Salad Days Brings Sunshine To The Belgrade Theatre

One of Britain's best loved and sunniest stage musicals is heading for the Belgrade Theatre this season as post-war classic Salad Days embarks on a brand new UK tour, lovingly reimagined by Regan de Wynter Williams.

Written by Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds, this award-winning show tells the story of recent graduates Jane and Timothy as they begin to plan their future together. Rejecting the plans of their pushy parents, the young couple decide to seek out jobs of their own, agreeing to take up the first opportunity that comes along.

But neither of them could have anticipated the magic and madness that follows when a mysterious stranger offers to pay them to look after his piano...

First staged at the Theatre Royal Bristol in summer 1954 followed by a transfer to London's Vaudeville Theatre the same year, Salad Days played for an impressive 2,823 performances, becoming the UK's longest running stage show until it was overtaken by Oliver! in 1960. Among its early audience members was a seven-year-old Cameron Mackintosh, an experience which famously inspired his love of theatre.

Expect young love, plenty of laughs, polite naughtiness and saucy encounters when this upbeat romp arrives in Coventry, packed with a peppy, energetic score, with songs including We Said We Wouldn't Look Back, Look At Me, I'm Dancing, and We're Looking For A Piano.

Casting for the show includes Wendi Peters (19 & 20 Sep only), Mark Anderson, Jessica Croll, James Gulliford, Francesca Pim, Megan Armstrong, Jon Osbaldeston, Jay Worthy, Maeve Byrne, Nathan Elwick, Lewi McBean, Callum Evans, Ashlee Young, Valerie Cutko, Dan Smith, Victoria Nicol and Bradley Judge.

Salad Days is directed by Bryan Hodgson, with choreography by Joanne McShane and design by Mike Lees. The lighting designer is Tim Deiling and the musical supervisor is Elliot Styche.

Director Bryan Hodgson said: "I am thrilled to be able to stage Salad Days again this autumn - it serves as one of the greatest romps in musical theatre history, and really brings us a timeless sense of enjoyment and nonsense, which is always welcome in counteracting the sometimes overwhelming seriousness of today. With the fabulous Wendi Peters joining the cast too, it will simply be a fun and delightful evening out, and I cannot wait to get the magic piano and spaceship ready for its latest trip around the charming British countryside!"

Salad Days shows at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry from Wednesday 19 until Saturday 22 September. Tickets are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055, or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

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