Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, ‘Guys and Dolls’ is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of the genre of musical theatre. Although not immediately familiar to many modern audiences, ‘Guys and Dolls’ received numerous awards during the initial run back in 1950 and has enjoyed several successful revivals since. In 1955 it was made into a film, famously starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando.
Having last produced Guys and Dolls for Ballard back in 2014, we have been waiting for the right moment to do it again. Last year we took pupils to watch the immersive production of the show at the Bridge Theatre and the experience inspired us to think creatively about our own production of the show.
Without the luxury of 8, independent hydraulic stages in the Ballard PAC, as they have at The Bridge, we opted for a traverse stage. Staging the production in this way presented new challenges to the cast and crew; the intimacy of the setting, the closeness of the audience and the direction of performance brought a fresh and exciting experience to cast and audience members alike.
As ever, I can’t praise the pupils highly enough for their dedication and hard work. Their enthusiasm is infectious. As a production team of staff, we have enjoyed watching them bond as a team and grow in confidence and skill as they have brought this production to life.
Victoria Gray, Director of Performing Arts
