A brand new musical set in a fish and chip shop will have its world premiere in Huddersfield next week.
‘By George’ – produced, written and set in Yorkshire – will be at the Lawrence Batley Theatre on Wednesday September 13 (7.30pm).
Lawrence Batley Theatre have collaborated with amateur society Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company to produce a full-scale musical which will premiere on the Huddersfield theatre’s main stage.
By George is set in a Yorkshire fish and chip shop and follows the lives of the Booth family; George, Pauline and Sam.
With George – the crumbling shop’s owner – set in his ways and his son Sam growing up fast, it’s down to the heroine of the story, Pauline, to save the day.
The musical celebrates strong Northern women and their families. The music and lyrics are influenced by the work of Victoria Wood.
Lawrence Batley Theatre has a track record for producing high quality theatre, with producing credits on shows including the New York Times Critic’s Picks What A Carve Up! and The Picture of Dorian Gray and the Fringe First award-winning How Not To Drown with theatre company ThickSkin. By George will be the first time the theatre has produced a full-scale musical.
By George is written by Richard Sykes, a Huddersfield local who has been a professional songwriter for 23 years, as well as undertaking a successful career as a cruise director.
A keen performer and musician, this is Richard’s second full musical, having written a musical titled Good Grief which also premiered at Lawrence Batley Theatre in 2000.
Richard said: “This is the first time I’ve written a show set in Yorkshire. Hearing the local cast be given the freedom to sing the songs in their own natural accents and catch the Yorkshire attitude in their own performances has been moving… and very funny!
“The dedication, pride and passion of the whole creative team has been extraordinary.”
Becky Atkinson, chief executive of Lawrence Batley Theatre, said: “It’s fantastic to see other musicals telling Yorkshire stories, such as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Standing At The Sky’s Edge, have great success. We’re certain that By George will resonate with audiences just as much!
“As the only professional theatre in Kirklees we have a responsibility to tell the stories of our community on stage.
“We are proud to work alongside our local amateur theatre group and see Richard Sykes’s phenomenal musical take to the stage for the very first time.”
By George runs from Wednesday September 13 to Saturday September 16 and tickets can be booked HERE
