Theatre

Standing At The Sky’s Edge At Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Review

TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.

Reviewed by Louise Edwards

Standing at the Sky’s Edge, written by Chris Bush and with music and lyrics by the legendary Richard Hawley (both are Sheffield-born) makes a return visit to the Sheffield Crucible this month and through January before moving to the National Theatre in London until the end of March. The production is directed by artistic director Robert Hastie, designed by Ben Stones and choreographed by Lynne Page.

It premiered first at the Crucible in 2019 and has since won Best Musical Production at the UK Theatre Awards 2019 and the 2020 South Bank Sky Arts Award for theatre. I was lucky enough to see this show the first time around and it has only gone from strength to strength in the intervening years.

The Crucible Theatre is an iconic building, possibly most famous for hosting the World Snooker Championships but perfect for theatre of any kind as the audience sits on three sides of the stage and no one is more than 20 metres from the performer.

The stage is set up to show the backdrop of Park Hill flats, which in reality tower over the city centre and are often the first thing you see as you arrive in Sheffield from the motorway and the inside of one of these flats – kitchen and living room. From the ceiling drops down the dates and we are introduced to the characters who live in this particular flat from the 1960s when first built providing new accommodation in a purpose-built community; to the 1980s when the flats were rented to immigrants fleeing terror in their own countries through to the present day, when the flats have been regenerated and made again a desirable place to live.

Rose and Harry (played respectively by the incredible Rachel Wooding and Robert Lonsdale) are a young couple in the 1960s filled with hope and optimism for the future. A young Liberian girl Joy, played by the magnificent Faith Omole, finds herself living in the flat in the 1980s with her cousins, Grace and George (played by Deborah Tracey and Baker Mukasa) leaving her parents behind for a life unknown. Then In the present day we meet Connie, played by Bobbie Little, who is an estate agent showing around Poppy (played by Alex Young), moving from London to escape her old life.

Cleverly each story interlinks as time passes and events in the political world reflect the times the characters are growing up in. Without spoiling the events that happen, characters from one time link up with characters in the next as fate has a habit of working.

There are some powerful and moving scenes interspersed with fantastic singing, acting and dance to make the whole production a visual and emotional spectacular.Maimuma Memon, who plays Nikki, singing “Open Up your Door” is goosebump-inducing and spine-tingling!

The incredible live orchestra are located above the stage on a balcony which also sees the drama unfold and every bit of the stage is used to really create the atmosphere and feeling of Park Hill flats throughout history.

There is hardly a dry eye in the theatre by the end! Absolutely quality theatre which tells a story that many cities across the country can relate to. Don’t miss it to brighten up your January blues!

Running time is 2 hours and 40 minutes including a 20 minute interval. The Theatre has a bar serving snacks and there are plenty of eating establishments a short walk from the theatre in the city centre.
Tickets cost from £15.00

Rating: 5/5 (really deserves 6!)

Standing at the Sky’s Edgel is on at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until Saturday 21 January 2023
For more information or to book tickets visit https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/standing-at-the-skys-edge-2 or call the box office on 0114 249 6000

Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA

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