Eastbourne has built up a tradition of staging top class musicals and this week they have one one of the best. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Musical Our House won the hearts of London's West End as soon as it opened.
Written by Calendar Girls Tim Firth and Directed by Lord of the Rings Matthew Warchus this is an exuberant musical with a young, exciting cast and superb choreography by Billy Elliot's Peter Darling. The music and Lyrics are by Madness and the show i
ncludes more than 15 of their hits.
The two young leads Joe Casey and his girlfriend Sarah are played superbly by Chris Carswell and Miria Parvin. Playing Joe's parents are the original X Factor winner Steve Brookstein and Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra from Only Fools and Horses).
I did find the story very confusing to follow as it switched from fact to fantasy and back again but I managed to gather it followed Joe's life from the age of 16 when he was in love for the very first time.
But the story really did not matter as the show stands up on its own and it is just a joy to watch the West End experience in Eastbourne. If you can't follow it just sit back and enjoy the sheer entertainment. This is an evening of Madness it would be a shame to miss.
Amanda WilkinsOur House. Congress Theatre, Eastbourne.
6-11 October
The full article contains 243 words and appears in Sussex Express Series newspaper.
