REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL… The Tour!

Back by popular demand Graeae and New Wolsey Theatre return with its critically acclaimed, award nominated smash hit musical REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL.

Kicking off an epic 1633 mile tour, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL opens at the New Wolsey Theatre, before visiting Hall for Cornwall, , Hull Truck Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, Dundee Rep, Dury’s old stamping ground Hackney Empire and finally Nottingham Playhouse.

‘Rough, ready and bl**dy brilliant’ Time Out

It’s 1979: Labour loses to the Tories, strikes rock the nation and Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ Reasons to be Cheerful (Part 3) climbs the charts. As the ultimate fans, Vinnie and his mates would do anything to see Dury at the Hammersmith Odeon, only the gig is sold out. But life has a habit of throwing strange things at you, and one night of frustration becomes something else entirely…

Written by Paul Sirett and directed by Graeae’s Jenny Sealey, this acclaimed coming of age tale featuring Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ greatest hits such as “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll”, “Sweet Gene Vincent”, “Spasticus Autisticus” and “Hit Me with your Rhythm Stick” will fill theatres with raucous glee. ‘Ave it!

‘A Masterpeice!’ Chaz Jankel – The Blockheads

Tickets on sale now!

If you can’t wait until 2012 and are craving a fix of anarchy right now, you can always visit our Reasons microsite and take a spin on the random generator. You can visit the site here.

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Direction – Jenny Sealey
Musical direction – Robert Hyman
Design – Gaelle Mellis
Lighting design – Ian Scott
Choreography – Mark Smith
Sound design – Lewis Gibson
Video – Mark Haig
Original production co-produced by Graeae, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, and Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Reasons to be Cheerful (Part3) original track – Lyrics and music by Ian Dury, Chaz Jankel & Davey Payne

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Spring 2012

Tickets on sale now!

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
9 Feb – 18 Feb 2012
Tickets £8.50 – £25.00
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01473 295900

Hall for Cornwall
23 Feb – 25 Feb 2012
www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
Box Office: 01872 262466

Hull Truck
1 March – 4 March 2012
www.hulltruck.co.uk
Box Office: 01482 323638

Watford Palace
13 March – 17 March 2012
Tickets £11.50 – £22.00
www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 01923 225671

Dundee Rep
20 March – 24 March 2012
www.dundeerep.co.uk
Tel: 01382 223530

Hackney Empire
28 Mar – 1 April 2012
Tickets £10 – £27.50
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Box Office: 020 8985 2424

Nottingham Playhouse
3 April – 7 April 2012
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Box Office: 0115 941 9419

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Reasons to be Cheerful – Workshops

To accompany the REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL tour, Graeae is offering a workshop programme to groups that visit the show.

Suitable for: Participants aged 14 and above. Workshops can be adapted to suit students at BTEC, Diploma, A Level, and Higher Education degree level.

There are three workshop options, each drawing influence from the production:

Creative Access: The Graeae Aesthetic
Engage with Graeae’s exciting creative approaches, exploring how devised work is enriched by
the use of audio description, visual storytelling and accessible performance techniques in the
devising process. Outcome: to provide participants with practical tools enabling them to
devise and perform a short, accessible scene.

Song Writing: Your World, Your Voice, Your Story
Engage with the storytelling, poetry and lyrics of Ian Dury’s music, using his unique style as
inspiration to find the group’s individual or collective voice. Outcome: to offer participants
the opportunity to create/write a short song in their own style and perform it to the group.

Exploring Key Themes: Identity and Relationships
Engage with the above themes by exploring selected snapshots from the narrative using
various dramatic techniques (such as role play or forum). Outcome: to give participants
the opportunity to devise and perform a short scene inspired by the above themes.
Time required: Minimum 2 hours. Maximum number of participants: 25

Workshops cost £100 + VAT for all group bookings of 15+ tickets to see the show. For smaller groups please contact us to discuss workshop fees.To book a workshop and for more information: please contact Nadine Renton on 020 7613 6900 or nadine at graeae.org

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‘The music is brilliant… there are moments of crude punk genius’
The Times

“Oi, oi! Paul Sirett’s new musical fashioned around the music of Ian Dury is rough, ready and bloody brilliant.”
Time Out – Critics’ choice 4 Stars

‘The energy and anarchic attitude are faultless.’
The Daily Telegraph

‘Reasons To Be Cheerful – The Musical is a Graeae Theatre Company triumph. The BBC’s banned Spasticus Autisticus is joyfully defiant.’
The Guardian

Celebrity Quotes

Richard Wilson OBE (Actor)
‘A wonderful production. An energy and rawness that spoke to everyone in the audience,
and one of the happiest shows I have ever seen.’

Jenny Agutter (Actress)
‘When the curtain came down everyone was on their feet applauding and wanting more. There was enough energy on stage to light up all of the West End. This production must have the chance to reach the large audience it really deserves. It is a timely, funny and immensely entertaining piece of theatre. I can’t wait to see it again’

Chaz Jankel (chief Blockhead & Ian’s former writing partner)
‘Surely, what defined Ian Dury was his spirit, courage and wit… this is exactly at the heart
of Graeae’s production of REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL.When I saw the show I was amazed by the pace, vigour and attention to detail of these brilliant actors and musicians. Having worked and hung out with Ian Dury for so many creative years, I knew exactly what uplifted him and what irritated him – big time! He applauded strength of spirit and sincerity. I think I could truthfully say on Ian’s behalf that
had he been here to see these guys he would be proud, gob smacked and may even have
shed a tear for the sheer bravura of this musical. A masterpiece!’

Lee Harris (Manager of The Blockheads)
‘We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The whole show was done in the absolute spirit of the
music and that’s why it works so well – something the film and the play weren’t successful
with. Mick and I are going back on the last night… You are doing us and Ian proud.’

Jemima Dury (Ian’s daughter)
‘There is energy and honesty, fantastic music and above all, excellent entertainment. I know
Ian would be overwhelmed with pride to see how his and the Blockheads’ music has been
brought to a new audience. The show really, really deserves to go further.’

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Promo for Reasons to be Cheerful

BSL synopsis for Reasons to be Cheerful

Reasons to be Cheerful – The tour - A note from the writer

Download A note from the writer as an MP3

Reasons to be Cheerful – The tour - Audio description of the set

Download Audio description of the set as an MP3

Reasons to be Cheerful – The tour - Audio description of characters and costume

Download Audio description of characters and costume as an MP3

Reasons to be Cheerful – The tour - Cast and production team

Download Cast and production team as an MP3

Reasons to be Cheerful – The tour - Reasons to be Cheerful (Part3) original track – Lyrics and music by Ian Dury, Chaz Jankel & Davey Payne. Performed by the cast

Download Reasons to be Cheerful (Part3) original track – Lyrics and music by Ian Dury, Chaz Jankel & Davey Payne. Performed by the cast as an MP3

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