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Chess

A superb cast of West End stars including James Fox (Fame Academy, Jesus Christ Superstar), Shona White (Wicked), Daniel Koek (West Side Story), Poppy Tierney (Mary Poppins, Aspects of Love, The Witches of Eastwick), James Graeme (The Phantom of the Opera) and David Erik (Dirty Dancing, The Phantom of the Opera) lead a cast of 30 actors and musicians in this unmissable production. Read more …

Written by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Chess has one of the greatest musical theatre scores of all time including One Night In Bangkok, Pity The Child, Anthem, You And I and, of course, I Know Him So Well.

Two of the world's greatest chess masters battle it out at the world chess championships but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Amidst political intrigue and international conspiracies, the American and the Russian fight to win the heart of Florence Vassy in a romantic triangle that mirrors the heightened passions of the Cold War all set to an explosive score by the composers of Mamma Mia and the lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

More information on this production is available at www.chess-the-musical.co.uk.

The critical consensus

More about spectacle than coherence, and for the most part it works remarkably well.

Michael Cox, Onstage Scotland, 24/09/2010

As Florence, Shona White knows how to belt out a power ballad, and beyond the hits, her rendition of Nobody’s on Nobody’s Side is the best thing about a show that’s really just a game of two halves.

***(*)(*)Neil Cooper, The Herald, 23/09/2010

Indeed, the production could do with a few quieter moments to allow the plight of the main characters to resonate more with the audience. However, this is a spectacular and impressive new version of the show.

****(*)Keith Paterson, WhatsOnStage.com, 24/09/2010

It's definitely worth taking up Horwood's challenge for a night, if you're game that is.

*****Josie Balfour, Edinburgh Evening News, 22/09/2010

There's a huge market for this kind of showy tosh; but in the end, it's just theatrical junk food, full of superficial flavours and bright colours, signifying almost nothing.

**(*)(*)(*)Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman, 24/09/2010

Craig Revel Horwood’s reinterpretation of Chess is outstanding, a visually stunning and emotionally striking piece of theatre. Its next move is surely to the West End.

****(*)Scott Purvis, WhatsOnStage.com, 07/04/2011

Even a great cast can’t make a bad show good.

**(*)(*)(*)Adelle Hopkins, Theatre in Scotland, 06/04/2011

Ultimately the show comes across as a triumph of style over substance.

Alan Chadwick, STV, 06/04/2011


Features about Chess

He's the grand master of the dance

Rachel Loxton, Evening Times, 28/03/2011

Where and when?

Playhouse, Edinburgh from Tuesday September 21, 2010, until Saturday September 25, 2010. More info: www.edinburgh-playhouse.co.uk

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen from Tuesday October 5, 2010, until Saturday October 9, 2010. More info: www.hmtaberdeen.com

King's Theatre, Glasgow from Tuesday April 5, 2011, until Saturday April 9, 2011. More info: www.theambassadors.com/kings/

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