Godspell

The Story

Godspell is an energetic and innovative version of the Gospel according to St Matthew. It is a jubilant celebration of the power of faith, telling the story of the last seven days of Christ's life.

Jesus comes to save a world that looks very much like our own, in this playful, fun and immensely popular musical that shows the Gospel at work in modern times. Godspell sprang from the youth culture of the swinging sixties and offered it's first audiences a contemporary approach to the greatest story ever told.

This version is set in what could be described as an urban playground in one of the poorer run down quarters on New York City. Using pantomime, children's games and encompassing vaudeville, tap, soft shoe shuffle as well as including ballads, pop and rock songs such as "Day By Day", "Prepare Ye", "Turn Back O Man" and "By My Side" which provide the musical colour for the show.

With a score written by Stephen Schwartz, the academy award winnig composer of "PIPPIN" and "THE PRINCE OF EGYPT", Godspell was the first pop-rock musical, pre-dating "Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God" and "Jesus Christ Superstar", in some ways this modest and loving work remains the best of them.

Godspell originally opened off Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre on May 17th 1971. It then moved to the Promenade on Broadway and 76th Street where it ran for 2,124 performances. The 1973 film version featured Victor Garber and David Haskill.

Bystanders, Onlookers, Angels, Demons, Pharisees, Singers:  Sheila Betts
Danni Birks, Edwina Cotterill, Jessica Curr, Kathy Freese, Louise Gregory, Lynne Hickey, Sarah Hobson, Leigh Mason, Kath Moss, Jemma Nolan, Joanne Nolan, Yvonne Ogden, Claire Spencer, Amanda Tyas, Laura Webster, Paul Curr, Brian Gill, John Holding, Bob Page, Stuart Tingle, Jack Robertson