REVIEW | The School of Rock UK Tour
THE SCHOOL OF ROCK
UK TOUR
★★★★★
I have been waiting for months to feast my eyes on this production, it has been on my must-see list since it came to London back in 2016, took to the stage with raving reviews and won an Olivier Award for its kid's casts' Outstanding Achievement in Music. There is no doubt that when you leave the auditorium after watching the show, you are in search of tickets to see it again. The School of Rock is brilliant through and through, amplified by comedy, a killer soundtrack and an incredible cast. Audiences are in for a treat with this tremendous cast on its first-ever UK Tour that writes a love letter (through theatre) about the powerful influence music can have.
The story follows failed rockstar Dewey Finn who pretends to be a substitute teacher at an elite prep school to pay the rent. His passion for rock and roll inspires the children who are desperate to make their parents listen to them. Dewey transforms his class into a rock band and enters them into the coveted Battle of the Bands competition, allowing the children to discover how music can play a positive influence on their lives along the way.
Leading the band is the wonderful Jake Sharp as Dewey Finn. His energy and spirit as this rock lover are infectious as well as nailing the comedic timing. Sharp does a phenomenal job at putting his own stamp on a role that was iconic in the 2003 film that starred Jack Black. His relationship and response to the young are what escalates the warmth of this story as well as the musicality in this show.
Of course, when it comes to The School of Rock, it's the children that steal the show. This group of children take your breath away with the level of talent they display and many of them are undertaking their professional debuts with this show. You cannot keep your eyes off how these young people manage to execute the choreography, the script and the vocals - but the fact they also play their instruments live on stage throughout the show, night after night is frankly astonishing. Younger members of the audience will be inspired by the sheer amount of talent displayed by these young people. An excellent job on this night from Issac Forward, Ivy Balcombe, David Gluhovsky, Hanley Webb, Darmani Eboji, Ophelia Parsons, Alfie Morwood, Saffia Layla, Jasmine Djazel, Nesim Adnan, Eden Anthony and Lily Rose Martin. I really enjoyed each of their performances!
The entire cast of this production is flawless in delivering a high-quality show. Accompanied by an epic killer soundtrack with some of the show's greatest hits including Stick It To The Man with its mighty influence on getting the audience headbanging to the more emotive number from Where Did The Rock Go. Rebecca Lock manages to capture the yearning for revisiting her youth in this musical number, a completely different side to the uptight school principal that we see for the majority of this story. Lock has sensational vocals and her rendition of Where Did The Rock Goes manages to showcase to the audience what a flawless talent she is.
The School of Rock is the perfect show for the entire family to enjoy. It is energetic, punchy and so much fun! Underneath all of that fun is also the story of how music brings joy to people's lives and how it can change people for the better. The cherry on the top is the superbly talented young people who will encourage aspiring performers of what their dreams in theatre can ensue if they work hard, and never give up on their dreams (just like Dewey Finn!)
The School of Rock is currently touring at various venues around the UK.
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