Our House (musical)

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Our House
Music	Madness
Lyrics	Madness
Book	Tim Firth
Productions	2002 West End 2006 Japanese tour 2008 UK Tour 2011 UK Tour 2012 UK Gala Performance 2013 New UK Tour 2017 UK Tour
Awards	Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical

Our House is a musical with music and lyrics by Madness and one song "It Must Be Love" written by Labi Siffre and a book by playwright Tim Firth. Premiering at The Cambridge Theatre in 2002, Our House was the winner of the 2003 Olivier award for Best New Musical and has since gone on to tour both nationally and internationally to great acclaim. Through the music of Madness, writer Tim Firth explores the themes of love, family values, growing up, responsibility and dealing with losing the people that shape us.

Background[]

Our House has many obvious influences including Willy Russell's Blood Brothers and the 1998 romantic comedy film Sliding Doors. Some critics have even called the show the British answer to Rent, the Jonathan Larson rock opera which follows the lives of a group of 20-something year-olds living in New York. For many years prior to the creation of Our House, Madness had been considering ways that they could turn their songs into a musical. Following the phenomenal success of Mamma Mia!, featuring the music of ABBA, a new interest in so-called 'jukebox musicals' began to develop.

During initial publicity for the show in 2002, The band's lead-singer, Suggs admitted in an interview for the BBC that he was not particularly a fan of musical theatre, saying; "I can't say I'm a huge fan of musicals. I like music, and I like acting. I like Oliver!, I went to see that when I was a kid and West Side Story and maybe a few little bits and pieces over the years, but no, not a huge fan of musicals, no."^[1] Tim Firth was approached by producers to write the script for the show, accepting the offer as he was a fan of Madness. Speaking to What's on Stage in 2002, Firth commented; "I'd always thought there was an irony that everyone remembered Madness as the nutty boys, but that was generated largely by the videos. The songs were actually just witty. And moving. And about something. And felt like they were part of a musical already. I still don't think I wrote the book of Our House. I found it.".^[2]

Production history[]

Original West End Production[]

Our House was first staged at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End from 28 October 2002 to 16 August 2003.^[3][4][5] Michael Jibson made his professional debut as Joe Casey and was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.^[6][7] Direction was by Matthew Warchus with choreography by Peter Darling. For a time, the production team struggled to find a performer suitable to play Joe's love interest, Sarah. The problem was solved when Michael Jibson suggested Julia Gay, his classmate at Guildford School of Acting. Madness' lead-singer Suggs was cast for a short period in the role of Joe's Dad, a role which was also played by prolific stage actor Ian Reddington.

The production won the 2003 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.^[7] However, due to poor ticket sales it closed after less than 10 months.

UK tour[]

A UK revival started at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and continued on a UK tour in 2008, with Chris Carswell playing the lead role of Joe Casey.^[8][9] In 2008/2009 it played cities from Stoke in July 2008 to Crawley in March 2009.^[10]

The touring production changed aspects of the show in reaction to criticism of show's début in the West End. House of Fun was replaced with "Los Palmas 7" as the opening of the show. "Sarah's Song" was also replaced with the new Madness hit "NW5".

UK Gala Performance[]

Our House returned to London's West End on 11 November 2012 for a one off Gala performance at Savoy Theatre. The performance was directed by the shows original director Matthew Warchus in aid of Help for Heroes. Suggs played the role of Joe's Dad in the production.

International productions[]

Asia[]

A new production of the show toured Japan in July 2006, starting in Tokyo.

The show was performed in Ramat Gan, Israel, by the Beit Zvi Company in May 2010.

Australia[]

In May 2014 it premiered in Australia in a production by the University of Melbourne Music Theatre Association (UMMTA).^[11] It was then performed by the Regional Institute of Performing Arts in 2015, from 10 to 12 December at the Newcastle Civic Playhouse.

2013 UK Tour[]

The New Wolsey Theatre Company, based in Ipswich, toured the UK with a production of Our House, starring Alexis Gerred, Daniella Bowen & Steve Dorsett in Autumn 2013.

