chess the musical uk tour

Chess - The Musical

Two of the world's greatest chess masters battle it out at the world chess championships but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman more...

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Past Events

Here are the most recent UK tour dates we had listed for Chess - The Musical. Were you there?

• 2022 Dec 01 Dec 03 2022 Woking, Rhoda McGaw Theatre Chess - The Musical
• 2017 Mar 30 Apr 01 2017 Edinburgh, Festival Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2012 Mar 13 Mar 17 2012 Leeds Grand Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2011 Apr 05 Apr 09 2011 Glasgow, Kings Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2011 Mar 29 Apr 02 2011 High Wycombe, Swan Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2011 Mar 15 Mar 19 2011 Torquay, Princess Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2011 Mar 08 Mar 12 2011 Woking, New Victoria Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2011 Mar 01 Mar 05 2011 The Bristol Hippodrome Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2011 Feb 22 Feb 26 2011 Belfast, Grand Opera House Chess - The Musical (Touring)
• 2010 Nov 09 Nov 13 2010 Bradford, Alhambra Theatre Chess - The Musical (Touring)

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London Coliseum

St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES

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Score Chess tickets for this all-star revival of the classic 80s smash-hit musical starring Michael Ball

After an absence of over 30 years, Olivier Award-nominated landmark musical Chess returns to the West End to play a limited 5-week season at the London Coliseum . Written by legendary lyricist Tim Rice and ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Chess is the iconic musical set against the backdrop of late 70s/early 80s Cold War.

First seen on a London stage in 1986 at the Prince Edward Theatre, Chess was originally directed by Trevor Nunn, and featured a starry cast with Elaine Paige, Murray Head, Tommy Köberg and Denis Quilley. The production earned three Olivier Award nominations, including Best Musical, and later transferred to Broadway in 1988.

Chess sees two grandmasters locked in a tournament of American-Soviet tensions and romantic rivalries. When two men step up to the board, one American and one Russian, they embark on a political struggle, until a Hungarian refugee enters the mix and sends the story into an emotional love triangle. As passions are heightened, politics become tenser, reaching an inevitable climax that threatens to destroy lives and loves.

With a phenomenal score including show-stoppers such as “I Know Him So Well”, “One Night in Bangkok”, “Heaven Help My Heart” and “Pity the Child”, Chess is the acclaimed musical from Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Evita) and ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.

Cast members include West End veteran and theatre legend Michael Ball (Hairspray, Les Miserables) as Anatoly Sergievsky, Alexandra Burke (Sister Act) as Svetlana Sergievsky, Cassidy Janson (Beautiful) as Florence Vassy, Cedric Neal (Motown the Musical) as The Arbiter, Tim Howar as Freddie Trumper and Phillip Browne as Molokov.

Directed by Laurence Connor (School of Rock, Miss Saigon), the revival features choreography by Stephen Mear (Gypsy, Top Hat) and is presented by Michael Linnit and Michael Grade in collaboration with the English National Opera. The musical will also feature the ENO Orchestra.

Chess plays limited performances at the London Coliseum from May 1st to June 2nd 2018, with previews beginning April 26th 2018.

Child Friendly

Chess may not be suitable for children.

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Chess - The Musical In Concert

FINAL CURTAIN CALL This show is no longer running.

With music by ABBA legends Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by the incomparable Sir Tim Rice, the iconic musical Chess returns to the West End for the first time since a limited run at the London Coliseum in 2018.

At the height of the Cold War, two chess masters meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship, but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Telling a story of love and political intrigue, and set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Chess features an incredible score including classics such as “ I Know Him So Well ” and “ One Night in Bangkok ”.

Starring Samantha Barks ( Frozen, Les Miserables ), Hadley Fraser ( City of Angels, Phantom Of The Opera ), Joel Harper-Jackson ( Cock, Kinky Boots ), Frances Mayli McCann ( Les Miserables, Evita ), Ako Mitchell ( Bonnie and Clyde, The Lion King ), and Craige Els ( Matilda, Coronation Street ) with the 50-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra accompanying, this concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is not to be missed. Book now!

EVENT INFORMATION

TICKETS Prices displayed include an online per ticket booking fee. All prices include a £1.70 restoration levy.

PERFORMANCES Mon 1 August – evening Tue 2 August – matinee and evening

Running time 2 hours with a 20 minute interval

GROUPS 4+ mini group rate available for matinee performance on Tuesday 2 August

BOOK GROUP RATE

Cast & Creative

CAST Florence – Samantha Barks  |  Anatoly – Hadley Fraser  |  Freddie – Joel Harper-Jackson

Svetlana – Frances Mayli McCann  |  The Arbiter – Ako Mitchell  |  Molokov – Craige Els

Joseph Craig  |  Darius J James  |  Aoife Kenny  |  Jessica Lee  |  Nick Len  |  Natasha May-Thomas  |  Alice Readie

Joshua Robinson |  Stuart Rouse  |  Phoebe Samuel-Gray  |  Grant Thresh  |  Libby Watts

Director & Choreographer – Nick Winston  |  Musical Director – Freddie Tapner

Lighting Designer – Ben Cracknell  |  Sound Designer – Tom Marshall  |  Video Projection Designer – Duncan McLean

Casting Director – Harry Blumenau  |  Associate Director & Choreographer – Alexzandra Sarmiento  |  Assistant Director & Choreographer – Tara Young

Production Manager – Pete Kramer  |  Company Stage Manager – Rachael Downey  |  Deputy Stage Manager – Bryony Relf

Assistant Musical Director – Honor Halford- MacLeod  |  Costume Supervisor – Stephen Frosdick

 Chrous Master – Dan Turek  |  Lighting Programmer – Chris Winn

Sound 1 – Adam Fisher  |  Sound 2 – Olly Smith  |  Production Sound Engineer – Josh Richardson

Drury Lane Summer Concerts

This summer, you are invited to three sensational musical concerts – accompanied by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra – at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane . With performances of ABBA’s iconic Chess , Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s uplifting Kinky Boots and the explosive new musical Treason , each concert will provide a star-led evening of captivating music performed at the legendary theatre.

