Spend Spend Spend!
Written from the heart by the lead character herself, this touching story is as relevant today as it was in 1961 when Viv Nicholson won the Pools.
Spend Spend Spend! is told first-hand by Viv in her later life as she nostalgically recalls her win and subsequent loss of a fortune in a voyeuristic narrative.
The young Viv is passionately played by Kirsty Hoiles with the right degree of youthfulness, coarseness and naivety. As the action unfolds, Karen Mann as the older Viv reminisces in a saddened acceptance of past events. With the two onstage together for most of the show, it gives an additional poignancy to the story.
The hardships of the Yorkshire miners, their families and their carefree enjoyment of a tough, financially challenging life is vibrantly staged by Craig Revel Horwood, whose confidently audacious direction and choreography is a sure-fire success. The title song itself is a masterpiece of vaudevillian humour and artistic panache with the entire cast dressed as grotesque ‘bunny’ girls.
With such a fantastic cast of actor musicians contributing equally to the success of the production, everyone has specific talents that are played to the fore. Graham Kent is a tough man’s man as Viv’s father, Greg Barnett is her slick second husband Keith and Susannah van der Berg is a visual joy in a variety of delicious roles. Robin Colyer, Neil Ditt, Christian Edwards, Liz Kitchen, Tara Nelson, Kit Orton and David Osmond join the other cast members who juggle acting, singing and musicianship with surprising ease.
Production information
- By:
- Book and lyrics by Justin Greene and Steve Brown (also music), from the book by Viv Nicholson and Stephen Smith
- Management:
- The Watermill
- Cast:
- Greg Barnett, Robin Colyer, Neil Ditt, Christian Edwards, Kirsty Hoiles, Graham Kent, Liz Kitchen, Karen Mann, Tara Nelson, Kit Orton, David Osmond and Susannah Van Den Berg
- Director:
- Craig Revel Horwood, who also choreographs
- Design:
- Diego Pitarch
- Sound:
- Chris Full
- Lighting:
- Nick Richings
- Musical direction:
- Sarah Travis
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Run sheet
- Watermill Newbury
- September 9-25 2010
- Yvonne Arnaud Guildford
- September 28-October 2 2010
- Playhouse Oxford
- October 5- 9 2010
- Lowry Salford
- October 12-16 2010
- West Yorkshire Playhouse, Courtyard Leeds
- October 19-23 2010
- Everyman Cheltenham
- October 26-30 2010
- Richmond Theatre Richmond-upon-Thames
- November 2- 6 2010
- New Wolsey Ipswich
- November 9-13 2010
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