Mike James’ Jackie the Musical, running at the Gardyne Theatre, Dundee, from 19 September–5 October, revisits those heady days of 40 years ago, when there were no mobile phones, apps, texting, e-mails and Twitter and one of the only ways angst-ridden teenage girls had an outlet was through the pages of Jackie Magazine, which every Thursday morning they read with bated breath.
Jackie the Musical tells the story of a recent divorcée who seeks advice once more from the pages of her old Jackie magazines on ‘how to get a boyfriend’. The quizzes, fashion tips, the ‘do’s and don’ts on a first date’ and above all the ‘Cathy and Claire’ problem pages are all devoured eagerly by the fifty-something heroine as she re-engages with the dizzy world of romance. To recapture the spirit of those early years, her journey is accompanied by a soundtrack of hits from the seventies, played live onstage by actor/musicians, including tracks originally recorded by Donny Osmond, David Cassidy, Marc Bolan and more.
The cast features Karen Ascoe (Jackie), Lisa Lynch (Young Jackie), Rachel Stanley, Tim Bonser, Martin George, Kate Milner-Evans, Sean Kingsley, Alex Parry, Kieran Bailey, Paddy Start, Ellie Claire Unwin, Lacy Jordinson, Amanda Lane, Connie Jackson and Oliver Tester. West End credits include Footloose, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You.
Geinor Styles director alongside choreographer Maggie Rawlinson, musical director and arranger Ben Goddard, designer Anthony Lamble, Mark Jonathan (lighting) and Andy Collins (sound).
Jackie the Musical is the Gardyne Theatre’s first professionally produced full-scale musical and was originally worshopped in May 2013. The production is produced by Alan Dear for Gardyne Theatre Ltd in association with DC Thomson & Co. Ltd. Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson is hoping to make the best of its back catalogue (there are already Jackie greetings cards and T-shirts), especially as the magazine celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2014.
Comments are closed.