Kinky Boots Mon 8 August 2022

Winner of six TONY awards and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2016, the hilarious and uplifting musical Kinky Boots returns to the West End for the first time in three years.

Treason Mon 22 August 2022

Carrie Hope Fletcher ( Cinderella, Heathers ), Bradley Jaden ( Les Miserables, Wicked ) and Simon-Anthony Rhoden ( Hamilton, Kinky Boots ) are amongst the incredible cast performing in this explosive new British Musical.

Our range of experiences are perfect for special occasions like birthdays, family celebrations, or a treat for yourself. Simply take a look through our extra-special offers, pick the experience that’s perfect for you, and we’ll take care of the rest.

The prices below do not include the price of the seat ticket. 

Reserve Your Table

• Reserved table in the bar, available from 1 hour before show time and during the interval
• Welcome drink, bar snacks and nibbles

Available to book with your tickets

Pre-show drink order includes 1 x 125ml glass of house wine, or alternatives to the same value per person. Alcohol can only be served to and consumed by persons aged 18 years and over. Please ask a member of staff for details about any food allergens. Please drink responsibly.

Book Lounge Access

• Reserved table in an exclusive lounge, available from 1 hour before show time and during the interval
• Welcome drinks, bar snacks and nibbles
• Complimentary cloakroom

Pre-show drinks order includes a half bottle of house Champagne or alternatives to the same value per person. Alcohol can only be served to and consumed by persons aged 18 years and over. Please ask a member of staff for details about any food allergens. Please drink responsibly.

Book Private Suite Access

• Exclusive access for you and your guests from 1 hour before show time and during the interval
• Dedicated Red Coat to assist throughout
• Welcome drinks served with snacks and nibbles available

Available to book with the Hospitality Team

Pre-show drinks order includes a bottle of house Champagne or alternatives to the same value per person. Alcohol can only be served to and consumed by persons aged 18 years and over. Please ask a member of staff for details about any food allergens. Please drink responsibly.

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Chess - The Musical In Concert Tickets

About Chess - The Musical In Concert

With music by ABBA legends Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by the incomparable Sir Tim Rice, the iconic musical Chess returns to the West End for the first time since a limited run at the London Coliseum in 2018.

At the height of the Cold War, two chess masters meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship, but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Telling a story of love and political intrigue, and set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Chess features an incredible score including classics such as “I Know Him So Well” and “One Night in Bangkok”.

Starring Samantha Barks (Frozen, Les Miserables), Hadley Fraser (City of Angels, Phantom Of The Opera), Joel Harper-Jackson (Cock, Kinky Boots), Frances Mayli McCann (Les Miserables, Evita), Ako Mitchell (Bonnie and Clyde, The Lion King), and Craige Els (Matilda, Coronation Street) with the 50-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra accompanying, this concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is not to be missed. Book now!

Approximately 2 hours plus an interval

August 1st, 2022

August 2nd, 2022

Drury Lane Theatre Royal

Anyone under the age of 16 has to be accompanied by an adult aged 18+.

Chess - The Musical In Concert cast and creative team

Director : Nick Winston Cast list : Samantha Barks, Hadley Fraser, Joel Harper-Jackson, Frances Mayli McCann, Ako Mitchell, Joseph Craig, Darius J James, Aoife Kenny, Jessica Lee, Nick Len, Natasha May-Thomas, Alice Readie, Stuart Rouse, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Grant Thresh, Libby Watts, Trevor McDonald Choreography : Nick Winston Design : Ruth Sutcliffe Costume : Ben Cracknell Lighting : Chris Winn Sound : Tom Marshall

Location: West End Railway station: Charing Cross Bus numbers: (Aldwych) 6, 11, 13, 23, 59, 68, 87, 171, 172, 188, RV1, X68 Night bus numbers: (Aldwych) 6, 23, 188, N11, N13, N26, N47, N68, N87, N89, N155, N171, N551 Car park: Drury Lane, Parker Street (5mins) Directions from tube: (5mins) Go right on Long Acre; turn right into Bow Street and after 100 metres it will be on your left in Russell Street/Catherine Street.

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PIERS COTTEE-JONES ENTERTAINMENT, CARTER DIXON MGGILL PRODUCTIONS, Katy Galloway Productions and Fiery Fable

01 Aug - 02 Aug 2022

Theatre Royal Drury Lane

With music by ABBA legends Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by the incomparable Sir Tim Rice, the iconic musical Chess returns to the West End for the first time since a limited run at the London Coliseum in 2018.

At the height of the Cold War, two chess masters meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship, but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Telling a story of love and political intrigue, and set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Chess features an incredible score including classics such as “I Know Him So Well” and “One Night in Bangkok”.

Starring Samantha Barks ( Frozen , Les Misérables ) as Florence and Hadley Fraser ( City of Angels , Phantom Of The Opera ) as Anatoly, and with the 50-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra accompanying, this concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is not to be missed.

Samantha Barks

Hadley Fraser

Joel Harper-Jackson

Frances Mayli McCann

Ako Mitchell

The Arbiter

Nick Winston

Freddie Tapner

Musical Director

Ben Cracknell

Lighting Designer

Tom Marshall

Sound Designer

Duncan McLean

Video Designer

Alexzandra Sarmiento

Associate Director & Choreographer

© 2024 London Musical Theatre Orchestra.

Design & Build by 6rs

Full cast announced for Chess in Concert at Drury Lane

Full casting has now been announced for Chess in Concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. An additional matinee has also been added By Popular Demand.

