Touring
Most people know and love the hit 2003 film School of Rock. With Jack Black’s iconic comedy, incredibly catchy tunes and a true rock soul, it became an instant classic. Fortunately, all of this translates brilliantly to the stage and to the current UK tour which is getting audiences up on their feet and releasing their inner rock gods.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, School of Rock provides a thoroughly entertaining night out. The show follows Dewey Finn, a man whose only goal is to live a life of music. One thing leads to another and he ends up taking the place of his best friend and pretending to be a supply teacher for the elite Horace Green school.
There he discovers that he’s not the only one with music in his soul; he finds a classroom full of wonderful musicians who just want to be heard. Thus begins his mission to form a band and win the Battle of the Bands. The entire story is a comedic dream, with a cast of amazing talents and so many great songs.
There are also astute observations on growing up and the pressures young people are under, as well as many witty and topical comments on the world as a whole.
Of course, this show would not be half of what it is without the young performers who make up the class. There’s not a weak link, with utterly superb musicianship being displayed throughout. They all have enough energy to raise the roof off and also do particularly well in the more moving moments of the show.
Special mention must go to Souparnika Nair who shone supremely bright with her spectacularly controlled vocals as Tamika and Isaac Forward who is a marvel on the drums. All the children are a joy to watch and there’s also some exceptional hairography going on throughout!
As Dewey Finn, Jake Sharp carries the musical outstandingly. Not wavering a single moment he’s on stage (and that’s pretty much throughout). He’s hilarious, vocally virtuosic and brings enough of the iconic Jack Black attitude and swagger that we know and love but also adds his own flair and makes the role his own.
Rebecca Lock as Rosalie Mullins the uptight headmistress who also longs to break free is utterly charming. Her vocals are spectacular with her operatic range shining in the Queen of the Night aria and her astounding belt providing a real highlight in Where Did The Rock Go.
You can’t have School of Rock without the music and aside from the formidable onstage musicians, the pit band are stellar. Natasha Katz’s lighting is also especially effective and Anna Louizos’ set design works faultlessly to transport us from scene to scene.
This is an incredibly cohesive production that never falters but still retains its spontaneous and high octane feel. Become part of the band and go see School of Rock on tour.
photo credit: Paul Coltas
‘A thoroughly entertaining night out’: @RewriteThisWeb catches @SchoolOfRockUK, starring @JakeySharp as Dewey Finn on tour. ★★★★ #SchoolOfRockTour #theatrereviews #SchoolOfRock
‘Slick, energetic & all-round entertaining’: @FairyPowered rocks out with the touring production of @SchoolOfRockUK, starring @JakeySharp as Dewey Finn. ★★★★ #SchoolOfRockTour #theatrereviews #SchoolOfRock
