Arlene Phillips will direct an outdoor concert version of classic rock musical Hair next month as part of the Turbine Theatre’s special festival of live entertainment presented on a safe and socially distanced jetty next to Battersea Power Station.
Starring Matt Croke (Aladdin, Funny Girl), Danielle Fiamanya (The Color Purple, & Juliet), Jordan Luke Gage (Bat Out of Hell, & Juliet), Grace Mouat (Six, & Juliet), Millie O’Connell (Six, Be More Chill), Jodie Steele (Heathers, Six), Layton Williams (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Rent) and Blake Patrick Anderson (Be More Chill), Hair – An Outdoor Concert will play The Turbine On The Jetty festival from 4-6 September 2020.
Announcing the event which will be presented by the Turbine Theatre in Association with Battersea Power Station Development, The Turbine Theatre’s Paul Taylor-Mills said: “I’m always impressed by my artists’ ability to make work happen in what has always been a difficult industry to work in. The surprises of 2020 have made this challenge even greater.
“The Turbine on the Jetty Season is only possible because of the patience, expertise and fearlessness of the incredible companies and artists that have worked with me over the last couple of weeks to get this off the ground. The project is a mammoth undertaking and to say I’m thrilled with the variety of work on offer is an understatement.
“Even against the odds The Turbine Theatre continues to programme classic work in a fresh way and support both seasoned artists and provide a platform for new voices. Please do come and support us. The arts need you more than ever, there is no other way of putting it.”
Commenting on her concert version of Hair, Phillips added: “I am thrilled to be directing this small but mighty open-air concert of Hair. Now more than ever we need music that lifts our spirits and feeds our souls to remind us that theatre is alive. I believe that a musical with a strong political message is important not just to give us hope, but to inspire a future generation.”
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC, Hair – An Outdoor Concert will feature musical direction by Katy Richardson, design by David Shields, lighting design by Andrew Exeter and sound design by Dan Samson.
The Turbine on the Jetty will launch with the West End production of Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain (26-29 August) followed by Vault Festival award-winning family show One Duck Down on 30 August. Former Jersey Boys cast members will celebrate The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (31 August) and solo show the Bard in the Yard will play an afternoon performance on 6 September.
Power ballads from the 1980s are on the song-list for rock and pop concert The Final Countdown on 8 September, Aesop’s Fables: The Harvest Festival will be the afternoon show on 9 September while the evening show will be Macbeth: Sleep No More.
Vivienne de Vil will celebrate the leading ladies of musical theatre in With One Look on 11 September. Double Trouble will present pirate panto Black Sails on the afternoon of 12 September with David Mynne’s one-man version of Great Expectations featuring in the evening slot.
The 13 September shows will be vintage vocal harmony trio The Femmes (2pm) and West End stars will be among those performing in the concert Roles We’ll Never Play. The touring Shakespeare company’s The Two Gentleman of Verona will play the festival on 13 September while vocalists from hit rock and pop-flavoured musicals including Bat Out of Hell and Rock of Ages will take to the stage for West End Rocks! Feat. Vocal Extreme on 16 September.
The Olivier Award-winning Showstopper! The Improvised Musical will play the evening performance on17 September, popular musical theatre-vocal group The Barricade Boys will step into the spotlight on 18 September while a concert version of new show Catfish The Musical will be the festival’s final offering on 19 September.
Presented by Bill Kenwright and founded and led by Taylor-Mills, The Turbine Theatre is an intimate theatre space under the Grosvenor Bridge railway arches at Circus West Village, that will be the first chapter in the regeneration of the iconic Battersea Power Station.
The venue’s inaugural season opened in August 2019 with a hit production of Harvey Fierstein’s classic Torch Song Trilogy followed by the UK premiere of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity and the venue’s first family show, The Cat In The Hat.
Angela Thomas
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