Chess the Musical in Concert will add an additional matinee performance to its chequerboard, on Tuesday 2 August, due to popular demand. The first announced date sold out in 7 days, so there will now be a total of three performances of the iconic production at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Book tickets for Chess the musical in concert.

Full casting is also announced for the production as listed below; Samantha Barks ( Frozen , Les Misérables ) as Florence, Hadley Fraser ( 2:22 A Ghost Story, City of Angels ) as Anatoly, Joel Harper-Jackson as Freddie (Cock, Kinky Boots), Frances Mayli McCann ( Bonnie and Clyde , Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour ) as Svetlana and Ako Mitchell ( Caroline Or Change, The Colour Purple ) as The Arbiter are joined by Craige Els ( Matilda the Musical, The Imitation Game ) as Molokov.

Completing the ensemble is Joshua Robinson who will join the previously announced Joseph Craig, Darius J James, Aoife Kenny, Jessica Lee, Nick Len, Natasha May-Thomas, Alice Readie, Stuart Rouse, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Grant Thresh and Libby Watts.

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Chess , with music by ABBA legends Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by the incomparable Sir Tim Rice, returns to the West End for the first time since 2018, as part of three star-led musical concerts. They will be accompanied by both the London Musical Theatre Orchestra as well as the London Musical Theatre Chorus and will be presented at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane this August.

Chess ’s creative team are as follows; Director and Choreographer: Nick Winston, Associate Director and Choreographer: Alexzandra Sarmiento, Musical Director: Freddie Tapner, Designer: Ruth Sutcliffe, Lighting Designer: Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer: Tom Marshall, Video Projection Designer: Duncan McLean, Casting: Harry Blumenau and Lighting Programmer: Chris Winn, Assistant Director & Choreographer: Tara Young, Production Manager: Pete Kramer, Company Stage Manager: Rachael Downey, Deputy Stage Manager: Bryony Relf, Costume Supervisor: Stephen Frosdick, Sound 1: Harry Greatorex, Sound 2: Olly Smith, Production Sound Engineer: Josh Richardson, Chorus Master: Dan Turek and Assistant Musical Director: Honor Halford-MacLeod.

Chess the Musical in Concert is part of three concerts presented on 8 and 9 August at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It precedes concert stagings of Kinky Boots the Musical in Concert on 8 and 9 August and Treason the Musical in Concert on 22 and 23 August.

BOOK TICKETS FOR CHESS THE MUSICAL IN CONCERT

Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.

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Chess – The Musical in Concert

Theatre Royal Drury Lane , London's West End

About This Show

With music by ABBA legends Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics by the incomparable Sir Tim Rice, the iconic musical Chess returns to the West End for the first time since a limited run at the London Coliseum in 2018.

At the height of the Cold War, two chess masters meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship, but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Telling a story of love and political intrigue, and set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Chess features an incredible score including classics such as “I Know Him So Well” and “One Night in Bangkok”.

Starring Samantha Barks (Frozen, Les Miserables) as Florence and Hadley Fraser (City of Angels, Phantom Of The Opera) as Anatoly, and with the 50-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra accompanying, this concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane is not to be missed. Book now!

Show Details

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Musical theatre, backstage & technical, obituaries & archive, training & drama schools, broadway & international, edinburgh fringe, jobs & auditions, acting & performance, shakespeare, chess - the musical in concert review.

Joel Harper-Jackson triumphs in an occasionally overblown concert staging

“What’s going on around me is barely making sense.” It takes bravery to include that lyric in a musical but that’s exactly what Tim Rice did in Nobody’s Side, a song from his troubled yet often-tremendous Chess .

The hit-filled 1984 Cold War musical he wrote with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus has since had more iterations than the iPhone, but following the London premiere it has never achieved a seriously sustained run because it’s a classic case of “great score, shame about the book”.

That’s why the best way to experience it is, as here, to strip most of that away, cast it to the hilt and let it rip in concert. And with six principals, a 12-member ensemble, a chorus of 20 and a band of 38 – unimaginable in a long run – that’s exactly what everyone does.

Director and choreographer Nick Winston has wisely edited out everything that interferes with the love story. Goodbye large chorus numbers Merano and the Merchandisers, and hello power vocals via the headline casting of Samantha Barks and Hadley Fraser.

As Florence, Barks occasionally channels Elaine Paige’s original vocal, especially the lovely Heaven Help My Heart, the most ABBA-like of the ballads. Elsewhere, her fiercely focused, roof-raising sound is all her own.

But even she could do with not having to work so hard to ride the full-blooded orchestra. Musical director Freddie Tapner and sound designer Tom Marshall make the majority of lyrics audible and know how to cue rapturous applause with big finishes, but both singers and material would gain from a dynamic range wider than rising from loud to very loud. Barks and Frances Mayli McCann sing the hell out of I Know Him So Well but the performance is impressive rather than moving because tenderness is lost.

Hadley Fraser suffers similarly. With his perfectly produced, full-bodied sound he was born to sing the standout Anthem that closes the first act. But competing with, rather than supported by, these huge forces, it feels as if he’s being made to start with the defiant climax rather reaching it via serene sincerity.

That degree of overkill is present elsewhere with video imagery, over-busy background choreography and swirling searchlight-style lightbeams competing for attention and swamping the performers.

The opposite of all that comes in the star-making performance from Joel Harper-Jackson. He acts Freddie’s truculence perfectly but when singing the tenor workout that is Pity the Child, he holds back. Instead of showing off emotions, he allows them to rise powerfully up from the music. It’s truly thrilling. If only the rest of the show had the similar confidence not to be oversold. Less, once again, turns out to be more.

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David Benedict has been a daily columnist and theatre editor on the Independent and arts editor of the Observer. He is chief London critic of Variety, a regular guest on the BBC, and is currently writing the authorised biography of Stephen Sondheim. Read David's columns for The Stage every Wednesday.

