BWW Reviews: GLASGOW GIRLS, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, February 21 2013

Originally opening at the Citizens Theatre in 2012, National Theatre's Glasgow Girls returns for a limited run.

Due to overcrowding of asylum seekers in London, in the late 90s a large number were rehomed in Glasgow's high rise flats. Having spent over five years at in Drumchapel and the surrounding areas, the families featured in this musical now view Glasgow as their home. So when the home office announce the removal and deportation of asylum seekers there is an outcry amoung the community. A group of seven pupils start campaigning against the removal of their friends and neighbours.

You would be hard pushed to find fault with this stunning musical. The acting is fantastic, the story is hard hitting and the songs are excellent. It has been a while since I have seen a show where the songs have been stuck in my head after only one viewing.

While there is a very serious tone to the musical - the dawn raids and removal of asylum seekers are very unsettling - there is a brilliant comical tone to Glasgow Girls. Some of the cast members are playing several characters but it is done in an obvious and very entertaining manner. There is also a lot of colloquial language and culture references which went down very well with the Glasgow audience. However, it is nothing too obscure that wouldn't translate outside of Scottish theatre.

Glasgow Girls runs at the Citizens Theatre until March 8th.

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