Thursday 23 October to Saturday 8 November
Press Night: Friday 24 October at 7.00pm
An exuberant and poignant musical comedy exploring the antics of the Combined Services Entertainment Corps (CSE) in Singapore, Peter Nichols’ Privates On Parade sets up its flamboyantly camp barracks at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 23 October - 8 November.
Set in 1948 and based on Nichols’ own remarkable experiences in the Entertainment Corps, Privates On Parade is a truthful and affectionate account of those men who were sent to entertain troops fighting against communism during the often forgotten Malayan Emergency. Serving alongside Nichols were Kenneth Williams and Stanley Baxter, men who would go on to help shape the face of British Comedy.
As the newest recruit of the Song and Dance Unit South East Asia (SADUSEA), a young, and rather naïve, Private Steven Flowers finds himself in the heady and humid atmosphere of the Malaysian jungle, armed only with a kit bag containing grease paint, eye shadow and fishnet tights. Under the watchful, ‘well made up’ eye of the delightfully outrageous Captain Terri Dennis, Private Flowers begins to master the finer points of cabaret as well as the more complex nature of falling in love, which he is forced to confront when he meets the beautiful Sylvia. Inadvertently drawn into the dubious activities of the intimidating Sergeant Major Reg Drummond and taken under the wing of the quintessentially British Major Flack, the young private finds himself at the centre of the uncontrollable worlds of war and theatre. Combined with the rouge, lipstick, bawdy humour and delightfully camp song and dance numbers, Privates On Parade explores the disorder of war and the tender intimacy of relationships developed during such uncertain times.
Peter Nichols is one of the finest post war British playwrights. Privates On Parade originally opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre in 1977, subsequently transferring to the Piccadilly Theatre. It was revived at the Donmar Warehouse in 2001. His play Born In The Gardens has recently been revived at the Theatre Royal Bath. Nichols’ other plays include Passion Play and A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg.
This major revival of Privates On Parade is directed by Ian Brown, artistic director of West Yorkshire Playhouse and will be performed by a highly skilled cast of 11 actor-musicians. This will be the first time Nichols’ quick-witted musical comedy has been performed this way. Arranging and Directing Denis King’s original music is the Tony Award-winning Sarah Travis who, alongside Ian and the gifted actor-musicians, will help recreate the atmosphere of wartime cabaret.
Leading the actor-musician cast is David Ricardo-Pearce as Private Steven Flowers; his recent work has included Saint Joan (National Theatre), De Montford (Orange Tree) and Inglorious Technicolour (Stephen Joseph Theatre). Playing cabaret star Captain Terri Dennis is Joseph Alessi who returns to the Playhouse following his roles in The Postman Always Rings Twice (also West End) and Jerusalem. His other credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Novello Theatre), Tartuffe (Liverpool Playhouse) and The Play What I Wrote (No. 1 National Tour).
In commanding roles are Alan McMahon as Major Giles Flack and Jeffrey Harmer as Sergeant Major Reg Drummond. Alan’s credits include The Pirates Of Penzance (The Orange Tree) and Mirandolina (Royal Exchange). Jeffrey’s credits include Donkey’s Years (Vienna’s English Theatre) and The Hot Mikado (The Watermill Theatre). The rest of the cast comprises Jared Ashe, Joe Fredericks, Maria Lawson, Johnny Ong, Thomas Padden, Peter Peralta and Matthew Woodyatt.
The show is designed by Mark Bailey, with lighting by Jeanine Davies, choreography by Sam Spencer-Lane, sound design by Gary Dixon and Audio Visual design by Mic Pool.
Listings Information
Privates On Parade
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP
Thu 23 October - Sat 8 November
Performance Times: 7.30pm Mon - Sat, apart from Fri 24 Oct at 7.00pm
Matinees at 2.00pm on Sat 1 and Thu 6 Nov
After Dark - free post-show discussion with the company: Thu 30 Oct
Spotlight - free pre-show talk with a member of the creative team: Wed 5 Nov
Audio Description and Touch Tour: Thu 6 Nov at 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted Performance: Wed 5 Nov at 7.30pm with Mary Connell
Captioned Performance: Sat 8 Nov at 7.30pm
+ Permalink