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Chess - The Musical in Concert Tickets

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About Chess - The Musical in Concert

Chess the musical is coming to theatre royal drury lane.

**_Chess_** returns to London's West End for the first time since 2018. With lyrics by **Sir Tim Rice** and music by ABBA legends **Björn Ulvaeus** and **Benny Andersson**, it's a show that you just can't miss!

What is Chess about?

This politically driven musical drama revolves around a Cold War chess match for the world title. The battle between the American and Soviet players in Bangkok is being twisted and turned by their respective governments for politically motivated purposes. When an intriguing Hungarian refugee enters the picture, she becomes another player in their emotional game. Being used as pawns by their governments and caught between two world powers, the struggle threatens to destroy their lives.

What songs are in Chess ?

Set in the late 1970s/early 1980s against the backdrop of the Cold War, **_Chess_** features a fantastic soundtrack well-loved worldwide. The album went Top Ten in the UK, West Germany, South Africa, and Sweden. **_Chess_** also landed in the Top Ten in a BBC Listener Poll of Essential Musicals. The show includes such classic hits as 'I Know Him So Well', 'One Night in Bangkok', 'Anthem', 'Heaven Help My Heart', and 'Pity the Child'.

The cast of Chess

The 50-piece **London Musical Theatre Orchestra** accompanies the cast in this revival of Chess. **Samantha Barks** (_Les Miserables_, _Frozen_) stars as Florence alongside **Hadley Fraser** (_Phantom Of The Opera_, _City of Angels_) as Anatoly. It has also been announced that famed broadcaster Trevor McDonald will provide the voice of the Newscaster.

Chess tickets are on sale now!

**_Chess_** opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on the 1st August 2022. Due to popular demand a second performance has been added for the concert which was supposed to run for one night only. So book your **_Chess_ tickets** early to guarantee your seats to this amazing musical revival!

Additional Information

Age restriction, running time, performance dates, venue information, customer reviews, customer reviews 171, related news.

Murray Head makes an unfortunate exit from Chess, replaced with fantastic US actor

Veteran  Chess  actor  Murray Head,  who starred in the original 1986 production in London's West End alongside Elaine Paige and Tommy Körberg and provided the vocals for the 1984 single "One Night in Bangkok" from the  Chess   concept album,  must regretfully step away  from his role as The Arbiter in the West End revival due to personal reasons.

6 Apr, 2018 | By Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels

News / Casting

Full cast announced for the anticipated west end revival of chess.

​The chessboard has now been fully set up. Find out who all have been cast as the pawns in this politically charged musical, which is set in the Cold War era.

27 Mar, 2018 | By Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels

Review: CHESS - THE MUSICAL IN CONCERT, Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Nick Winston stages less of a concert and more of an almost-fully-formed production with clear-cut vision.

Penned by the Bs in ABBA, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with the help of Tim Rice on lyrics and script, it sees the ferocious rivalry between Russia and the USA at the apex of the Cold War through the lens of a love triangle in a chess tournament.

Hadley Fraser and Joel Harper-Jackson go head to head as Anatoly Sergievsky and Freddie Trumper. Samantha Barks is Freddie's second and Anatoly's lover. Frances Mayli McCann is the Russian's estranged wife. Ako Mitchell is the Arbiter. They are joined by the enormous London Musical Theatre Orchestra and Chorus plus a talented young ensemble of dancers, who add richness and grandeur to the evening.

Chess has a long and convoluted history. The concept album made a splash when it came out in 1984, collecting accolades left and right. When it finally opened at the Prince Edward with a change in direction two years later, its reviews were a mixed bag. The team went back to the drawing board and reimagined it completely for its Broadway debut. Its reception was once again less than ideal, with many American critics violently disliking it (and this is to put it mildly).

Since then, the show has been toured and produced in a variety of versions (you can read all the ins and outs of it on Wikipedia, it's all very interesting!), and a major revival last hit the Coliseum in 2018. The iconic musical is now back in the West End very briefly featuring the above stellar cast as part of a series of concerts announced at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Winston actually presents less of a concert and more of an almost-fully-formed production. It's impressively choreographed for what was initially believed to be the frontal performance of the score. With a set that feels like a modernist battle ground with two rising staircases, strong lighting beams throughout ( Ben Cracknell ), and a contemporary choreography (also by Winston) that runs through the two hours, the script is the only thing that's missing for this to be a full production.

Animations loom over the stage and, while their style and taste is slightly questionable at times, they carry the narrative smoothly - which is of essence in these circumstances. Barks and Fraser's voices marry heavenly (as we previously found out in Josie Rourke 's City of Angels back in 2013), easily delivering the most impressive of performances. He is a pensive, suave Anatoly with ruthless ambition, in direct contrast to Harper-Jackson's cocky, coke-strung Freddie and his belligerent confidence.

Chess is for big voices. While Fraser is astonishingly comfortable with the role's vast range and Harper-Jackson nails his character's big belts and strong-headed numbers, the latter does, at times, strain his voice over high notes and lose enunciation. Still, the final product is breath-taking. Barks brings the house down with her rendition of "Nobody's Side" and "Heaven Help My Heart".

"I Know Him So Well" is a bittersweet moment between her and Frances Mayli McCann , who's heartbreaking and leaves a mark even with a reduced part. The sleek minimalism of the set combined with the colossal presence of the orchestra and choir at the performers' backs turns this show into an epic event.

If this follows in the steps of the latest high-profile concert musical - Bonnie and Clyde this past January - we can expect Chess to take up residence somewhere in the West End in the new year. And, with such a cast led by a director who blends the original essence of the piece with his own contemporary eye, "any objection is overruled".

Chess The Musical In Concert has two more performances today, 2 August.

