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Birmingham Rep in Centenary Square, Birmingham

Becoming Nancy

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A new musical about first love and finding your voice!
★★★★★ WhatsOnStage
★★★★★ Birmingham What’s On
★★★★★ Express & Star
★★★★★ Culture Bab
★★★★★ Black Country Radio
★★★★★ Broadway World
★★★★★ Beyond The Curtain

Adapted from Terry Ronald’s best-selling novel – this critically and audience acclaimed new musical has opened in Birmingham. With standing ovations for every performance, you won’t want to miss out on the hottest ticket in Brum. Book now – you only have until Sat 2 Nov. 

What a musical it is…a life-affirming feel-good musical, giving hope that love always wins” WhatsOnStage

It’s 1979 and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented sixth-formers in East Dulwich – he’s got a wild imagination, a vocal range to die for, and a bedroom plastered with posters of his beloved pop idols: Blondie, Sting, and Kate Bush. But being clever, with a great taste in music may not be enough to get him through secondary school, where, to his great surprise, he’s just been given the female lead in the school play, Oliver… The unconventional casting sends shockwaves through David’s small town, first with David, and then with his parents, his aunt, and his classmates.

Before long, it seems like everybody has an opinion on whether David should go on with the show, inspiring him to turn to his no-nonsense best friend Frances and his unlikely co-star Maxie, the enigmatic captain of the football team.

 

Critics are LOVING the show!
Don’t miss it”
Birmingham What’s On
Entertains all ages…Funny, uplifting and vibrant…I’ll be back to see it again…that’s how good it is”
Express & Star
A love letter to new musical theatre”
Black Country Radio
Audiences are LOVING the show!
I implore everyone to go and experience the PURE JOY!”
– Audience Comment
An absolutely brilliant show. I was mesmerised throughout … it’s a must-see!”– Audience Comment
Beautifully acted, great original songs, and a feelgood factor through the roof.”
– Audience Comment
From the master of musicals, Jerry Mitchell!

This eagerly anticipated coming-of-age story is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, legendary director of blockbuster musicals including Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, The Devil Wears Prada, Hairspray, Pretty Woman: The Musical and many more.

A choreographer and director who seems to have the Midas touch.”
The Guardian on Jerry Mitchell

With smash-hit songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Becoming Nancy is the feel good, joyous, new musical that weaves a story of family and first loves, with the courage it takes to find your own spotlight.

See it first in the UK at The Rep this Autumn!

Presented by

Birmingham Rep

Price

From £15

Age Guidance

11+

Please note, no under 5s will be admitted to the auditorium.

Running time

Approximately 2 hours 25 minutes including an interval

Content Advice

Read our Becoming Nancy Content Advice

Please note

This production contains strong coloured lighting patterns, some flashing light sequences and strobe lighting throughout.

If you have any questions about this, please speak to Box Office or Front of House team. 

Access Performances

Audio Described:  Sat 26 Oct, 2.30pm (described by Julia Grundy and Carolyn Smith)

A Free Touch Tour is available to book before the Audio Described performance. 

BSL Interpreted: Fri 18 Oct, 7.30pm (interpreted by Harjit Jagdev)

Captioned: Wed 23 Oct, 7.30pm & Mon 28 Oct, 7.30pm (captioned by Cara Lawless)

Relaxed: Mon 21 Oct, 7.30pm

Special Offers

3 for 2: Add 3 shows into your basket and at checkout enjoy 33% off each production for selected productions. T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Teens Go Free: Receive one complimentary young persons ticket (13-19 years) when you book one standard ticket on Wed 9, Wed 16, Wed 23 or Wed 30 Oct performances at 7.30pm . Discount will be applied automatically at checkout when you add both tickets to your basket. T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Fees and Charges

Please note there is a transaction fee of £3.50 on all payment types.

Venue

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

Official Trailer

Production Images

1 /

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Photography by Mark Senior.

