Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
A resplendent cast sing the praises of self-expression in Mark Ravenhill’s adaptation of the feelgood football novel
The boy who defies tribal expectations is becoming a recurrent theme in the British musical. First came Billy Elliot, then Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and now the RSC gives us a show based on David Walliams’ 2008 bestseller, adapted by Mark Ravenhill, with music and lyrics by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Chris Heath. The result is a cheerful, tuneful celebration of the desire to be different that could easily replicate the popularity of its predecessors.
Walliams-watchers will hardly need to be reminded of the story. It focuses on the 12-year-old Dennis, who is star striker in the school football team but whose life changes when he covertly buys a copy of Vogue. His purchase is prompted by the cover shot of a woman who reminds him of his mum, who has left home. Dennis’s fascination with fashion starts a friendship with a much-fancied schoolmate, Lisa James, who persuades him to try on an orange sequinned dress she has designed. He looks at himself in the mirror with wonder. He never looks back.
At Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until 8 March
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