Photo Credit: Mark Senior

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The Latest Theatre News, Views & Reviews By Shaun Tossell

REVIEW – CHESS THE MUSICAL – IN CONCERT – THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

2nd August 2022

By Shaun Tossell

Chess The Musical – In Concert makes its way to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the first in a series of star-studded concerts announced for the theatre.

After the recent success of Bonnie and Clyde – In Concert earlier this year, the bar has been set high for what can be achieved in these concert productions. Audience expectations have been raised, so how does this concert compare?

Chess The Musical tells “a story of love and political intrigue, and set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s” where “at the height of the Cold War, two chess masters meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship, but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman.”

Chess The Musical is known for having gone through many iterations and for the story being a bit bonkers and overblown. The book is generally considered to be the weakest aspect of the show but was fairly streamlined in this production.

Director and choreographer Nick Winston revisits his previous production, after first directing Chess The Musical back in a 2020 Japanese production (also headed up by leading lady Samantha Barks).

Winston strips the show back to basics, fully utilizing the fantastic ensemble to add spectacle to the show with dramatic choreography.

This is aided by the thrilling lighting design by Ben Cracknell, which wouldn’t be out of place at a rock concert, with projection design by Duncan McLean also cleverly utilized.

The star of the show though has to be the magnificent London Musical Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Freddie Tapner, which sounded sublime. They elevated the strongest aspect of Chess The Musical, which is the fantastic songs by ABBA’s Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus with famed lyricist Sir Tim Rice.

The starry cast are the cherry on top, with Samantha Barks powerful rendition of “Nobody’s Side” blowing the roof off the theatre.

Leading men Hadley Fraser and Joel Harper-Jackson also give wonderful renditions of their respective numbers and Sir Trevor Macdonald makes a surprising appearance, which tickled me to no end.

Though my personal highlight was Craige Els performance as Molokov, with his fantastic rendition of “The Soviet Machine”, pleasantly surprising me.

Chess The Musical – In Concert is the kind of concert production I want to see moving forward, though honestly to call it a simple concert production, would be a disservice to the spectacle on display.

Featuring stunning vocals from the starry cast, paired with the sublime sounding LMTO – It’s a win-win for the audience.

Chess The Musical – In Concert is playing the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on the 1st & 2nd August 2022.

Tickets & more info – https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/chess-the-musical-in-concert/

Photo credit – Mark Senior

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Michael Ball in Chess (Photo: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Alexandra Burke in Chess (Photo: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Tim Howar and the company of Chess (Photo: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Tim Howar in Chess (Photo: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Tim Howar, Michael Ball and Cedric Neal in Chess (Photo: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Cassidy Janson in Chess (Photo: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice’s epic musical love story  Chess  returns to the West End for the first time in over 30 years, playing a star-studded strictly limited season at the London Coliseum.

The first West End production of the show in over thirty years will star the likes of Michael Ball, Alexandra Burke, Cedric Neal, Tim Howar and Cassidy Janson.

Chess, written in 1984 by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Evita), tells a story of love and political intrigue, set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s, in which superpowers attempt to manipulate an international chess championship for political ends.

Two of the world’s greatest chess masters, one American, one Russian, are in danger of becoming the pawns of their governments as their battle for the world title gets under way. Simultaneously their lives are thrown into further confusion by a Hungarian refugee, a remarkable woman who becomes the centre of their emotional triangle. This mirrors the heightened passions of the political struggles that threaten to destroy lives and loves.

Ball, who is one of Britain’s leading musical theatre stars, will play Russian grandmaster Anatoly, opposite singer Tim Howar as American grandmaster Frederick “Freddie” Trumper. X Factor winner Burke plays Svetlana, Anatoly’s estranged wife, while Janson, who starred in Beautiful: The Carole King musical, will play Florence, Freddie’s presumed lover. The Chess cast will also feature recent Motown The Musical star Cedric Neal as The Arbiter.

This will be the first West End revival of Chess since the original 1986 production, which starred Elaine Paige, Murray Head and Tommy Korberg. That production, which ran for three years at the Prince Edward Theatre, followed a highly successful recording featuring the same stars, and included the international hit singles I Know Him So Well and One Night In Bangkok. Other well-known songs from Chess’ score include Anthem, Someone Else’s Story, Heaven Help My Heart and Pity The Child.

This new West End production, featuring English National Opera’s award-winning Orchestra and Chorus, will be directed by Laurence Connor, whose recent credits include School of Rock and Miss Saigon on Broadway and in the West End, Les Misérables on Broadway, and the international Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour. This is the fourth production in collaboration with ENO by Michael Linnit and Michael Grade, following previous hits Sunset Boulevard, Carousel and Sweeney Todd.

The return of Chess’ sensational score to the London stage is an important and exciting musical theatre prospect.

Please note that, with great regret, Murray Head has left the cast due to personal reasons; Cedric Neal is replacing Murray in the production.

Looking to see some musical theatre? Find out more about London musicals.

Anatoly -  Michael Ball

Freddie -  Tim Howar

Svetlana -  Alexandra Burke

Florence -  Cassidy Janson

The Arbiter -  Cedric Neal

Molokov -  Philip Browne

Cast -  Sabrina Aloueche, Robin Bailey, Sarah Bakker, Jeremy Batt, Kimberley Blake, Sophie Camble, Cellen Chugg Jones, Jordan Lee Davies, Jonathan David Dudley, Richard Emerson, Callum Evans, Chris Gage, Matt Harrop, Jack Horner, Stevie Hutchinson, Nicholas Lee, Sinead Long, Robbie McMillan, Jo Morris, Jennifer Robinson, Jo Servi, Alexandra Waite-Roberts, Carrie Willis, Stuart Winter, Chris Gardner, Matthew Walker,  Joe Watkins

Director - Laurence Connor

Producer - Michael Linnit and Michael Grade in collaboration with English National Opera by arrangement with Three Knights Limited, The Shubert Organisation Inc & Robert Fox Limited

Choreographer - Stephen Mear

Conductor - John Rigby

Author - Benny, Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice

Age Suitability For This Show

Age Suitability: Age Restriction: 5+

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Unlike film, theatre doesn't have an official age classification organisation. That means all age recommendations are subjective and should be treated as guidelines unless otherwise stated. With this in mind, we ask you to use your judgement in regards to a show’s suitability prior to purchase. However, we are more than happy to help you make a decision. Please email [email protected] to find out more about your chosen show.

