Conversations with the cast and crew of Godspell: Exploring the world of musical theatre productions

In early May, I had the pleasure of watching the Musical Theatre Warwick production of Godspell in The Warwick Arts Centre Studio. After watching this wonderful, inventive and vivid production, I had the chance to sit down and chat with some of the cast and crew members. Through our conversations, I was able to understand the daunting, yet rewarding, journey of bringing the vision of Godspell to life, and why engaging in musical theatre is such an important part of their university experience.  

To get a resounding understanding of the premise behind Godspell, our conversation opened with a discussion into what Godspell is really about, and how the cast and crew envisioned this production. Ellie Woolston, the Director, initially mentioned the importance of promoting community and friendship in Godspell, noting that the relationships between the ensemble in the play mattered more to her than the plot itself. Woolston found joy in the aspect of presenting the process of building relationships and how they develop, especially seeing the ensemble transition from stand-alone individuals to a chorus of friends, through Godspell’s music and choreography.  

Kate Campbell stated that joining MTW, and getting involved with Godspell, was the next step in her love for musical theatre.

For anyone familiar with the plot of Godspell, there is obvious religious content and material throughout, especially as the story consists of a group of individuals helping Jesus Christ retell the stories of the Bible. As expected, Woolston identifies the religious aspect of Godspell as a key plot-point, however, suggests the presence of religion can be utilised in an alternative and more versatile manner. Woolston fascinatingly argues that the core Christian themes are used as a way of enhancing the friendships within the story, and how people come together, rather than just subject matter, offering an original take on the script.  

Taking a step back from Godspell itself, I was interested to find out how the cast members found an interest in musical theatre, and what drove them to join MTW as a society. Notably, Kate Campbell, Ensemble Member, stated that joining MTW, and getting involved with Godspell, was the next step in her love for musical theatre, taking part in previous amateur theatre productions in her hometown. Prior to the release of Godspell, Campbell expressed that she had been less involved with musical theatre at university, however she auditioned for Godspell due to its incredible “celebration of music”, and the range of songs present. Campbell clearly perceived Godspell as a distinct musical theatre experience, thriving on its ability to accommodate every voice through its musical score.  

Throughout the process, especially the ‘sweaty’ and ‘delirious’ tech-runs, Curry remarks that the cast and crew have found so much to enjoy while producing this musical.

Cast members Matty Curry (John the Baptist/Judas) and Ollie Bigley (Jesus Christ) were very excited to tell me about the highlights involved with the production of Godspell, mainly being inside jokes that had resonated with the cast throughout the rehearsal period. This included Matty Curry discussing the presence of a pebble with eyes on in the backstage area, being a tenuous link to a lyric within the song ‘By My Side’, and further reminiscence on the “beautiful times” experienced in crafting a production. Throughout the process, especially the “sweaty” and “delirious” tech-runs, Curry remarks that the cast and crew have found so much to enjoy while producing this musical.  

Woolston stated that the cast and crew were excited for everyone to witness the remarkable transformation of The Warwick Arts Centre Studio space.

Bigley and Curry equally enjoyed the element of playing themselves in Godspell, with the ensemble keeping their own names throughout, feeling that they can emotionally embody and connect to the story. Whilst this is beneficial for playing a complex role, it equally exacerbates any post-show blues, with any emotional feelings hitting “doubly hard”, in the words of Bigley. 

Concluding my interview, I finally asked how excited everyone was for the opening night of Godspell. Woolston stated that the cast and crew were excited for everyone to witness the remarkable transformation of The Warwick Arts Centre Studio space, which was transformed into a ‘stairway to heaven’ style structure, surrounded by beautifully coloured decorations. As discussed by the cast and voiced by Woolston, they had “never seen the space used like this” in a theatre show at Warwick, furthering the excitement of the big reveal of the production to a crowded audience. The cast seemed so happy to perform in such a creative and thought-provoking way, and personally so proud to display their individual talent to the rest of the Warwick community.