I went to see Footloose with some reservations. I knew it was based on the 1980s movie and expected the usual formulaic plot. What I wasn’t prepared for was the extraordinary energy of the production and I came out buzzing.

By Angie Millard

The plot is simple: a boy from Chicago and his mother move to a small rural town where dancing and rock music are banned. This is owing to a fatal car accident probably caused by alcohol and drugs in which the Reverend’s son was killed.

The actors sing, dance and play musical instruments, they carry the action with their focus and pace but they also inject the piece with utter conviction.

Numbers like I’m holding out for a Hero, the iconic Footloose, and the almost Stephen Sondheim harmonies of Learning To Be Silent offered a surprising variety. This was sung movingly by the hero’s single mother played by Holly Ashton, Geri Allen, the reverend’s wife and Lucy Munden, his daughter.

The hero played by Joshua Hawkins convinces the town to allow them to have a dance for their Prom and the show ends with this celebration.

The whole audience were on their feet bopping to a medley of the show’s best songs and dear reader, I joined them!

Footlose The Musical was performed at York Theatre Royal on 31 March 2022. It runs until 2 April 2022. The Production is by Selladoor and Runaway Entertainment. The Director is Racky Plews. Choreography is by Matt Cole. Musical production is by Mark Crossland. Lighting is by Chris Daley. The Designer is Sara Perks and Sound is by Chris Whybrow.

CAST

Jake Quickenden: Willard

Reverend Moore: Darren Day

Lucy Munden: Ariel

Joshua Hawkins: Ren

Geery Allen : Ethel

Holly Ashton: Vi

Oonagh Cox: Rusty

Anna Westlake: Lulu

Alex Fobbester: Bickie 

Ben Barrow: Wes

Ben Mabberley: Jeter

Jess Barker: Wendi-Jo

Samantha Richards: Ulreen

Tom Mussell: Chuck