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Chess: The Musical review – Abba’s ridiculous cold war musical is absurdly complicated fun

Natalie Bassingthwaite, Paulini and Rob ‘Millsy’ Mills feature in a serendipitously timed revival of the less than loved musical Regent theatre, Melbourne

D espite being around 800 years old, chess – the game – is, improbably, back. Last year, Netflix released The Queen’s Gambit, a seven-part miniseries about a tortured chess prodigy who struggles with addiction while striving to become one of the world’s best players. Set in the 50s and 60s and starring actress and model Anya Taylor-Joy, the show brought clout and glamour back to a tradition sorely in need of it. Released while many were still in lockdown, the show had a captive audience, became Netflix’s most-watched miniseries ever , and brought interest in the game, particularly among female players , to an all-time high.

A rising tide lifts all boats, so naturally, six months after the release of The Queen’s Gambit, Australia is looking down the barrel of a star-studded national tour of Chess, the 1986 musical featuring music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of Abba , and a book by Tim Rice.

Best remembered for its second-act hit One Night In Bangkok – a staple of classic hit radio – the musical is a romantic epic concerning a love triangle that arises between two chess grandmasters, one Russian and one American, and the Hungarian-born refugee caught between them. The musical is decidedly less than well-loved – of the 2018 London revival, this very publication said “you’d find more meaning and have more fun if you stayed home and played tiddlywinks”.

In a second serendipitous moment of topicality, the show – which also serves as a hugely unsubtle metaphor for cold war-era tensions between Russia and America – arrives in Australia the same month that The Courier, a Russia-set cold war thriller starring Benedict Cumberbatch , hits Australian cinemas. The 2021 cast includes many of Australian TV and musical theatre’s A-, B- and C-listers – Natalie Bassingthwaite, Paulini and Rob “Millsy” Mills among them – promising a night that’s sure to be, at the very least, a gloriously camp spectacle ... right?

Well, yes and no. Although undeniably fun, Chess in this Australian incarnation is also long, overwhelming and, like a game of chess itself, dastardly complicated. Those lured in by the promise of glitz and glam will find themselves faced with a plot that features, among other things: KGB and CIA spies; multiple absentee parents; jilted lovers; seemingly random media commentary; and, most frequently, frantically sung gags about the state of geopolitics in 1986. It is a ridiculous, high-energy swamp of plot – a plot that, were the musical’s story more familiar, might have come across. Instead, by the second act, it’s almost impossible to tell who has double crossed whom, whose alliances lie where, or why nearly anything is happening.

This problem is exacerbated by the production’s pared-back staging. Onstage, there is only a small, elevated platform designed to look like a chessboard, which is surrounded by the 25-piece orchestra. Although this works in some respects – it’s nice to see the orchestra, which is particularly zippy and engaging – it also means that there are no distinct set markers of place or time. The plot moves back and forth between Europe and Asia, and, by the second act, it’s hard to tell where, exactly, everybody is. (Sometimes, this is helpful: this production avoids the often-racist staging of One Night In Bangkok that other versions of Chess seem to struggle with.) The costumes, although often beautiful – the KGB agents, in particular, look wonderful in their Matrix-y getup – don’t particularly help with grounding the show, either.

But those who aren’t concerned about an easy-to-track plot will find plenty to love. Many of the songs in Chess number among Benny and Björn’s best: One Night In Bangkok is a classic for a reason, while Nobody’s Side – one of Bassingthwaite’s bigger numbers – probably would have been a classic had Abba recorded it. Abba fans will find juicy metacommentary in the content of the songs themselves; although the lyrics were written with Rice, these songs sound just as concerned with Andersson and Ulvaeus’ respective divorces as the bulk of Abba’s late-period ouvre. The intensely paranoid Nobody’s Side, in particular, feels like a piece of score-settling:

“I see my present partner In the imperfect tense And I don’t see how we can last I feel I need a change of cast Maybe I’m on nobody’s side”

The cast is game, too. Although Bassingthwaite isn’t necessarily the strongest singer, she gives it her all as Florence and is a capable, engaging lead, even when the plot becomes overwhelming. Paulini, although underused as the jilted wife of Russian grandmaster Anatoly, absolutely kills in her brief moments. Her voice is a peerless instrument on this stage, almost to the show’s detriment. She brings depth and intrigue to the decidedly underwritten Svetlana, and is a much-needed anchor in the show’s second half.

One gets the sense that the moments when the cast can simply show off its talent – as when Bassingthwaite and Paulini duet on the sublime I Know Him So Well – is more the point of Chess than its plot. Fans of the musical may have a good time; the rest of us will undoubtedly find it, like the game itself, far too complex to bear.

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UCL Musical Theatre Society Presents Chess

For accessible seating, please call  020 3108 1000  or e-mail  [email protected]

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Chess The Musical

Box Office — 0116 242 3595 — [email protected]

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Chess the Musical

At the height of the Cold War, two of the world’s greatest chess masters, one American, one Russian, are in danger of becoming the pawns of their governments as their battle for the world title gets under way. Simultaneously their lives are thrown into further confusion by a Hungarian refugee, a remarkable woman who becomes the centre of their emotional and political triangle.

Includes the international hit singles  I Know Him So Well  and  One Night In Bangkok . Other well-known songs from the score include  Anthem ,  Heaven Help my Heart  and  Pity The Child .

