‘New UK Musicals in Concert’ The Other Place – Review
London is a constant supply of one-off events which, once over, are gone forever, leaving perhaps a memory, often not, but almost always escaping the reviewer’s eye. And then there are the events that happen quietly, perhaps unheralded, perhaps sparsely yet enthusiastically supported by those in the know that, even as they become history, leave a trace in the ether on which others can build.
New UK Musicals at The Other Place on 4th July last was one such evening – not because all the songs on show were earth shattering, or indeed were outshone at times by the extraordinary talent of their singer – but because of what the event meant.
Put simply, through the seemingly selfless efforts of Darren Clark there exists now a home online where writers of new musicals can showcase their works, making backing tracks available for future generations of aspiring musical theatre auditionees seeking something newer, fresher, than again Defying Gravity; a home where tomorrow’s producers can search inspiration for a new writer to support and nurture.
And so, at The Other Place, Mr Clark gave us a showcase, a shop window gleaming with sparkly trinkets from tomorrow’s musicals that only insiders so far have glimpsed, delivered by tomorrow’s already award winning stars – Rosalind Ford and Joanna Clarke doing great work with the songs of Tim O’Connor, Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams, Terresa Howard & Steven Edis and Craig Adams (not forgetting Kelly Glyptis singing Off with their Heads and Michael Rouse singing Don’t look Down – unquestionably the two most individually entertaining performances of the evening) and a truly show biz musical ending from the massed lungs of the Singspace Choir singing ‘Time’, one of Darren Clark’s own numbers.
So yes, if you wern’t there, you missed it. But don’t worry. There’s a good chance you’ll get to see one of Darren Clark’s curations. I’m sure I ‘overheard’ London’s best small producing theatre suggest some sort of tie-up to get a show produced. Little acorns.
by Chris Parkinson