Soul fan? Get swinging, dancing and singing in anticipation of The Drifters Girl, which will come on over to Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday (October 24), writes Georgina Butler.
The acclaimed jukebox musical tells the story of 1950s vocal backing group The Drifters and the woman who made the ever-changing line-up of singers a household name. As the world’s first female, African American music manger, Faye Treadwell was a force to be reckoned with at Atlantic Records, where she spent decades fighting for The Drifters’ place in music history.
From the highs of hit records and sell-out tours to the lows of legal battles and personal tragedy, the show charts her trailblazing efforts. She simply refused to give up on the group she loved. Thirty years and hundreds of hit songs later, there is no doubt that Faye Treadwell was, and always will be, The Drifters Girl.
The narrative unfolds to a soundtrack bursting with the doo-wop, rhythm-and-blues and soul hits Faye helped create. Some of the most well-known tunes to look forward to include ‘Saturday Night At The Movies’, ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’, ‘Under The Boardwalk’ and ‘Stand By Me’.
Theatregoers can expect to be transported to an era of classic soul!
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The Drifters Girl opened in London’s West End at the Garrick Theatre in 2021 and was nominated for best new musical at the 2022 Olivier Awards.
Beverly Knight originated the role of Faye Treadwell – her powerful portrayal earned her an Olivier Award nomination for best actress in a musical. Felicia Boswell took over the role of Faye in July 2022 and continued until the West End run closed on 15 October 2022.
Running time: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, including an interval.
The Drifters Girl is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 October.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher. Click here and follow her on Twitter @GeorginaLButler and Instagram @glbdancewriter
