Chess - The Musical
by Benny Andersson, Tim Rice and Bjorn Ulvaeus
Chess - The Musical had 4 performances about 2 years ago (between the 1st of December 2022 and the 3rd of December 2022) at Rhoda McGaw Theatre
193rd Production. By arrangement with Three Knights Limited, The Schubert Organisation Inc and Robert Fox Limited, we are delighted to announce our autumn production will be the wonderful musical Chess. With huge hit numbers such as One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him so Well, we are sure this will be a fabulous entertainment.
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Chess was written by the ABBA guys, Benny and Bjorn, and Tim Rice. It premiered in the West End (with Elaine Paige and Murray Head) in 1986 where it ran for three years before transferring to Broadway in a very much altered version. (Both versions have been recorded in full on YouTube so if you want to check this out make sure it’s the 1986 West End version you watch - although the sound and picture quality are terrible. There are also some ‘in concert’ versions on YouTube (the ‘young Josh Groban’ one is pretty good) but the Danish one (sung in English!) is good and is accurate to the show we’re doing, though only audio). Chess returned to London in 2018 starring Michael Ball and Alexandra Burke. The show includes chart topping numbers I Know Him So Well (Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson) and One Night In Bangkok (Murray Head).
The story centres around a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters, one American and the other Russian, and their fight over a woman who initially manages one, but then falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any real individuals, the character of the American grandmaster was loosely based on Bobby Fischer, while elements of the story may have been inspired by the chess careers of Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.. Chess allegorically reflects the Cold War tensions present in the 1980s. The musical has been referred to as a metaphor for the whole Cold War, with the insinuation being made that the Cold War is itself a manipulative game. Released and staged at the height of the strong anti-communist agenda, Chess addressed and satirised the hostility of the international political atmosphere of the 1980s. So not a million laughs then! But it is a really, really great musical with lots of brilliant tunes (which is just as well as the whole show is sung), clever lyrics and a good story line. There are some fun moments - Merano is a thigh-slapping, lederhosen-clad number, the Merchandisers’ Song is upbeat, Kleine Franz is a drunken stein-waving number and the Embassy Lament is a bit of fun.
Download flyer
Click here to download a copy of the flyer for this production.
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Freddie Trumper - Tom UnderwoodThe American champion - a self-absorbed, fame-and-fortune-seeking, short-tempered, immature bad boy, who later matures and aids Anatoly a year after his own defeat. American accent. Audition song: Pity the Child. |
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Anatoly Sergievsky - Nick LundThe Russian champion - a troubled husband and father who despises the propaganda and politics of the tournament, eventually deciding to defect from his homeland, even at the cost of deserting his family. We tend to sympathise with him - probably because he appears a nicer guy than Freddie, but he is an adulterer and has had numerous affairs so he’s not all good. Mild Russian accent. Audition song: Anthem. |
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Florence Vassy - Jean WarnerFreddie's strong-willed second and lover, born in Budapest, raised in England, and separated from her presumably captured or killed father during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Florence feels strained and frustrated by Freddie's brashness and childish behaviour and falls in love with Anatoly, eventually becoming his mistress. English accent. Audition song: Nobody’s Side. |
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The Arbiter - Emma ThompsonThe coldly objective, no-nonsense referee of the championship tournament and the president of the International Chess Federation. Usually performed by a man, but no reason why this couldn’t be a woman. Accent - could be from anywhere. Audition song: Arbiter’s Song. |
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Alexander Molokov - Mark HumbleAnatoly's conniving second who is apparently also a manipulative KGB agent. A threatening presence. Strong Russian accent. Audition song: Soviet Machine. |
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Walter de Courcey - Guy WarnerA financial administrator in Freddie's delegation, head of a US TV network and seemingly a secret CIA agent. American accent. Audition Song: Merano. |
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Svetlana Sergievskaya - Jenny PowellAnatoly's estranged wife who, under Molokov's machinations, tries to persuade Anatoly to return to his homeland and family; although upset at Anatoly's betrayal, she also understands that Florence has given Anatoly something she cannot herself. Mild Russian accent. Audition song: Someone Else’s Story. |
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The Mayor and Chorus - Paul Foster |
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TV Presenter and Chorus - Jamie Frier |
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Civil Servant and Chorus - Faith Powell |
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Civil Servant and Chorus - Sue Tregoning |
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Civil Servant and Chorus - Ian Thomas |
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Acolyte, Dancer and Chorus - Amy Horn |
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Acolyte, Dancer and Chorus - Maddy Daly |
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Acolyte and Chorus - Kieran Scully |
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Acolyte and Chorus - Michael Senanayake |
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Civil Servant, Dancer and Chorus - Bethan Mardell |
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Dancer and Chorus - Sasha Wong |
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Dancer and Chorus - Melanie Silk |
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Dancer and Chorus - Sarah Slater |
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Chorus - Kay Frier |
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Chorus - Anna Foster |
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Viigand - Tony Frier |
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Director and Choreographer - Tony Frier |
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Musical Director - Chris Winslet |
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Stage Manager - Linda Mardell |
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Set Design and Construction - John Godliman |
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Choreographer - Melanie Silk |
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ASM, Props, Set Assistant and Crew - Clare Pinnock |
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Publicity - Maddison Heywood |
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Set Assistant - Tim Mardell |
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Set Assistant and Scenic Artist - Linda Russell |
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Set Assistant - Luke Murfitt |
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Set Assistant and Crew - Liz Thomas |
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Set Assistant and Crew - Danielle Adams |
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Set Assistant and Crew - Emma Nuttall |
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Stage Crew - Marc Anderson |
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Lighting and Sound - Jonathan Miller |
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Lighting and Sound - Chris Elcocks (MC Production Group) |
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Wardrobe - Sarah Slater |
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Wardrobe - Faith Powell |
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Wardrobe - Anna Foster |
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Wardrobe - Kay Frier |
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Wardrobe - Nancy Lund |
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Front of House and Publicity - Frankie Godliman |
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Flyer and Programme Design - Anne Nunn |
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Lighting and Sound Assistant - Louise Carter |
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Photography - Alan Bostock (www.photoeyes.biz) |
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Keyboards - James Lopez |
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Keyboards and Oboe - Terry Hogan |
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Keyboards - Tom Worrall |
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Flute and Piccolo - Ria Senanayake |
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Clarinets - Michelle Andrews |
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Trumpet - Kevin Edwards |
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Trombones - Andrew White |
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Bass - Diane McGuire |
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Drums and Percussion - Tim Garner |
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Guitar and Musical Director - Chris Winslet |