Mods and rockers back in town
1st May 2024
Mods and rockers back in town
The mods and rockers are heading back to Great Yarmouth. But instead of bringing parkas and punch-ups to the seafront they’ll be offering romance and sixties sounds at St George’s Theatre.
Juke Box Thrive is a new musical with a Romeo and Juliet theme set against the tensions of the restless youth groups of the day – the scooter-riding mods and the leather-clad rockers.
Developed by a small group of theatre volunteers, the show has a 13-strong cast of actors depicting a troubled time, with a tender love story at its heart and a backdrop of classic songs. Juke Box Thrive is directed by Ben Nash, with assistant director Anya Robinson.
“It’s been terrific creating this production from scratch with four people who have never done anything like this before,” said Ben, who has worked at St George’s Theatre for about a year. “They’re all young, so they weren’t around in the 1960s. They had to research a lot of the background to the frustration and tension rising among young people in a fast-changing Britain.
“The result is a musical play that brings to life a period that many local people will remember. It’s an engaging and heart-warming story, with music that takes you straight back to the age of the mini skirt and bob cut.”
The story centres on the relationship between rocker Jenny, played by Isabelle Driver, and Kieran Blount’s mod Alex, who somehow find love amidst the intense rivalry of their different factions.
Debbie Thompson, theatre director, said: “This remarkable production sprang from an idea that a group of enthusiastic young people came up with while they were volunteering at St George’s. They were actually here to learn about what goes on behind the scenes but had this desire to create something for the stage that was relevant to their community. Juke Box Thrive is the result and we’re extremely proud of it.” The play was developed by volunteers Catt Whittingham, Leia Waller, Aisha Bleasdale and Malcolm Hannant, who were based at St George’s thanks to a grant from Love Norfolk.
Juke Box Thrive is at St George’s Theatre on Sunday May 26th and Monday May 27th, starting at 7.30pm. Booking at stgeorgestheatre.com.