From the first notes to the final breath, West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals of all time. Brought to the stage by the Award Winning TAODS and packed with unforgettable songs including Maria, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty, West Side Story has been described as “a masterpiece of musical theatre”

The world's greatest love story takes to the streets as two young, idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.

With a live show orchestra bringing the score by Leonard Bernstein vividly to life this is a production not to be missed…

We are pleased to announce the full cast for next year's Adult Section Musical which will be West Side Story. It's great to see a mix of returning regulars and some new faces to the Hippodrome:

Tony - Chris Stott

Maria - Jade Schofield

Action - Joe Marsden

Riff - Martin Cook

Bernardo - Joel Brown

Anita - Alex Townend

Anybodys - Megan Jefferson

Officer Krupke - Edward Munday

Detective Schrank - Craig Baillie

Doc - Mark Tunstall

Glad Hand - Sam Garforth

Rosalia - Rachel Rogers

Chino - Hamish Heald

Baby John - Jack Noble

Jet Boys - Steve Hooper, Andy Thomas, Jacob Rolfe

Shark Boys - Andrew Davidson, Gina Foster

Ensemble -

Otti Gauvain, Karen Shepherd, Emma Brown, Mirren Sunderland, Mollie Haigh, Suzannah Haigh, AmeliaGregory, Laura Hynes, Chloe McNeill, Vic Brown, Lisa Parker, Paige Fletcher, Lucy Marshall, Melissa Barker, Corey Beardsmore, Abigayle Rogers, Angela Mayall, Francesca Hardman- Saiao, Isabelle Craven, Hannah Sutcliffe and Cath Hullett

WEST SIDE STORY

West Side Story is the most famous American musical of all time, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, but transposed to the gritty streets of New York City's Upper West Side nieghbourhood in the mid 1950s where ethnic gangs warred over territory (in the early 1960s, much of the neighborhood was cleared in an urban renewal project for Lincoln Center, which changed the neighborhood's character).

The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The members of the Sharks, from Puerto Rico, are taunted by the Jets, a white gang. The young protagonist, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang's leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre. Bernstein's score for the musical includes "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America", "Somewhere", "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "A Boy Like That", "One Hand, One Heart", "Gee, Officer Krupke", and "Cool".

A West Side Rumble about to start in Rehearsals