1969 and an excited teenager is sitting in the Prince of Wales Theatre, London waiting for the overture of the latest Broadway musical to start. The show was Sweet Charity and that teenager was me. I loved the show and always wanted to direct it – and fifty-four years later I got my wish!

With its fabulous score and fast-paced funny book, Sweet Charity was not only a hit on both sides of the Atlantic but also made into a Hollywood movie, starring Shirley MacLaine and with cameo appearances by Stubby Kaye and Sammy Davies Jr.

The show has had numerous revivals and the hits songs are still sung today – Big Spender has recently been used in a TV commercial! 

I have been very lucky over the years to introduce many musicals to the Talisman Theatre. Some well-known, some having their first performances in the UK and a couple of World Premiers. Once again I have been blessed with a talented Talisman Company both on stage and behind the scenes, and bringing this show to Kenilworth has been a joy and a dream come true.

I hope you find this great Broadway musical as entertaining as I did all those years ago.

Stephen Duckham

Director