''I Should Be So Lucky'' is a British jukebox musical written by Debbie Isitt, which uses the music of the pop writing team Stock Aitken Waterman.

Creative team

The show is written and directed by the creator of the '' Nativity!'' franchise, Debbie Isitt, choreographed by

Jason Gilkison Jason Gilkison is an Australian professional ballroom dance champion and choreographer. Early life Gilkison was born in Perth, Australia. He was raised by his single mum, Kay. At age 4, he began dancing at the Perth ballroom dance studio, fo ...

, the creative director of

Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...

, and features orchestrations and musical direction from

George Dyer George Dyer may refer to: * George Dyer (poet) (1755–1841), English classicist and writer * George Dyer (politician) (1802–1878), American physician and politician * George P. Dyer (1876–1948), American football coach * George R. Dyer (1869� ...

, who has previously collaborated with Isitt on ''

Nativity! The Musical ''Nativity! The Musical'' is a stage musical written and directed by Debbie Isitt (co-composed by Nicky Ager), based on Isitt's 2009 film of the same name (part of the ''Nativity'' film series). The musical follows a Coventry based primary schoo ...

''. The show also features set and costume design from Tom Rogers, light design from Howard Hudson and Ben Harrison serves as the sound designer. The musical is being produced by Ambassador Theatre Group and Gavin Kalin Productions.

Plot

The original story for the show was devised by Isitt. It follows a young couple, Ella and Nathan, who are madly in love. They are about to take the next step in their relationship, marriage. That is, until it all goes wrong.

Musical numbers

''I Should Be So Lucky'' makes use of the back catalogue of songs written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. According to WhatsOnStage, the small selection of these songs that is due to be heard in the show will include "no less than ten number one singles." More specifically, the titular song "

I Should Be So Lucky "I Should Be So Lucky" is a 1987 song performed by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album '' Kylie'' (1988). Released on 29 December 1987 by Mushroom Records and PWL Records, the song became a worldw ...

", " Never Gonna Give You Up", " Love in the First Degree" and " Especially for You" will be heard alongside many more.

Songs used in the musical

* " Venus" - Bananarama * "

If You Were with Me Now "If You Were with Me Now" is a song written by British songwriting team Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue, and American R&B singer Keith Washington for Minogue's fourth studio album, ''Let's Get to It'' (1991). T ...

" -

Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...

& Keith Washington * "

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is a song by English pop band Dead or Alive, featured on their second album, '' Youthquake'' (1985). Released as a single in November 1984, it reached No. 1 in the UK in March 1985, taking 17 weeks to get ...

" -

Dead or Alive Dead or Alive most commonly refers to: * Dead or Alive (band), a British pop band * Dead or alive, a phrase on a wanted poster Dead or Alive may also refer to: Film and television * ''Dead or Alive'' (1921 film), an American silent film dir ...

* " Never Gonna Give You Up" - Rick Astley * "

Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend) "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" is the debut single released by sister duo Mel and Kim in 1986. The single's B-side, "System", was originally intended to be the duo's debut release, but after getting to know the sisters, Pete Waterman ...

" - Mel and Kim * "

Respectable Respectable may refer to: *Having significant social status * "Respectable" (Rolling Stones song), 1978 single * "Respectable" (Mel and Kim song), 1987 single *"Respectable", a 1960 single by The Isley Brothers, a 1965 album cover by the Yard ...

" - Mel and Kim * "

That's the Way It Is That's the Way It Is may refer to: *'' Elvis: That's the Way It Is'', a 1970 documentary film about Elvis Presley * ''That's the Way It Is'' (Elvis Presley album), a 1970 album by Elvis Presley * "That's the Way It Is" (Mel and Kim song), a 1988 so ...

" - Mel and Kim * " Better Off Without You" - Hazell Dean * "

Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go) "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" is a Hi-NRG song written and produced by British hit making team Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), which became a hit for singer Hazell Dean in 1984. Dean, having had a top 10 hit in May 1984 with "Searchin' (I Gotta Fi ...

" - Hazell Dean * "He Ain't No Competition" - Brother Beyond * "

This Time I Know It's for Real "This Time I Know It's for Real" is a song by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer, released on February 13, 1989, as the first single from her 14th studio album, ''Another Place and Time'' (1989), by Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records. ...

" -

Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the " Queen of Disco", while her mus ...

