The Big Life
Book & lyrics by PAUL SIRETT
Music by PAUL JOSEPH
Director Clint Dyer; Décor Jenny Tiramani; Lighting Gerry Jenkinson; Sound Gareth Owen; Choreography Jason Penycooke; Musical Director Robert Hyman / Delroy Murray
THEATRE ROYAL STRATFORD EAST
22 April - 22 May 2004. Revived 4 February, 2005 : Transferred to Apollo
Theatre, London 23 May, 2005
Synopsis
The Big Life is a feel-good ska musical which transports the plot of Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost to 1950s London.
On the Windrush over from the Caribbean to England, a pact is made by a group of men not to get involved with women for three years while they work to better themselves: but Cupid has another plan. The Big Life roams through almost every conceivable emotion during its toe-tapping tale of Caribbean migrants striving for a better life in London.
Original Cast:
Geoff Aymer - Reverend
Lorna Brown - Mary
Claudia Cadette - Kathy
Tameka Empson - Mrs Aphrodite
Maureen Hibbert - Zulieka
Amanda Horlock - Jacqueline/Secretary
Jason Pennycooke - Admiral/Eros
Marcus Powell - Dennis
Neil Reidman - Bernie
Victor Romero-Evans - Ferdy
Chris Tummings - Lennie
Yaa - Sybil