We’d be hard pressed to choose a favourite show of 2022, but The Turbine Theatre’s production of But I’m a Cheerleader has to be up there – so it should come as no surprise that we’re delighted that it’s returning to The Turbine for a second limited run next month. And, this week, we found out who will be heading to the True Directions camp for the autumn season.
Based on the 1999 film of the same name, the musical is written by Bill Augustin and is augmented with an original score by Andrew Abrams. Dealing with the complex subject of gay conversion therapy, we see Megan, an American cheerleading-teen with a perfect life, shipped off to the True Directions camp with the aim of setting her straight – literally. It’s a joyous celebration of all things queer: art for the sake of art, and if the run earlier this year is anything to go by then you’ll be left wanting more at every turn!
Announced as starring in the production – once again directed by Tania Azevedo (She/her) and produced by Paul Taylor-Mills and BKL Productions – is Jessica Aubrey (She/her, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) in the lead role of Megan, accompanied by Megan Hill (They/them, Maria Friedman and Friends – Legacy) as enemy-turned-friend Graham and Georgina Hagen (She/her, Heathers) as rigid headmistress Mary Brown. Completing the cast are Michael Mather (He/him, Jet Set Go) as Jared/Rock, Noel Sullivan (He/him, How To Survive an Apocalypse) as Mike, Julian Quijano (He/him, The 12 Tenors) as André, Patrick Munday (He/him, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) as Dolph, Louis Amir Hook (He/him, Here Comes Santa Claus) as Jalal and cover Mike, Inez Budd (She/her, Heathers) as Sinead, Ash Weir (She/her, Dr Who: Time Fracture) as Kimberly/Hilary, Freddie Love (They/them, Crash Course) as Mom/Lloyd and cover Mary Brown, Kenneth Avery-Clark (He/him, Violet) as Dad/Larry, and Ciaran Spencer (He/him, making his professional stage debut) and Josie Kemp (She/her, Les Misérables) as the Super Cheerleaders.
Here at Overstudies we saw the earlier run at The Turbine back in April, and loved every minute. The intimate nature of the space places you right within the action, with the converted railway arches used to good effect with a creative set that allows the show to move at a good pace and switch seamlessly from setting to setting. The show is fresh and plays well into the ongoing market for coming-of-age musicals adapted from films (regular readers won’t have missed our enthusiasm for the likes of Heathers and Legally Blonde), but contains an important message about individuality, with a sophisticated and measured approach to the somewhat, at times, heavy subject material. Parts definitely hit a little close to home at times, but we found ourselves captivated throughout, in particular by the performance of Lauren Soley (She/her), a late addition to the early 2022 run of the show as the Super Cheerleader, but playing the role of Megan during our visit.
Indeed, it’s important to bear in mind that this is still an early production of a show still in development. Appearing originally at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2005, it appeared in the UK first at The Other Palace in February 2019 as part of MT Fest UK. During its run at The Turbine earlier this year, the show closed for a short period to further refine and revise the material, with the addition of the Super Cheerleader (swing) role to add more versatility to the show and to respond to the then-significant challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The previous run sold out quickly with capacity performances on most nights. This is a show not to be missed, so book early to guarantee you can catch it during its limited run. The show runs from 7 October to 27 November, with a Gala Performance on 11 October. Tickets are on sale now via The Turbine Theatre.
