The musical stage adaptation of Iain Softley’s poignant 1994 film, Backbeat, chronicles the anonymous early days of the nascent Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe – prior to their startling trajectory to superstardom.
Set in the squalid night clubs of Hamburg’s Reeperbahn, the German city’s sleazy red light district, the musical focuses on the original bassist, Stuart Sutcliffe, who opted for art school over and above certain celebrity status, before collapsing and dying in the middle of an art class at the tender age of 21.
Penned by Softley, in conjunction with Stephen Jeffreys, this West End theatre production is produced by Karl Sydow and directed by five-time Tony Award nominee, David Leveaux, while Paul Stacey provides accomplished musical direction.
Notwithstanding its serious revelation of a love triangle between Stuart Sutcliffe, his best friend, John Lennon, and the strikingly lovely German photographer, Astrid Kurchherr, Backbeat is jam-packed with toe-tapping rock ‘n roll synonymous with the greatest pop group in living memory. Expect to be dancing in the aisles to all-time classics such as Twist and Shout, Rock ‘N’ Roll Music, Long Tall Sally, Please Mr Postman and Money when they are performed live on stage!
