video Designer
Mark Haig
‘The stage gives off a million volts’
The Guardian
‘Paul Sirett’s script snaps, snarls, laughs and leers, just like Dury’s music.’
The Stage
‘The music is brilliant… there are moments of crude punk genius’
The Times
‘In a glorious celebration of life and music, it would be the coldest of hearts that didn’t find a huge Reason To Be Cheerful after seeing this exuberant show.’
Public Review
‘The energy that rockets off the stage is simply breathtaking’
East Anglian Daily Times
FREE POST-SHOW Q&A: Wed 14 Mar
All performances of Reasons To Be Cheerful include captioned dialogue, BSL-interpreted songs and audio description.
Programmes provided in standard print, large print, and Braille.
Tactile model of set. A scale model of the RTBC set, including furniture and musical instruments, available as a guide for blind and visually impaired audience members to gain a sense of the spatial orientation of the set design in advance of the performance. Also available are swatch boards, providing tactile examples of various fabrics used in the set and costume design.
Audio headsets for listening to the Audio Description incorporated into the performance. These are available to be picked up by patrons at the access table in advance of the performance and must be returned afterwards.
Audio introduction Describing characters, design elements and a brief synopsis of the play, this introduction is delivered through the Audio Description headsets ten minutes before the curtain goes up. Audience members using the AD are advised to take their seats 15 minutes early. This intro is also available as a download so patrons may listen in advance.
BSL synopsis A synopsis of the performance delivered in BSL on video, available at the venue and through the website.
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