Merrily We Sing Along – Ellie Nunn and Alastair Brookshaw join a Sondheim singalong at Upstairs at the Gatehouse

To mark what would have been Stephen Sondheim’s 93rd birthday this month, the Stephen Sondheim Society will be hosting a celebratory Sondheim singalong at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London’s Highgate Village on 26 March 2023.

Leading the singing in Merrily We Sing Along will be Ellie Nunn (Honk!, Desperate Measures, Shakespeare in Love), with Alistair Brookshaw (Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Chicago) and an ensemble drawn from finalists in last year’s Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition: Caitlyn Allen, Joe Boyle, Ed Cooke, Cassius Hackforth, Callum Martin and Jade Oswald.

“This is a chance to raise your voice along with ours in a fun, joyful celebration of Steve’s music,” says the Sondheim Society chair, Craig Glenday. “We were inspired by the annual “Sondheimas” events in New York – the musical-theatre equivalent of Christmas! – so what better way to celebrate this, and Steve’s incredible legacy, than with a rousing singalong to the likes of ‘Losing My Mind’, ‘Being Alive’ and, of course, Steve’s epic ‘Sunday’? We might even have a bash at ‘Getting Married Today’ – heaven help us!”

The Sondheim Society is a charitable trust, founded with the composer-lyricist’s blessing, which seeks to encourage up and coming young performers to include a Sondheim number or two in their repertoire. The jewel in their crown is the annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition, aka SSSSPOTY, which this year will have its 15th anniversary gala at the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue on 11 June 2023.

Picture: Ian Bowkett

Directing the singalong will be Andy Room, with Ellie Nunn on hosting duties to keep everyone on track. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not the best singer, or even tone deaf like me,” continues Glenday. “It’s about having a fun night out. And don’t worry: we’ll have the lyrics projected in large type… and that amazing ensemble of SSSSPOTY finalists will fill out the harmonies and surely make us all sound superb!”

The singalong will be held at Upstairs at the Gatehouse on Sunday 26 March at 5pm (doors open at 4.30 pm). Budding Broadway Babies, Beautiful Girls and Boys From… can book here for just £20.

ELLIE NUNN makes a welcome return to Upstairs at the Gatehouse, having previously guested there for the Stephen Sondheim Society’s cabaret Alex Young & Friends.

Theatre includes The Game of Love and Chance (Arcola Outside), Posh (UK tour), The Daughter in Law (Arcola Theatre), Soldier On (UK tour, The Other Palace), Honk! (UK tour, Union Theatre), Shakespeare in Love (Noël Coward Theatre), Twelfth Night (Leicester Square Theatre), Gatsby (Arts Theatre), Desperate Measures and Joanna Murray Smith’s one-woman show Bombshells (Jermyn Street Theatre).

Film includes Chubby Funny, The Brief History and Untimely Death of George III: Guinea Pig and Cracks. When no one will employ her, Nunn writes and performs an entirely self indulgent series of concerts called Ellie Nunn Sings Songs at People, and recently presented Ellie Nunn Sings Sondheim at People at the Crazy Coqs. Nunn is soon to appear as guest regular Rachelle Thomas in Doctors for BBC and has recently completed filming on Valentine’s Day feature film Presence of Love.