The Stage

Dundee Rep’s Best Musical

Published Tuesday 30 October 2007 at 11:00

Given the emphasis on musical theatre in the recent issue of The Stage (musical theatre supplement, page 24-29, October 25), it was with a great sense of irony that I noticed your omission from the list of TMA (in conjunction with The Stage) Award winners (page 6-7, October 25) of the award for ‘Best Musical’, which was won by Dundee Rep Theatre for its production of Sunshine on Leith.

In the same issue, your reporter Mark Shenton, in his guide to the state of new writing in musical theatre, expressed his concern regarding the current paucity of British talent. He asserts that part of the problem is that “we don’t have a single theatre anywhere that is committed to doing new musicals as part of its regular programming… regional theatre productions tend to occupy the ‘panto’ slot… they are risk-averse” (page 26, October 25).

Dundee Rep Theatre, first under the directorship of Hamish Glen and currently under James Brining, has demonstrated its commitment to producing new and classic musical productions, gaining a reputation for excellence in this field.

Over the last eight years the company has produced Stiff, Mince, Pants, Nightflights, Flora the Red Menace, Cabaret, Gypsy and Sunshine on Leith, ie. four new pieces and four classics.

I hold up Dundee Rep Theatre and its laudable commitment to musical theatre as a shining beacon of risk-taking, imagination and creativity and I look forward to your belated congratulations to all at the company for winning the 2007 TMA (in conjunction with The Stage) Best Musical award.

Hilary Brooks

Musical director/musical arranger - Sunshine on Leith

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