Up on the Roof – Oldham Coliseum

Writer: Simon Moore and Jane Prowse

Director: Peter Rowe

Reviewer: Ruth Lovett

The Public Reviews Rating:

Another winner from Oldham Coliseum in this co-production with the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich in association with Anvil Arts.

Welcome to the last night of University in Hull 1975, where five friends meet on the roof of their house for the last time. Although an unlikely group of friends with more differences between them than similarities, a deep love for MoTown and soul music binds them together through their passion for singing beautifully arranges a-cappella versions of some classic hits such as Band of Gold, When will I see you again devised by the band creator, Scott (Stephen Fletcher). Promises are made to stay in touch and whatever happens, to meet up in ten years at Tim’s (Christopher Pizzey) parents’ villa in the south of France.

Broken in to three Acts, Act 2 opens in 1980 at a church hall in Surrey dressed for a wedding. When we last saw the group, Scott and Bryony (Georgina White) were loves young dream and here we are, five years later at Bryony’s wedding. Despite all the promises made, the group have not kept in touch as much as they promises but have come together to sing at Bryony’s wedding. The wedding also gives the group the opportunity to catch up and reveal where their lives have taken them, who has been successful and who has not.

Act 3 whisks the audience to the south of France and the reunion that was arranged on that last night in Hull ten years previously. Now aged 30, the group are considered adults yet still take the opportunity to behave like teenagers an reminisce about University and the dreams they had then compares to where they have ended up. Still bound by their passion for singing, the group recreate their sound and revel in the fact they have become comfortable in their own skins and really identified who they are.

Throughout this piece, there are some good laugh out load comedy moments particularity from Keith (Gavin Spokes) as the group joker that are well executed and well timed and keep the show moving along at a good pace and genuinely reflect the relationships that exist between true friends. The story is lacking originality and is rather predictable however it provides the vehicle for the real gem in this piece, the vocal arrangements and the singing.

Every time the cast burst in to song the depth of skill quality of all five voices rings out and fills the auditorium with a great sound. By singing a-cappella the vocal arrangements can be enjoyed fully and sets this piece apart from other shows of a similar nature. For me, Gemma Wardle as Angela demonstrates a very strong vocal and is a pleasure to hear.

Credit should also be given to Foxton for creating such varied yet effective sets that really capture the locations and eras each Act is set in. The show comes full circle and leaves the audience feeling upbeat.

This is one of the finest quality productions staged at the Coliseum for some time and is well worth catching.