2015 UK Fringe Production[]

Directed by Michael Burgen at the Union Theatre, London, the musical ran from 19 August – 12 September. Starring Steven France as Joe and Ailsa Davidson as Sarah. Choreography by Will Whelton and musical direction by Richard Baker.^[12]

The full 2015 cast: Steve France as Joe Casey, Dom Brewer as Joe's Dad, Ailsa Davidson as Sarah, Sally Samad as Kath Casey, Joseph Giacone as Emmo, Joe Ashman as Lewis, Jay Osborne as Reecey, Rhys Owen as Mr Pressman, Claire Learie as Billie and Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Angie. Other cast members include: Zachary Worrall, Alice Baker, Rachel Capp, Reece Kerridge, Lauren Dinse, Paul Flannigan and Joanna Bird.

2017 UK Tour[]

Directed by James Tobias and produced by Immersion Theatre & Damian Tracey Productions, Our House started touring on 10 August 2017 at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe and ended on 25 November 2017 at the Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe. The musical called at various towns and cities throughout the UK including Swansea, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Blackpool, Coventry, Hastings, Weymouth, Glasgow and Bromley. This production starred George Sampson as Reecey and Deena Payne as Kath Casey, along with Jason Kajdi as Joe Casey, Sophie Matthew as Sarah and Callum McCardle as Joe's Dad. The show's choreography was by Fabian Aloise.

Plot[]

Act 1: Camden lad Joe Casey, along with his two best friends Emmo and Lewis, enter a chemist to buy some condoms, as it is Joe's 16th birthday. He is too scared to ask for them directly so speaks in metaphors, leading to the chemist kicking them out as she believes he is trying to buy party gimmicks. Joe's girlfriend Sarah, along with her best friends Billie and Angie, are also buying condoms, despite Sarah insisting her and Joe aren't going to have sex just because he is 16. They are redirected to a hospital. Billie and Angie get condoms on behalf of Sarah, while Emmo and Lewis buy a packet on behalf of Joe from a sex shop. ("House of Fun")

Joe returns to his house, where a party has been organised by his mother, Kath. Emmo, Lewis, Billie, Angie and Sarah later join the party. ("Our House") Joe and Sarah leave the party and Sarah asks Joe where his father was, to which Joe responds that he went to prison one day and never returned. The ghosts of Joe's dad appears, invisible to everyone but the audience, and reveals that he died after coming out of prison. Wanting to impress Sarah, Joe breaks into a building site to show her Casey Street. When the police arrive, Joe tries to get Sarah to run away but she insists they should give themselves up. He convinces Sarah to run away and is left with the decision of whether to run away or give himself up. The story splits into two paths revealed by Joe's Dad: the right path where Joe gives himself up, and the wrong path where he runs away ("Simple Equation")

On the wrong path, Joe escapes the police but is berated by his dad and Sarah. Joe meets up with Emmo in the pub, and they are later joined by Lewis. The three of them drown their sorrows and worries in alcohol, complaining about their relationships ("My Girl"). When Joe wakes up, he encounters Reecey. Reecey reveals that he was in the building site on the same night as Joe burgling a flat, and only escaped because the police were focusing on Joe. He offers Joe an opportunity to leave school and get involved with a "business idea" he has. ("Baggy Trousers")

On the right path, Joe's dad firmly believes that Joe won't go to prison because he gave himself up the police. Joe is set to he let free, but the judge sentences him to go to prison once he learn that flats in the Camden area are not selling because of high crime rates- much to the surprise of his Dad. Joe is taken to prison. Sarah writes Joe a letter, which he receives and reads. He meets with Kath, who tells him that she and many other people in Camden know he is still a good person. Once he gets out, the first thing Joe does is find Sarah and they kiss. ("Prospects") Since leaving school, Emmo and Lewis have gotten a new job at a car wash. Joe comes to meet them, as well as Billie and Angie, for the first time since his arrest. Reecey offers Joe an opportunity to work for him, but he declines. Joe receives a letter, which tells him to stay away from the sender. He is branded an embarrassment by neighbours and family members. He tries to get a job, but all of his interviews fail when he reveals that he is a young offender. ("Embarrassment")

On the wrong path, it is revealed that Joe accepted Reecey's offer to work for him and they are running a scam, where Joe informs someone about weak alarms in their house, then gets Reecey to break into the house so they buy an alarm from him. Emmo and Lewis disapprove of Joe and Reecey's business, but Joe pays no attention to them and shows them how successful the business is. They are eventually convinced the business is a good idea when they experience some of the perks of Joe's lavish lifestyle ("Embarrassment – Reprise (Encouragement Version)")