Press Reviews

1 /
Promotional image for Becoming Nancy, featuring David Starr, a joyful young man sitting on a brick wall on stage. Five star reviews and quotes surround the image praising the show, highlighting it as a brilliant and unmissable event.

Press Review. Photography by Mark Senior.

Two female actors on stage in a production of Becoming Nancy, sitting closely together. One is smiling, the other looks thoughtful but happy. A review quote praising the show says

Press Review. Photography by Mark Senior.

The cast of the musical Becoming Nancy performing a simultaneous dance move. Above them is four and a half stars, and the quote

Press Review. Photography by Mark Senior.

Three actors in school uniforms sitting together on stage, appearing joyful, with a review from Birmingham World quoted above, calling the show

Press Review. Photography by Mark Senior.

Cast of performers on stage during a scene from the musical Becoming Nancy with a review quote from What's On Stage reading

Press Review. Photography by Mark Senior.

Stream the tracks

The Becoming Nancy EP with smash-hit songs by George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, Elliot Davis and Terry Ronald is now available to stream on all popular streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Enjoy! 🎼

STREAM HERE

Audiences love the show!

Sneak a peek in the Rehearsal Room!

Rehearsal Room Interview with Jerry Mitchell

Cast

David Starr

Joseph Peacock

Maxie Boswell

Joseph Vella

Frances Bassey

Paige Peddie

Kath Starr

Rebecca Trehearn

Aunt Val

Genevieve Nicole
Headshot of Mathew Craig

Eddie Starr

Mathew Craig

Hamish McClarnon

Stephen Ashfield

Marcia Tubbert

Layla Armstrong-Hughes

Ensemble

Shannon Bourne

Swing & Dance Captain

Elliot Copeland

Ensemble

Joseph Craig

Swing

Jessica Daugirda

Squirrel

Isaac Elder

Ensemble

Cameron Gabriel

Abigail Henson

Daisy Greenwood

Ensemble

Ollie Hart-Bradford

Bus Conductor, Mr Boswell & Ensemble

Tom Andrew Hargreaves

Jason Lancaster

Seb Harwood

Dennis Gordon

Lucas Impey

Swing

Jordan Isaac

Ensemble

Peter Lavery

Chrissie Starr

Dominique McIntyre

Bob Lord

Richard Meek

Ensemble

Zara McLellan

Muriel, Mrs Boswell & Ensemble

Rachel Rawlinson

Ensemble

Harry Warburton

Creative Team

Book by

Elliot Davis

Original Songs - Music by

George Stiles

Original Songs - Lyrics by

Anthony Drewe

Additional Music & Lyrics by

Elliot Davis
Terry Ronald
George Stiles

Based on the novel by

Terry Ronald

Directed & Choreographed by

Jerry Mitchell

Set Designer

David Rockwell
TJ Greenway

Costume Designer

Jean Chan

Lighting Designer

Philip Rosenberg

Sound Designer

Tony Gayle

Video Designer

Dick Straker

Hair & Make Up Designer

Susanna Peretz

Musical Supervisor & Arrangements

Steve Anderson

Casting Director

Jill Green CDG

Associate Director

Dominic Shaw

Associate Choreographer

Tinovimbanashe Sibanda

Musical Director

Sarah Burrell

Fight Director

Yarit Dor

Associate Lighting Designer

Chris Hirst

Associate Sound Designer

Simon Fox

Associate Video Designers

Jachym Bouzek
Benjamin Persaud for Mesmer Studio

Production Manager

Dan Kay for Lloyd Thomas Production Management

Costume Supervisor

Michelle Bristow

Props Supervisor

Jamie Owens for Lily Mollgaard

Music Technology

Phij Adams

Band Fixer

Rich Morris for Music Solutions Ltd

Music Technology Associate

David Chin

Intimacy Coordinator

Rosie Fletcher

Dialect Coach

Ellen Hartley

Production Dramatherapist

Wabriya King

Associate Casting Directors

Tom Shiels
Olivia Laydon

Copyist

James Humphreys

Assistant Costume Supervisor

Natalie Jackson

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