Jordan Luke Gage's moving debut musical is brought to life by a strong cast and benefits from clever staging in an intimate theatre
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What’s it about?
Based on a true story, Redcliffe is set in Bristol in 1752 and follows William Critchard and Richard Arnold as they navigate their forbidden love in a society where same-sex relationships were harshly persecuted.
It is always exciting to see new writing being championed and this production has developed a loyal following since it was first showcased through development presentations at the Turbine Theatre and MTFestUK before receiving sold-out workshop performances at The Other Palace in May 2024. It now makes its fully staged world premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough.
With book, music and lyrics by actor Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie & Clyde, Heathers, &Juliet), the musical marks his first foray into writing and we’re excited to follow both the trajectory of this show and his future work.
What we loved best
Redcliffe benefits from a very strong cast fully committed to the material. The key relationships in this musical are fabulous. Jordan Luke Gage (William) shares excellent chemistry with Daniel Krikler (Richard), creating a believable emotional connection that anchors the production throughout. Krikler is particularly engaging and brings an almost dangerous energy to the role.
The supporting performances are equally strong, particularly Rebecca Lock and Jess Douglas Welsh as William’s mother and sister. They are both warm, hilarious, moving and with Gage it genuinely feels like a family unit.
The score is strong, blending upbeat ensemble numbers with tender duets. ‘A Million Things I Know’ and ‘The Most Amazing Wedding’ were a couple of our favourites.
Paul Foster’s excellent staging uses the audience on three sides of the stage to full advantage, as well as the ‘runway’ set creating movement, height and interest.
The simple set works really well with cleverly concealed prop storage allowing actors to access them easily throughout the piece without interrupting momentum.
Anything we’d change?
Act One feels stronger than Act Two. With less focus on the relationship between William and Richard in the second half, some of the emotional intensity begins to dissipate. Several supporting characters could also benefit from greater depth and development, while the Felix Farley scene feels somewhat disconnected from the rest of the narrative.
While the performances and staging remain consistently engaging, the story never quite uncovers the dramatic revelations or escalating stakes needed to fully maximise its emotional impact. That said, new musicals evolve through productions such as this, and Redcliffe has clearly continued to grow since its earlier workshop presentations.
Who would enjoy it?
Audiences who enjoy seeing new works, and musicals performed in smaller, intimate spaces.
Who Made It
Book, music and lyrics by Jordan Luke Gage (Bonnie & Clyde, Heathers, &Juliet). Directed by Paul Foster, choreography by Emma Woods, set design by Andrew Exeter, costume design by Martin Hanly, lighting design by Matt Hockley, sound design by Alistair Penman, musical supervision by Katy Richardson and associate musical direction & orchestrations by Ben Tomalin.
Verdict
A well-acted and impressively staged new musical. While the book could delve deeper into its dramatic stakes and character development, the strength of the performances, score and excellent direction make this a moving and compelling evening of theatre.