Standing at the Sky's Edge
at the Gillian Lynne Theatre
Music and lyrics by Richard Hawley. Book by Chris Bush.
The National Theatre and Various Productions present the Sheffield Theatres Production
Booking and details
Gillian Lynne Theatre
166 Drury Lane
London WC2B 5PW
The multi-award winning new musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge – winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, UK Theatre Award for Best Musical Production, and the South Bank Sky Arts Award – tramnsferred to the West End, following sold-out runs at the National Theatre and Sheffield Theatres.
Hailed as ‘the greatest new British musical’ (Daily Express), Standing at the Sky’s Edge is a kaleidoscopic portrait of life on an ever-changing estate, charting the highs and lows and loves and losses of three generations over six tumultuous decades.
Set to the irresistible songs of legendary singer-songwriter Richard Hawley, with a beautiful, hilarious, and gut-wrenching book by Chris Bush, this ‘deeply moving and monumental musical’ (Daily Telegraph) reveals the history of modern Britain through the stories of the landmark Park Hill estate, in a heartfelt exploration of the power of community and what it is we all call home.
Performed 8 February — 3 August 2024 in the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Reviews for the West End
Broadway World
★★★★★
‘Unmissable. A towering feat.’
WhatsOnStage
★★★★★
‘Exhilarating, big-hearted. A superb production. ’
Financial Times
‘The greatest new British musical. It breaks my heart and fills my soul.’
Daily Express
★★★★★
‘An instant classic. Unlike anything else in the West End.’
Time Out
★★★★
‘Deeply moving and monumental.’
Telegraph
★★★★
‘Spine-tingling. Glorious.’
Guardian
Gallery
West End production gallery
West End cast rehearsal images
Suitability
This show contains adult themes and strong language, including some scenes depicting physical violence, alcohol abuse and death. There are flashing lights, haze and loud sound effects.
West End cast
Jonathan Andre
Jonathan Andre trained at Kingston University.
Monique Ashe-Palmer
Monique Ashe-Palmer trained at Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre, receiving a BA Hons in Performance.
Elizabeth Ayodele
Elizabeth Ayodele trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Jonathon Bentley
Jonathon Bentley trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Adam Colbeck-Dunn
Adam Colbeck-Dunn trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Viquichele Cross
Viquichele Cross trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where she received an MA in Music Theatre.
Jamie Doncaster
Jamie Doncaster trained at Arts Ed, where productions included Bandstand and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Caroline Fitzgerald
Caroline Fitzgerald trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Guildford School of Acting.
Mya Fox-Scott
Mya Fox-Scott trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Joel Harper-Jackson
Joel Harper-Jackson’s work in theatre includes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for the National Theatre on UK tour
Sharlene Hector
For the National: A Strange Loop
Samuel Jordan
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Jerome Lincoln
Jerome Lincoln’s work in TV includes Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
Mel Lowe
Mel Lowe’s work in theatre includes the Fair Maid of the West for the RSC.
David McKechnie
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Sean McLevy
Sean McLevy trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, having been a member of Sheffield’s Crucible Youth Theatre.
Rachael Louise Miller
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Baker Mukasa
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Alastair Natkiel
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Laura Pitt-Pulford
Laura Pitt-Pulford’s work in theatre includes The Light Princess at the National Theatre
Adam Price
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Lauryn Redding
Lauryn Redding is a writer, composer and actor.
Nicola Sloane
For the National: Standing at Sky’s Edge, London Road, Anything Goes (also West End), 50th Anniversary Gala and Love’s Labour’s Lost
Lillie-Pearl Wildman
Lillie-Pearl Wildman trained at Guildford School of Acting.
Karen Wilkinson
Karen Wilkinson trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating with a First Class Degree in Musical Theatre.
Rachael Wooding
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Young company:
Young Connie
Alayna Anderson
Alayna Anderson
Young Jimmy
Luca Foster-Lejeune
Luca Foster-Lejeune
Young Connie
Renée Hart
Renée Hart
Young Jimmy
Eric Madgwick
Eric Madgwick
Young Connie
Chioma Nduka
Chioma Nduka
Young Jimmy
Sam Stocks
Sam Stocks
Musicians
Musical Director / Keys 1
Alex Beetschen
Alex Beetschen
Alex is a musical director, composer and orchestrator based in London, and works across genres in musical theatre, opera, dance and film.
Assistant Musical Director / Keys 2 / Guitar
Sam Hall
Sam Hall
Sam Hall is a musical director, composer, lyricist, orchestrator and multi-instrumentalist.
