Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Great British Bake Off Musical. I know The Gallery Players have put on fantastic performances for the last 40 years, and I love GBBO but what on earth would the story line be? Would it be an out and out comedy? How would they convey baking on stage? I just couldn’t work out how you could write a musical about buns and biscuits.
What I saw was a show so wonderfully full of humour and heart it caught me by surprise. Yes there was the tent, the famous benches, complete with posh stand mixers, gingham altar and bakery based innuendo, but what I wasn’t expecting was to be so moved.
Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
All credit must go to director and choreographer Wade Ablitt, who has done a tremendous job with such a talented cast. If you’ve never seen The Gallery Players before don’t be fooled into thinking you are watching an amateur company – they are amateur only in name – there is nothing amateur about this show. You could be watching a West End cast with a quality of staging and music that is totally professional.
One of things I loved about this was how deliciously daft it is in places, with outstanding props that help with the silliness – giant scone costumes anyone? Is it scone like traffic cone or is it scone like Elton John?
Then just as you’re laughing, it hits you with a storyline about grief or infertility completely out of the blue, and you’ve got something in your eye.
Photo Credit: Mike Kwasniak
This is very much an ensemble piece, with Jim and Kim our slick and smiley hosts ( Josh Day and Evie White), judges Phil Hollinghurst (Duncan Broatch) and Pam Lee ( the glorious Steph Brown, having the time of her life camping it up in statement glasses and bright colours), and the eight contestants who are at the very heart of the show, each with a personal story or quirk that endures them to the audience.
It’s hard to pick anyone out but I must say Aimee Salmon as Francesca has the most beautiful voice and moved the audience to tears with her big solo number, and Harriet Bacon as Izzy makes a great villain for the Instagram age.
The rest of the run is sold out, and deservedly so, but if there are any returns then sell your Grandmother’s secret sponge cake recipe, that’s been in the family for generations, to get them.
Great British Bake Off Musical – runs until 26th July at the New Wolsey Theatre
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