Reviewed by Katie Allen
Whilst I’m aware of the classic 80s movie, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it beyond the, often imitated, iconic scenes, so I was keen to watch the musical with fresh eyes. As a Strictly Come Dancing fan I was also especially interested that Joanne Clifton was playing the lead role of Alex.
Alex has two jobs to make ends meet in 1980s Pittsburgh. She’s a pipe welder by day and dancer by night. She longs to attend the local dance school, but the audition process is competitive and with no training she doubts her ability to get in. What follows is her struggle to overcome her insecurities and “leap” into the formal dance world. Her best friend, Gloria, also a dancer but not so naturally talented, takes a job at a rival, seedy, dance club as it promises more money and a chance to be “discovered” by someone from MTV. Unfortunately, this doesn’t turn out to be quite such the glamorous role she was promised.
I enjoyed the dance numbers of this show a great deal. Joanne Clifton, as you would expect from a World Champion, is mesmerising and she steals every dance scene there is. The ensemble is also incredibly talented – filling the stage with colour and movement.
I thought Ben Adams, as Nick Hurley (Alex’s boss and boyfriend), had great stage presence and I enjoyed his singing voice. It’s possibly even better than it was in his boyband days.
I must single out Hollie-Ann Lowe’s performance, as Gloria. I found her story to be very moving and I was disappointed that there wasn’t more depth and time given to her relationship with her comedian boyfriend Jimmy, played by Colin Kiyani.
I found the show to be quite frenetic, moving from dance number to dance number without a huge amount of time taken to the storytelling. I think there were some sound and lighting issues too which made some lyrics hard to make out and at more than a few times a number of the audience being dazzled. I enjoyed hearing the well-known songs from the film: What a Feeling, Maniac, Gloria and I Love Rock and Roll.
This was my first visit to the New Victoria Theatre in Woking and I loved it! I’m more used to the older style theatre with small seats and no legroom but my 6ft 2 husband was pleasantly surprised that his knees had some clearance from the seats in front. The theatre itself is within a shopping centre and next to a cinema giving a great atmosphere as you walk in to the box office. There are bars on many levels and the middle level had a piano player which added a sophisticated ambiance reminding me of a cruise ship. The facilities were spacious and modern as you would expect from a theatre built less than 30 years ago.
We parked in the Peacock’s shopping centre Multi Storey next door. There’s a flat fee of £1.40 after 7pm. I did also notice that the railway station is only a 5-minute walk away.
Rating: 3/5
Tickets cost from £20.40 to £53.90 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Flashdance is at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking from 19-24 February 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/new-victoria-theatre or call the box office on 0844 871 7645.
New Victoria Theatre, The Ambassadors, Peacocks Centre, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6GQ
