Dave Willetts, Paul Ayres and Clyde Melville-Bain in Love Beyond at the SSE Arena, Wembley. Picture: Simon Jay Price
Love Beyond was performed at the SSE Arena, Wembley, London.
Love Beyond is an overview of the whole Bible, focusing on the themes of love, doubt and faith, throughout the New and Old Testament, connecting the Biblical stories with our modern day human experience.
Writer and producer Richard Haley says that he had the idea for the show 15 years ago while he was watching his son perform in a choir concert. He said he “felt God drop a picture of a big, elaborate world-class production that told his love story into my mind”. With the help of co-writer and director Tabitha Webb, who previously played Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Haley’s dream of his musical appearing at Wembley has become a reality. But this has not been easy; it was rejected by most of the venues they contacted at the planning stages.
The show has a large, talented cast. Unsurprisingly the three most notable members of the line-up are Dave Willetts (Father God), Paul Ayres (Jesus) and Clyde Melville-Bain (Holy Spirit). These three actors take centrestage and each brings their separate talents to the roles. Willetts’ operatic past shines through, as does Melville-Bain’s history in contemporary dance.
Other actors of note include Holly-Anna Lloyd as Mary Mother and J Marie Cooper as Mary Magdalene, who both give tear-jerking performances
The evening uses a wide range of effects, including a blinding light show, and there is an eclectic mix of musical styles, including some catchy tunes.
The show is a revelation that gets clearer as the story progresses. At first the characters, scenes and symbolism can be difficult to understand, but the threads of the story, although they seem disconnected and confusing at first, are woven together at the end.
Love Beyond has run for just two nights at Wembley Arena, but Haley says that that he has already began “plotting the next chess move” and wishes to take it beyond, “to the venues that have turned it down the first time”.
Andy Wilkin
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