Pop music lovers listen up: the new Stock Aitken Waterman musical, I Should Be So Lucky, visits Milton Keynes Theatre this week, writes Georgina Butler.
Get ready to hear the songwriting trio’s beloved chart-toppers like never before in this original British musical, which invites theatregoers to lose themselves in a whirlwind of sun-kissed adventures and iconic pop classics. The show’s powerhouse creative team promises to use the soundtrack of a generation to tell an original story of love, laughter and last-minute getaways.
Ella and Nathan are a star-crossed couple with wedding jitters and tropical dreams. Will their love sail smoothly or are stormy break-ups ahead? Only time and tunes will tell.
Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman (better known collectively as Stock Aitken Waterman) are among the most successful songwriters, arrangers and producers in the history of pop music.
They are responsible for writing 13 number one songs in the UK charts between 1985 and 1990. Songs that were, and still are, performed by pop royalty such as Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley and Jason Donovan.
The soundtrack for I Should Be So Lucky features over 30 era-defining songs from the Stock Aitken Waterman hit factory catalogue, including no less than 10 number one singles. Some of the tracks that will be doing the talking are: ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, ‘Respectable’, ‘Better The Devil You Know’, ‘Love In The First Degree’, ‘Venus’, ‘You Spin Me Round’ and ‘Especially For You’.
It's “a crazy situation”, but the show also features pre-recorded screen appearances from Kylie Minogue. She is included in the narrative as a specially created character.
All things considered, it sounds as if theatregoers should expect to experience feel-good nostalgia and sunny, starry silliness.
I Should Be So Lucky is written and directed by Debbie Isitt (Nativity!) and choreographed by Jason Gilkison (creative director of Strictly Come Dancing). It has orchestrations and musical direction by George Dyer, set and costume design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson and sound design by Ben Harrison.
Running time: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, including an interval.
This show contains swearing/bad language throughout.
*Production photography by Marc Brenner.
I Should Be So Lucky is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 March.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher. Follow her on Twitter @GeorginaLButler and Instagram @glbdancewriter
