A rather belated endorsement of Woody Sez, the musical currently half way through its 3 month run at the Arts Theatre in London. I went to see it back in January, and have been recommending it since to everyone who’ll listen.
It’s a biography of radical US folk legend Woody Guthrie, told mostly through snippets of his music. Four performers cover all the roles, dispensing with such frippery as props, costume or set changes, and it works kind of as an accompanied monologue, rattling straight through a half century of American history like a west-bound boxcar.
Told from Guthrie’s perspective, the show records his travels through an unequal society, stretched to breaking point by the great depression, and demonstrates how witnessing the lives of people caught on the sharp edge of a great crisis radicalised him and his art.
The performances are fantastic – with dozens of instruments shared round between the cast, from banjos to spoons, with everyone seemingly a virtuoso at them all – and the cast’s enthusiasm for the material is utterly infectious – a Guthrie CD has now replaced the nursery rhymes CD in our car stereo – with “This Land is Your Land” the new back seat favourite.
With protest the new black, this show deserves a packed house every night. For those worried about how this current crisis is going to hit the UK’s most vulnerable, the show is an affirmation and an inspiration. It’s only on until 2 April, so get in if you can.
Just saw it tonight, absolutely fantastic show – I recommend it highly to anyone with a conscience and good taste in music!
Hey, a group of us from my office will see the show on 21 March. I’ve been promoting this to my friends overseas and quite a few have come to see it. The response has been very positive and one Anna B from Geneva even said to me that the TUC must make this compulsory to all staff?!
Hi,
I produce the show in conjunction with my buisness partner and Mary Cossette Productions, I just wanted to extend my thanks for all your kind words, I have some exciting news about a collaboration with the TUC, more when we can,
Thanks again for your support,
‘unless we do here the work songs, the war songs, love songs and the dance songs of all the people, everywhere, we are most apt to loose the peace, and this whole world right along with it’ – Woody Guthrie
Hello!
I am attempting to download your Just Another Cog in a Wheel video, as I won’t have internet access at a training I am doing for union members, and I want to show it. Can you help me? Is it possible to save and download?
Here you go Lisa – you’re very welcome – hope it’s useful. 190mb file: http://www.johninnit.co.uk/justanothercog.avi
you might enjoy this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl1jPqqTdNo