WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHERE? Cockpit Theatre RUN TIME: 1 hour and 45 minutes (including 15 minute interval)

WHEN?: 21/10 (matinee) runs to 28/10/18

We last saw Dean John-Wilson (pictured above far right) as the lead in Aladdin in the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End.

• Read on for reasons including how this outstanding cast perform the socks off this material

He is one of six performers here at the rather more intimate 220-seat Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone performing a 26-song cycle by songwriter Scott Alan whose work with artists including Cynthia Erivo, Lea Salonga, Samantha Barks, Jeremy Jordan  and Oliver Tompsett you might already be familiar with.

We were a little apprehensive before arriving here because we didn’t think we would be familiar with any of the songs performed and we weren’t sure exactly how the song cycle would work.

It actually just means the songs merge into one another and share inter-related themes including family, relationships and, in one particularly hard-hitting thread, alcoholism.

We follow the stories of three couples (two gay and one straight) and we particularly enjoyed Adrian Hansel as Samuel singing the joyous Easy. Jodie Jacobs is very funny and especially adorable in the light-hearted Just A Walk.

We’re here because we loved John-Wilson in both Aladdin and Miss Atomic Bomb and we don’t leave disappointed.

He has the alcoholism storyline and it is the most affecting with John-Wilson even stripped to his boxer shorts at one point for a watery ‘rebirth’.

John-Wilson is but 1 of half a dozen fine singers on show and, despite not having been to the venue before or being familiar with the material, it was an enjoyable and emotional afternoon well spent.

• Picture via Facebook courtesy The Distance You Have Come. Tickets
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