Company
By Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
June 2022, ADC Theatre, 1 Week
On the night of his 35th birthday, Bobby struggles to think of anything he wants, as a lone bachelor surrounded by his married friends. Over a series of dinner parties, weddings and cocktails, he starts to confront why he is so afraid of being alone, surrounded by a world of ‘crazy’ heteronormativity.
This process included pitching, auditioning, working with musical directors and choreographers, intimacy direction and balancing character work alongside a full out musical. It also included careful consideration of how to bake accessibility into the process from the start including accessible audition packs, conscious casting and working alongside MDs to introduce Sondheim’s music in a short rehearsal period, alongside a busy exam term.
Production photography: Girinandini Singh - Rehearsal photography: Maddie Coole
“Elliot Aitken’s directorial vision was clear throughout, evidenced as much in the little flourishes and quirks as the major decisions. These little quirks elevated George Furth’s text, filling out the characters in a clever, witty way. […] It also was an unexpected ode to friendship which I found surprisingly touching. Aitken’s production of Company is littered with impressive performances, full of clever, playful moments engaged in making the audience laugh and is surely a production Sondheim himself would have been pleased by.” Varsity
Cast
Bobby – Isaac Jackson
Harry – Dominic Carrington
Susan – Erin Tan
Peter – Zachary Green
Jenny – Aria Baker
David – Kailan Hanson
Amy – Maddie Smith
Paul – James Coe
Joanne – Ashley Cooper
Larry – Tom Hayes
April – Lauren Lopez
Kathy – Chani Merrell
Marta – Emilia Grace
Sarah – Naphysa Awuah
Band
Conductor – Joseph Giles
Keys I – Bolin Dai
Keys II – Joseph Giles
Violin – Alice Drury, Jemma Starling, Emily Abbott, Jim Tse, Claire LS
Cello – Elizabeth Vogel, Matthew Wadey
Reeds – Georgia Rawlins, Emily Bretz, Jonathan Parapadakis, Kirsty Ryall
Trumpet – Nicholas Dibb-Fuller
Guitar – András Droppa, Tim Hargreaves
Bass – Gabriel Margolis
Trombone – Carl Ashworth
Percussion – Lucy Molnar
Reeds – Mia Grant, Rose Blyth
Creative
Director – Elliot Aitken
Producer – Bella Cavicchi
Musical Director – Bolin Dai, Joseph Giles
Assistant Director – William Want, Frances Arnold
Choreographer – Gina Stock, Aisha Wheatley
Costume Designer – George Jones
Set Designer – Rory Clarke
Lighting Designer – Ella Fitt
Publicity Designer – Evie Chandler
Sound Designer – Kate South, Sam Bell
Sound Engineer – Tayo Adewole
Deputy Stage Manager – Daze Corder
Stage Manager – Diana Nowicki
Technical Director – Mahon Hughes