* "

Toy Boy "Toy Boy" is a song by American-British singer Sinitta, and was her first collaboration with producers Stock Aitken Waterman. The song was released on 25 July 1987, and became the fourth single in her self-titled debut album, which came out on 26 ...

" - Sinitta * " Love in the First Degree" - Bananarama * "

You'll Never Stop Me Loving You "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" is the debut single of English pop singer Sonia. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, the song was included on Sonia's debut album, '' Everybody Knows'' (1990). The single became Sonia's only number- ...

" - Sonia * " Too Many Broken Hearts" -

Jason Donovan Jason Sean Donovan (born 1 June 1968) is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap ''Neighbours'', playing Scott Robinson, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 mi ...

* "The Heaven I Need" -

The Three Degrees The Three Degrees is an American female vocal group formed circa 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although 16 women have been members over the years, the group has always been a trio. The current line-up consists of Helen Scott, Valerie Holi ...

* " Especially for You" - Kylie Minogue &

* "

" - Kylie Minogue * "

Step Back in Time "Step Back in Time" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, '' Rhythm of Love'' (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 22 October 1990, and distributed by PWL and Mushroom as a CD single, cas ...

" - Kylie Minogue * "

Better the Devil You Know "Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album '' Rhythm of Love'' (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. The song was released as the album's ...

" - Kylie Minogue * " Tell Tale Signs" - Kylie Minogue * "

" - Kylie Minogue * " Never Too Late" - Kylie Minogue

Production history

2023/24 UK tour

The world premiere production is planned to open with a residency at the Manchester Opera House on 1 November 2023. This will be followed by a UK tour that will begin at the

Wales Millennium Centre Wales Millennium Centre ( cy, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 an ...

, followed by Theatre Royal, Plymouth, the Grand Theatre, Leeds and finally at the

Mayflower Theatre Mayflower Theatre (formerly the Gaumont Theatre and originally The Empire Theatre) is a Grade II listed theatre in the city centre of Southampton, England, with a capacity of 2,300. It features West End theatre shows when they tour the United Ki ...

, Southampton. According to the initial announcement, this tour was due to close on 27 January 2024 but more dates were subsequently added extending the tour to 4 May 2024. These further dates included stops at The New Wimbledon Theatre, The New Theatre, Oxford, Kings Theatre, Glasgow,

Hull New Theatre The Hull New Theatre is a theatre in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1939 as a successor to the Hull Repertory Theatre Company. The Hull New Theatre features musicals, opera, ballet, drama, children's shows an ...

, The Milton Keynes Theatre, The Southend Cliffs Pavilion, The New Victoria Theatre, Woking, Churchill Theatre, Bromley,

The Alexandra, Birmingham The Alexandra, commonly known as the Alex, is a theatre on Suffolk Queensway in Birmingham, England. History Construction of the theatre commenced in 1900 and was completed in 1901. The architects were Owen & Ward and the theatre was opened on 2 ...

, The Bristol Hippodrome, The Liverpool Empire,

Sunderland Empire Theatre The Sunderland Empire Theatre is a large theatre venue located in High Street West in Sunderland, North East England. The theatre, which opened in 1907, is owned by City of Sunderland Council and operated by Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd, on b ...

and finally His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen.

Cast

Cast by Anne Vosser, the original cast for the show was announced on 18 July after an official press launch at Manchester's Lawn Club in the same city as the show's premiere.

2023/24 UK tour cast

* Lucie-Mae Sumner as Ella * Billy Roberts as Nathan * Jamie Chapman as Spencer *

Jemma Churchill Jemma Churchill (born 13 November 1960) is an English television, theatre, film and radio actress, best known for her roles as Nanny Lyons in ''Upstairs Downstairs'', and Ms Fellows in ''Waterloo Road''. Early life and education Churchill i ...

as Ivy * Jessica Daley as Britney * Matthew Croke as Nadeem * Melissa Jacques as Shelly * Scott Paige as Michael * Giovanni Spano as Ash * Kayla Carter as Bonnie * Gary Davis as Big Mike * Anna Unwin as Olivia * Ralph Bogard as Hassan * Sydney Isitt-Ager as Helen It was also announced that

, the singer of "

", would appear in a "specially created digital character."

References

External links

*{{official website, https://soluckymusical.com/
I Should Be So Lucky Musical on Spotify
Jukebox musicals British musicals 2023 musicals