THEATRE PREVIEW - PARADE THE MUSICAL (Manchester)

amusings
Apr 17, 2016
5 min read

P A R A D E T H E M U S I C A L

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PREVIEW - Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

This week, guest writer Amy, a theatre critic, travel writer and vlogger who runs her own blog 'Sincerely, Amy', brings us her thoughts and impressions from the press launch of the upcoming Parade the Musical at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. Amy attended the launch and spoke to some of the show's cast and creatives to get a feel for power and potential of the production, and why the newly opened theatre is proving to be the perfect venue for this exciting new revival...

Manchester's newest arts venue, the Hope Mill Theatre, a former mill converted into fringe-style theatre and cafe, will be reviving the heart-wrenching production of Alfred Uhry’s Parade next month in collaboration with London-based theatre producers Aria Entertainment and James Baker Productions.

It's a powerful, emotive musical with a strong core message that covers themes of race, religion, murder and political injustice, and a central love story that offers a heart aching sense of hope. With Tony award-winning music by Jason Robert Brown, it’s a production that will likely leave an audience in complete awe.

It’s also a great marrying of material and venue; the Hope Mill Theatre being an intimate space that is going to do a wonderful job of encapsulating the raw emotion of the musical and help bring the vocals to life. The venue itself is only five months old, opened by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, both trained in musical theatre, who wanted to create a venue that brought theatre to life in Manchester. "We went in with a passion, drive and heart," they explained at the Parade press launch earlier this week.

"It's also a great marrying of material and venue;

the Hope Mill Theatre being an intimate space that

is going to do a wonderful job of encapsulating the

raw emotion of the musical and help bring the

vocals of life."

Set in Atlanta in 1913, Parade tells the story of Jewish factory manager Leo Frank who is accused of raping and murdering a thirteen-year-old factory worker Mary Phagan. Throughout his trial and conviction, his wife Lucille stands by his side and fights for justice. It’s a story of hope, injustice and love against all odds.

Of the cast, Tom Lloyd will be leading the cast as Leo Frank and he too believes the venue will really capture the poignancy of the story. He explained: “I think the intimate venue serves the piece better. When they rewrote it with a cast of fifteen, I think the heart of the piece came out more. In the Hope Mill Theatre, it is very industrial and full of character, the story begins as soon as you enter the space."

Matt Mills, who is on multi-role duties as characters Newt Lee, Riley and Jim Conley in the production believes the message of the piece would be lost in a large venue. Stressing the importance of it being performed in a space like the Hope Mill: “It is really close, you can see the pain in someone’s eyes, things you don’t see and feel in a full sized theatre. You need to be in it and you need to feel these characters’ heartbreak in order for it to resonate with you.”

Catch some of Amy's exclusive footage from the Press Launch of

'Parade the Musical' at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

London producers Aria Entertainment have jumped on the collaboration, seeing real potential in such an exciting and ambitious venture. Katy Lipson, one of Parade’s producers, said: "What I love is that it is a contemporary musical, with a beautiful contemporary score, but it is also quite epic in nature. The story, the persecution, the drama and conflict. Every part of the story I think is heartbreaking, it is just an incredibly moving and powerful show that has always been on my bucket list to produce."

Speaking in regards to this particular production, Katie also emphasised the focus on conveying the potency of the emotion to Manchester audiences. Katie added: "I think the essence of what the piece represents will always remain, but I think it is going to be very stripped back with the theatre we are working in. The artistic vision of what James [Baker] wants to do… musically it is going to be thrilling and it should be very powerful in such an intimate theatre."

Director, James Baker, spoke of his longing to direct the show since he saw it at the Southwark Playhouse, "I walked into the performance, I sat down not knowing much about it and I just heard those drum rolls and I just knew it was going to be something special. And it was special, I left completely in awe of the musical," he said. "This is something much more than a show, this is about a city, it is about changing a landscape. This is a musical that can really touch people and can also inspire and change the way in which we ultimately connect with theatre."

"As well as trained professionals, some of the cast are made

up of current students at the Arden School of Theatre based

in Manchester... an incredible opportunity to not only put

their name out there, but to also showcase the talent

of a Manchester-based drama school."

As well as trained professionals, some of the cast are made up of current students at the Arden School of Theatre based in Manchester, who are making their professional debut. It is an incredible opportunity to not only put their name out there, but to also showcase the talent of a Manchester-based drama school. They naturally described it as a fantastic platform for their career, working in a professional show with such prestigious producers providing them with a remarkable amount of experience before they've even graduated.

The cast clearly have a strong connection with the piece, and also with each other, and just witnessing them perform and through talking to them, they really show a genuine love for and dedication to the production.

Lloyd said: "I feel I instantly connect to it because it is just so raw, in my heart I am playing an innocent man and that fight and that injustice feels real. Everything he says and feels I feel, and of course the love story in the centre of all of it, that is the heart of the piece for me.”

"The cast clearly have a strong connection with the

piece, and also with each other... they really show a

genuine love for an dedication to the production."

“It’s Jason Robert Brown, you can’t go wrong," added Shekinah McFarlane, who doubles as Minnie and Angela in the show. In regards to the music, Jason Robert Brown is an innovative composer whose music is widely considered masterly, Tom explained: "Jason Robert Brown just provides gifts of songs that are more mini plays as opposed to songs, the music is so evoking which helps the show because there are a lot of facts and information that are given to you in the most beautiful way."

Everyone behind the production is clearly exceptionally dedicated, and from spending time with them, the passion is truly infectious. With a cast of 15, a full set and an orchestra of nine; Parade has the potential to put Manchester on the map in terms of excellent, high quality theatre, and we greatly look forward to seeing it in full when it opens to previews from Friday 13th May 2016.

Parade the Musical will be running at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester from Friday 13 May through to Sunday 5 June 2016.

Catch the official trailer for the production below, and further details about the show's run at the Hope Mill Theatre underneath, including links to book your tickets.