Lead Guitars
Jon Gingell
Jon Gingell
Recently for the National Theatre: London Tide, Hadestown (also Broadway), Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Hex, Dick Whittington, Peter Gynt, Twelfth Night, wonder.land (also Théâtre du Châtelet) and The Threepenny Opera
Electric & Upright Bass
Phil Donnelly
Phil Donnelly
Drum Kit & Percussion
Darren Beckett
Darren Beckett
Violin
Tina Jacobs-Lim
Tina Jacobs-Lim
Violin / Viola
Rosie Tompsett
Rosie Tompsett
Cello
Gabriella Swallow
Gabriella Swallow
Production team
Music and Lyrics
Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley is best known for his work as a musician, as a solo artist and with the bands Pulp and The Longpigs. He released his ninth album Further in 2019.
Writer
Chris Bush
Chris Bush
Chris Bush is an award-winning playwright, lyricist and theatre-maker.
Director
Set and Costume Designer
Ben Stones
Ben Stones
Ben Stones’ designs span theatre, ballet, comedy, fashion and hip-hop dance.
Choreographer
Lynne Page
Lynne Page
British choreographer Lynne Page works internationally in film and television, opera, theatre and musical theatre.
Orchestrator, Arranger and Originating Music Supervisor
Lighting Designer
Mark Henderson
Mark Henderson
Mark Henderson is a lighting designer with over 40 years’ experience working extensively for all the major theatre, dance, and opera companies in the UK.
Sound Designer
Bobby Aitken
Bobby Aitken
Bobby Aitken has been involved with theatrical sound design for over 30 years. He has worked both in the UK and around the world, designing in small-scale theatres to grand arenas, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics.
Wigs, Hair & Make-up Designer
Cynthia De La Rosa
Cynthia De La Rosa
For the National: Alterations, Standing at the Sky’s Edge (also at Sheffield Crucible), Blues for an Alabama Sky and Beginning (also in the West End)
Music Director and Associate Music Supervisor
Alex Beetschen
Alex Beetschen
Alex is a musical director, composer and orchestrator based in London, and works across genres in musical theatre, opera, dance and film.
Casting
Stuart Burt CDG
Stuart Burt CDG
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge and East is East (also for Birmingham Rep)
Children's Casting
Chloe Blake
Chloe Blake
Recent National Theatre includes: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Jekyll and Hyde, Barrier(s), Hamlet for Young Audiences, The Effect and Blues for an Alabama Sky
Associate / Resident Director
Elin Schofield
Elin Schofield
Elin Schofield is a director, writer and movement director.
Associate / Resident Choreographer
Thomas Herron
Thomas Herron
Thomas Herron is an award-winning choreographer, movement director and dancer.
Associate Costume Designer & Costume Supervisor
Sally Wilson
Sally Wilson
Sally Wilson studied Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University before becoming a prop-maker working on large-scale and high-profile events such as the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Associate Sound Designer
Jonas Roebuck
Jonas Roebuck
Sound Programming Associate / Music Mix Engineer
Nick Gilpin
Nick Gilpin
Nick Gilpin’s work as music programmer for theatre includes Standing at the Sky’s Edge, My Fair Lady and Jerry Springer: the Opera at the National Theatre.
Consulting Music Supervisor
Katy Richardson
Katy Richardson
Katy Richardson graduated from the University of Leeds with a First in Music before training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Assistant Music Director
Sam Hall
Sam Hall
Sam Hall is a musical director, composer, lyricist, orchestrator and multi-instrumentalist.
Casting Assistant
Peter Noden
Peter Noden
Dialect Coach
Shereen Ibrahim
Shereen Ibrahim
For the National Theatre: company voice work includes Coriolanus, The Grapes of Wrath, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, Dear Octopus, Dear England, Dixon and Daughters, The Odyssey, Hamlet, The Crucible, Jack Absolute Flies Again and The Father and the Assassin (also dialect work); dialect work for Standing at the Sky’s Edge, All of Us and Our Generation; and acting work in The Black Album and The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other
Dialect Coach
Michaela Kennen
Michaela Kennen
For the National: Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Oslo (also in the West End), The Beaux’ Stratagem, Market Boy, Caroline, or Change, Thérèse Raquin, The Alchemist, The Rose Tattoo, Playing with Fire and The History Boys (also in the West End)
Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Supervisor
Keisha Banya
Keisha Banya
Props Supervisor
Marcus Hall Props
Marcus Hall Props
Fight Director
Orchestral Manager
Nicola Rossiter
Nicola Rossiter
Artwork graffiti based on original graffiti © Jason Lowe 2001