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Life at The Little Theatre column: Come and see our visiting musical

Read the latest updates from Southport's Little Theatre.

Zainab Noor

InYourArea Community, Zainab Noor

— 2 min read
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Life at The Little Theatre column: Come and see our visiting musical

The cast of Kipps, The New Half a Sixpence Musical (picture: Alan Martin photography)

By Jennifer Corcoran and Andrew Sloman


Last weekend saw the opening of what we fondly call sublet season at the Little Theatre. Each summer we have a run of musicals from visiting societies.

First up is BOS MTC with ‘Kipps, The New Half a Sixpence Musical’.

The 2016 revival of the classic musical boasts additional songs as well as firm favourites and coaxes more out of the cast of characters than the original. Artistic director Steve Chesters and musical director Corey Gerrard have worked with dance captains Lucie Colman and Nicola Powell and the result is a delightful show.

We first meet Arthur Kipps as he shares a sixpence with childhood friend Ann before going off with his banjo to make his way in the world. He ends up working as an apprentice at Shalford’s Bazaar, a drapers. The other apprentices are Ann’s socialist brother Sid, perennially peckish Buggins and optimistic young Pierce. Rounding out the staff are the sweet trio of Flo, Kate and Victoria.

This group work beautifully together with strong performances, great diction and a real camaraderie.

Arthur is invited to attend an evening class run by Helen Walsingham, a well spoken young woman who has caught his eye as a customer, but he feels she is too far above him.

Afterwards he has a chance encounter with the gloriously theatrical Chitterlow, which leads to the discovery that he has been left money.

With this turn of fortune, could Arthur be in Helen’s world? And if so, should he? He is clearly more at home in the Hope and Anchor than The Grand Hotel but he isn’t the only one pretending. Mrs Walsingham and her son James certainly feel they are owed the benefits of Arthur’s affluence.

The cast of Kipps, The New Half a Sixpence Musical (picture: Alan Martin photography)

Why not buy a ticket and come and see what happens for yourself. The show boasts copious costumes, clever choreography and clear characterisation from the creative company.

Kipps continues to run until Saturday, May 28 with performances at 7.30pm each night and a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday, May 28.

For news and competitions from BOS, please visit their Facebook and Instagram. You can also learn more about their plans for their autumn show and revisit past triumphs at their website.  For tickets visit Ticketsource.

For more information about the SDC please visit our website. For updates, pictures, trivia and competitions follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

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