I got front row seats for Musical Theatre Warwick’s production of Godspell: “Prepare Ye” for the show of a lifetime

I was quite naive to the concept behind Stephen Schwartz’s award-winning adaptation of Godspell. Being an avid musical theatre fan, I was quite disappointed in myself for not listening to the soundtrack before, or even being aware of the story. My preconceptions prior to watching Godspell were that it would be a Jesus Christ Superstar style of production. I, however, was completely wrong.

Sitting in the audience, the stage design and lighting is immediately eye-catching

The story of Godspell follows a group of individuals, who help Jesus Christ (Ollie Bigley) tell the stories of the Bible through a funky blend of musical numbers, with a mixture of worship-style songs, powerful ballads, and even pop music-style hits. What was so incredible about the casting and directing of Godspell, led by Ellie Dickens and Ellie Woolston, and assisted by Milly Owen and Maddy Wilding, was that every single cast member got their moment in the spotlight, even with such a vast array of musical genres and ranges present within the score.

Sitting in the audience, the stage design and lighting is immediately eye-catching. The Warwick Arts Centre Studio has been transformed into a “stairway to heaven” set-up, with the band being situated at the top of the stairs and a striking stained glass window design behind them. The core staging theme behind Godspell is the colourful vibrancy, with the Studio being adorned with bunting, ribbons, and rainbow-coloured lighting, creating a truly celebratory atmosphere.

Under the direction of Costume and Makeup Director, Casi Chapman, Bigley’s portrayal of Jesus is like nothing I’ve ever seen before

Godspell opens with the company embodying the roles of famous philosophers, from Socrates, to DaVinci, and even Martin Luther, all wearing boho-style outfits and signs with their characters named displayed around their necks. However, the opening number, “Prepare Ye The Way Of the Lord,” is completely dismantled with the burst of colour brought by “Save The People,” a bold introduction to the characters of Jesus (Ollie Bigley) and John the Baptist (Matty Curry), who both bring order and chaos at the same time.

Under the direction of Costume and Makeup Director, Casi Chapman, Bigley’s portrayal of Jesus is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, being dressed like a trendy pop-star, ready to go to a Harry Styles concert, all while wearing a Superman t-shirt and a sparkly halo. Whatever your mental images of Jesus are, this is not it… it’s way more fun! The wider cast all wear colourful accessories, from pink fluffy cowboy hats to feather boas – an amusing physical presentation of the hilarity and borderline absurdity of Godspell itself.

As a united ensemble, the teachings of Jesus become transformed into a camp, drama school-style lesson, with the scenes being full of song, dance, and chaos. These musical numbers are brought to life by the amazing band, led by Toby Jewers, Josh Ireland, and Nic Holmes, led by Musical Director and band member, Dom Hodgson, who bring such a sense of power to the numbers. The choreography throughout Godspell, led by Sophia Diossy, adds to this sense of joy and celebration.

Godspell thrives through its audience participation.

Godspell thrives through its audience participation and hilarious ad-libbing, a part of the show I was not expecting, but thoroughly enjoyed. I have to admit, I often like to be an anonymous theatregoer, with the idea of getting pulled onto the stage at a Pantomime being one of my worst nightmares. However, audience participation works so well with Godspell. There was something so ridiculous and fun about being asked onto the stage to dance before the interval began, with the stage transforming into a club-like setting. Under the direction of Woolston, the whole production feels modern and current, with the words “you crazy idiot sandwich” and the mention of Boris Johnson’s ID being included in the same breath as quite serious Biblical studies.

Godspell The Musical is showing at the Warwick Arts Centre from the 9th to the 11th May.

From the incredible singing numbers, with my personal favourite being the duet in ‘By My Side’ (performed by Annie Jenkins and Daisy Murphy), to the fabulously vibrant aspect of every part of the show, Godspell is such a fun watch!

Godspell The Musical is showing at the Warwick Arts Centre from the 9th to the 11th May.