Rocking The Bowhouse this week

Bowhouse St Monans is the setting for some nostalgic rock music live on stage this week as ADAMS hosts that well known musical which was nominated for five TONY Awards when it first opened. It all started back in a Los Angeles theatre in 2005 then moved to Broadway a year later with over 2300 performances. This led to a movie in 2012 starring Tom Cruise and subsequent touring productions which came to Edinburgh playhouse in May 2022. Officially licenced from Concord Theatricals this local production will play homage to the same rock anthems as the original production.

Set in 1980’s Hollywood the party set is outrageous in this glam venue the Bourbon Room when Stacee Jaxx takes to stage. Watching on is Drew, the toilet cleaner with hopes of stardom and even more hopes of impressing new girl Sherrie who has just arrived in Tinseltown fresh off the bus from Kansas. All plans and aspirations seem lost though as German property developers come into town with plans to tear down the venue to build a mall on the Sunset Strip. Can Drew and his mates save the venue before the last show as the developers are ready to move?

The songs are all time 1980’s rock greats with We Built This City, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight This Feeling’, The Final Countdown and of course party central with the ubiquitous Don’t Stop Believing as made famous by Journey. I spoke with Musical Director Robert Nee this week, and he is excited to bring his assembled six-piece band together for such an iconic soundtrack. He also directs the show and that includes the band being on stage with the actors in an immersive experience.

In the lead role of Drew is Ewan Archibald returning after 29 years to ADAMS having moved back to this area with work. Rachel Nee plays Sherrie and returns after playing Yvonne in the 2021 production of Sunshine On Leith and has worked with Leven Operatic and St Andrews Operatic and was previous President of the society.

Lonny is played by Neil Hutton and was also in Sunshine On Leith, Mitch Scott-Bell (Dennis) was in Made In Dagenham, Jonathan Cammige has the larger that life character of Stacee Jaxx, and all supported by Janice Fyall, Stuart Barton, Archie Barton and Keziah Scott-Bell. The challenging dance staging on the big stage has been choreographed by Louise Andree Douglas-Mirza and she has recently moved to Fife so met the cast for the first time and was impressed by their professionalism.

Louise has worked on television and the West End and is a member of the Magic Circle.

This is the 86th production for ADAMS and after two sold out runs at the Byre Theatre St Andrews they return to Bowhouse to convert the space into a custom theatre with the help of Apex Acoustics and a team of volunteers and members. The ensemble has 20 women and 17 men on stage promising a spectacle as well as a licenced bar in their custom space.

ADAMS presents Rock Of Ages until October 26th at Bowhouse St Monans. Tickets HERE

https://www.bowhousefife.com/event/bowhouse-rock-of-ages/