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI  www.mtishows.co.uk

£32 – £10

DISCOUNTS* £4 off Under 16s £4 off  16 – 26yrs & Student ( with a FREE 16-26 Membership ) and Curve Connect £18  Under 18s school groups 15% off for Members £2 off  for Groups 10+

*Discounts are subject to availability and may be removed at any time. Only valid on certain performances - terms and conditions apply.

Credits & Acknowledgments

By arrangement with Three Knights Limited, The Shubert Organisation Inc and Robert Fox Limited.

Benny Andersson, Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus

Original Orchestrations and Arrangements by Anders Eljas

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Arts & Entertainment

This Sunday, North Texas performer Cedric Neal could win London’s version of the Tony

After ten years in england, the former dallas theater center actor was nominated for an olivier award for his performance in “guys and dolls.”.

By Jerome Weeks

7:00 AM on Apr 12, 2024 CDT

Actor-singer Cedric Neal gained acclaim in North Texas musical productions — from Fort Worth’s Jubilee Theater to the Dallas Theater Center, where he made his debut in 2008 in the title role of The Who’s Tommy. Now he’s acclaimed in England, as well. He’s been nominated for an Olivier — London’s highest theater honor — for best supporting actor in a musical.

Living in England since 2014, Neal has gone from “Who’s the American?” to attending the awards ceremony this Sunday at the Royal Albert Hall, where he’ll join fellow nominees Sarah Jessica Parker, Joseph Fiennes and David Tennant.

Last year, Neal was given a stellar showcase in the Bridge Theatre’s revival of the classic 1950 musical, Guys and Dolls . Neal played Nicely-Nicely Johnson, a quiet, nervous nebbish among all the cardsharps and hustlers in Frank Loesser’s affectionate portrait of seedy New York City nightlife.

Related: Dallas producer finds parallels to today in the words of Edward Murrow

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Nicely-Nicely is quiet, that is, until he unleashes what’s known as an “11 o’clock number.” That’s the song that comes late in a show and is designed to wake up an audience. Loesser created what is arguably the greatest 11 o’clock number in “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” — a rousing tour-de-force delivered in a storefront church, where the gamblers have hid out to continue their dice game.

Speaking from Brighton, England, where he lives now, Neal described Nicely-Nicely as “one of the most beloved characters in musical theater. And here comes me, this Black actor who infuses gospel in everything he does. And I thought, they’re not going to accept that.”

Previously, British directors had told Neal that — when it came to the kind of Black gospel singing he’s been doing since he was 4 years old in Oak Cliff — he needed to scale it back for London audiences.

But during rehearsals of Guys and Dolls , Neal said, he was pulled aside by the show’s music director, Tom Brady, and director Sir Nicholas Hytner , the former head of the Royal National Theater and the director of such shows as Miss Saigon and One Man, Two Guv’nors.

They told him, “we know who we hired,” Neal said. “The song was written to be a rousing, gospel number. Give us Cedric.”

Related: Renovations begin on South Dallas’ historic Forest Theater

So in the first verses, Neal sings “Sit Down” mostly straight. But then he uncorks his voice during the third — and it’s this revivalist fervor, as much as his expressive face and lively charm — that has gotten London audiences on their feet and Neal to his nomination.

The Voice as vehicle

Hytner and Brady may well have known of Neal’s singing abilities because of a calculated risk the actor took in 2019. He was invited to audition for the UK version of The Voice , the popular TV singing contest.

“It’s no secret, I’m a singer first,” he said. At Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Neal had studied singing — not theater.

“But my agent and I went back and forth. ‘Do we do this? Is it too commercial? Too risky? But it would be another way to elevate your profile.’ And I am so glad I did it.”

Neal was already known — at least in London theater circles. In 2011, he left Dallas for New York. He snagged his first Broadway musical as an understudy to David Alan Grier as Sportin’ Life in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess . (“I went on all of nine times,” Neal said with a laugh.)

But in 2014, when a production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess was getting ready for an outdoor production in London , Neal was cast. Before he could tell his then-fiancé Mitchell Darden-Kiever the news, Darden-Kiever told Neal that his risk management firm had just promoted him — to its headquarters in London.

Finding acceptance

So moving to England was an easy choice. But even when Neal was entering the London theater scene already cast in a major show, gaining acceptance there, he found, was not easy.

Related: A ‘special gift’: Dallas playwright Njoki McElroy remembered for her commitment to racial awareness

And it was not so much because he’s Black, he explained. It’s because he’s American.

“I’m not going to lie,” Neal said. “It was tough. It was tough because for the longest time, I didn’t know how Americans were viewed in the theater world over here.”

American actors are often seen as poaching British jobs and then promptly returning home. It’s a mirror image of the resentment many American performers in New York feel about repeatedly being denied major titles roles on Broadway — because those parts have been precast with a famous British actor imported solely for that show. In London, Neal often heard other cast and crew members referring to him, not by name but as just “the American.”

But, he said, “when they realized I was staying, this was home, and I was doing the work, it changed.”

In addition to his Sportin’ Life in the outdoor Gershwin production , Neal made his West End debut as Berry Gordy in Motown: The Musical , performed in Chess at the London Coliseum and in a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar .

Still, appearing on The Voice in 2019 would tell a lot more people that England was now his home. And that he’s a formidable singer.

Spoiler: On The Voice , Neal didn’t get past the semifinals. But 8 million viewers of the telecast saw his bring-down-the-house audition with Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” And on YouTube, his performance has been viewed more than 3 million times.

His rousing, gospel-inflected rendition was notable for one judge, Oscar- and Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson , taking off her boots during Neal’s performance and throwing one on stage, while shouting encouragement. (It’s a compliment, she later explained. It’s like a standing ovation.)

