The National Theatre of Scotland’s joyously raucous production transfers to the West End, after a hit run at the National Theatre – and a 2017 Olivier Award for best new comedy – ‘Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour’ is back to smash up the West End.
The story is about a group of Catholic schoolgirls from a small Scottish town on their way to a choir competition in Edinburgh and they are all sweary, funny and on the lookout for Sambuca! The play is a brilliant breath of fresh air to other plays on the West End.
The joy of Lee Hall’s adaptation (of Alan Warner’s novel ‘The Sopranos’) is its lack of judgement. The six teenagers knock back Sambuca shots and curse like troopers, and there’s not a sniff of moralising.The cast – most of whom originated these roles – blaze across the stage. They’re a tremendous ensemble, acting is superb and each girl had a distinctive character and relatable aspect to her. They all dipped in and out of playing the secondary characters met throughout their journey – it’s amazing how little props and scenery you need when the acting is good enough.
Vicky Featherstone’s swagger of a production rocks upwards and outwards, with tables on the Duke of York stage for some of the audience adding to the club atmosphere.
An all-women, four-piece band blast out ELO numbers as the girls swap close-harmony choral arrangements for karaoke. It’s a soundtrack you’ll want to sing along to with a joyous punch in the air!These six loud and funny girls, with their flashes of vulnerability, might be at a Catholic convent school, but ‘Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour’ is about love and friendship, not guilt. This big-hearted show captures that giddy head-rush of being young, fearless and living in the moment.
A gritty, soulful, funny and hear trenching coming of tale. If you enjoyed the History Boys, The Breakfast Club and Billy Elliott, this smashes them out of the park!
This is not a play for the easily offended but a gem for those who want some fun relief from the ridiculousness of life! If you’re an ex-convent girl yourself could also be a trip down memory lane!
Tickets for Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour are available online or at the Box Office by calling 020 7452 3000.