And in an uncommon feat, all four judges, including Sir Tom Jones and Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, signaled they wanted to be Neal’s coach. Jones held out the longest, he told Neal, because he’d performed with Wonder, “and if you could take a Stevie Wonder song and make it your own like that, then I know this guy’s a winner.”

An Olivier for Oak Cliff

Since that 2019 telecast, Neal has performed not only in Guys and Dolls but in the world premiere of the Back to the Future musical and has been cast in an upcoming 50th anniversary concert version of Pippin at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

By itself, Neal said, the Olivier nomination — even if he doesn’t win — demonstrates his acceptance by London theater. He gets choked up acknowledging that, and acknowledging how much he owes Booker T. Washington High School as well as his fellow members of the Dallas Theater Center acting ensemble , notably Liz Mikel and Chamblee Ferguson.

“I would be nothing if it wasn’t for Dallas,” Neal said. “And I’m just proud to be representing not just Black American musical theater, but Dallas theater.”

Not that many Americans get past the nominations and actually win Olivier Awards. But if Neal does — as he said — he’ll certainly be the only Olivier Award winner from Oak Cliff.

• The Olivier Awards will be held Sunday in London’s Royal Albert Hall. Online, whatsonstage.com will show highlights after 4 p.m. Central Time.

Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.

This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.

Jerome Weeks , KERA . Jerome Weeks is the senior arts reporter/producer for KERA-FM (90.1) and former book columnist and theater critic for The Dallas Morning News.

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The Cult announce 40th anniversary UK tour for winter 2024

The dates conclude with a stop at London’s Royal Albert Hall

The Cult have announced details of a UK tour, which will celebrate their 40th year as a band. Find upcoming dates and ticket details below.

Announced today (April 16), the shows are set for later this year and will see the iconic ‘80s rock group perform in 10 cities across the country. The dates come in celebration of a huge milestone for Ian Astbury and co., as this year marks four decades since the band formed as we recognise them today – swapping their name from the original title ‘Death Cult’ into ‘The Cult’.

“Following up from the great energy of Death Cult 8323 shows, I’m looking forward to bringing that sense of celebration of the band’s music, and the communion with our fans, to Cult 8424,” guitarist Billy Duffy said of the new announcement. “CFFC. Let the ceremony commence!”

The shows all take place this winter, and kick off on October 21 with an opening night at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester. This is followed the next night with a gig at Swansea Arena (22), followed by stops in Edinburgh (24), Manchester (25), Bristol (27), York (29) and Newcastle (30).

The final run of the new tour dates will take place in the first week of November; including a slot at Guildhall in Portsmouth on the 1st, and a show at Civic Hall in Wolverhampton the following night. The dates wrap up with a closing show at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London on November 4.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (April 19) at 10am BST. Visit here to get tickets and find a full list of tour dates below.

The Cult 2024 tour dates are:

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OCTOBER 21 – Leicester, De Montfort Hall 22– Swansea, Swansea Arena    24 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall  25 – Manchester, O2 Apollo  27 – Bristol, Beacon     29 – York, Barbican 30 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall      

NOVEMBER: 1 – Portsmouth, Guildhall 2 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall 4 – London, Royal Albert Hall

The dates for 2024 come following a tour the band embarked on last year, celebrating 40 years since their first formation under the name ‘Death Cult’ .

Taking place around the UK, Ireland and the US, the tour was called ‘Death Cult 8323’ and saw Duffy and Astbury return to play iconic venues they previously performed in at the start of their career.

The live shows focused on Death Cult and their eponymous EPs, and also boasted a setlist that spanned “the three phases of the band, from Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and The Cult’s first two albums: ‘Dreamtime’ (1984) and ‘Love’ (1985).”

More recently, Billy Duffy joined Johnny Marr on stage in Frome last summer to play tracks by The Smiths and Depeche Mode .

The on-stage appearance was the latest of the multiple times the two musicians have joined forces, as they both have a long history of playing music together – stemming back to their adolescent years.

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Bts singers j-hope and jimin are tied once again.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: J-Hope of the K-pop boy band BTS visits the "Today" Show at ... [+] Rockefeller Plaza on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

J-Hope’s name appears on music charts around the world this week. The singer and dancer’s latest EP Hope on the Street Vol. 1 and the songs featured on it have become commercial wins in a number of territories, including in the U.K. In that country, the BTS superstar earns another hit, and in doing so, he ties one of his bandmates for a new spot in the history books.

“Neuron” by J-Hope debuts at No. 64 on the U.K. songs chart this frame. The tune is a collaborative affair between J-Hope and Gaeko and Yoon Mirae, who earn their first hit on the tally. J-Hope has landed on this ranking before–several times in fact.

J-Hope has now collected four hits on the U.K. songs chart on his own. With one more win to his credit, he matches his BTS friend Jimin for the fourth-most appearances on the ranking among all South Korean musicians.

BTS continues to lead the charge when it comes to the South Korean musical acts with the most charting hits in U.K. history. The band has sent 22 tunes to the ranking of the most-consumed cuts in the nation.

Blackpink lands in a distant second place on this ranking of the most successful South Korean artists on the U.K. chart. The girl group has collected 10 smashes on the list of the top songs in the country. Fellow BTS singer Jung Kook appears third, as he’s landed half a dozen hits on the tally.

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J-Hope first reached the U.K. songs chart nearly half a decade ago. In 2019, his single “Chicken Noodle Soup” with Becky G reached the ranking, bringing him to the roster for the first time as a soloist. That cut rose as high as No. 82.

He returned in 2022 with “More,” which brought him to a new peak of No. 70. Last year, J-Hope and J. Cole teamed up for “On the Street,” which gave the K-pop powerhouse his first top 40 when it opened at No. 37.

“Neuron” is the standout track from the BTS star’s Hope on the Street Vol. 1 , which has also become a success on its respective tally. This week, the EP launches at No. 38 on the U.K. albums chart, bringing the singer to the top 40 for the first time on his own.

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