On the right path, Joe has gotten a job wearing a sign pointing to a golf shop so he can make money to buy Sarah something for her birthday. Billie and Angie tease him for his low paying and humiliating job. Reecey offers to let Joe borrow one of his stolen cars, which Joe declines but it also gives him an idea. On Sarah's birthday, Joe rents a low quality car which Billie and Angie laugh at but Sarah loves. The four of them, along with Emmo and Lewis, drive around in the car until it breaks down. ("Driving in my Car") Sarah thanks Joe and invites him to a charity ball and offers to pay for a dinner jacket. He declines, not wanting her charity, and Sarah is devastated. ("My Girl - Reprise (Ballad Version)")

On the wrong path, Kath is shocked to see Joe's lavish lifestyle. He reveals he doesn't sell alarms anymore and has started a building business, and also reveals he has set up a limousine business for Emmo and Lewis. He insists that Kath will be proud of him, to which she insists that she already is. Joe, Emmo and Lewis go out for drinks, where Joe tells them that he is done with crime, and that the alarm scam was only so he could get money to start his building company. Their waiter is Sarah, who they have not saw since school. Sarah pointedly criticises Joe's selfishness and his decision to run away from the building site when he asks about the charity ball, but confirms that he can come if he wants to.

On the right path, Reecey approaches Joe as he walks home from work and points out an open window which Joe could climb through and burgle the house. Joe declines, but Reecey uses Joe's lack of money and love of Sarah to convince him otherwise.

On the wrong path, Billie, Angie, Sarah, and Callum are at the charity ball. When Callum leaves, Billie and Angie point out his good looks in comparison to Joe. Joe arrives at the ball with a donation, and he and Sarah dance. ("The Return of the Los Palmas 7") Joe says he deeply regrets running away on the night of the break in, and wishes he had given himself up.

On the right path, Joe and Reecey are caught by the police. They both blame each other for the crime ("Shut Up"). Emmo and Lewis tell Joe that they have called Sarah to tell her about Joe's arrest, which angers Joe. When Sarah asks him why he did it, he points out Callum's nice jacket out of jealousy. The situation escalates, with Joe eventually punching Callum and a policeman. Joe says he wishes he had never met Sarah. Joe is sent back to prison, and remembers that no matter what, life goes on and the past can't be changed. Meanwhile, on the wrong path, Joe and Sarah are dancing together, having rekindled their relationship ("Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)/The Sun and the Rain")

Act 2:

On the wrong path, Joe and Sarah are on a gondola, on their way to get married in Las Vegas. ("Night Boat To Cairo") While there, Joe encounters Mr Pressman. He tells Pressman that he got into building. Pressman says he has been looking for someone in London and gives him his business card. Joe and Sarah get married and a paradise wedding party ensues ("Wings of a Dove")

On the right path, Joe is released from prison, but doesn't go home. Kath is worried for him, as she now has two family member who went to prison and never came home. ("One Better Day") While debating whether to return home, Joe remembers his younger days. This causes his dad to flash back to the day when he and Kath entered a dance competition in Margate, and she told him she was pregnant with Joe. ("Margate") Mr Pressman meets with Kath to try and convince her to move out of 25 Casey Street so he can build it up. She refuses to leave and he leaves his business card in the letter box. Joe overhears Pressman's plans to get rid of number 25, takes the business card and uses it to track down Mr Pressman. He walks through the streets of Camden with a new mission: save 25 Casey Street ("Rise and Fall")

Both versions of Joe arrive at Mr Pressman's office. On the wrong path, Julie the receptionist is polite to Joe, but on the right path she is rude to him. On the wrong path, Mr Pressman explains to Joe his plan to vacate and build up 25 Casey Street. Joe agrees to get Kath out of the house. On the right path, Joe enters Mr Pressman's office to argue against his plans. Pressman doesn't pay attention to Joe, instead thinking of his struggling marriage and his affair with Julie. As security takes Joe away and he threatens legal action, Mr Pressman calls someone known as Danny to take care of Kath.

On the wrong path, while at dinner, Joe reveals his plans to move Kath out of Casey Street and rebuild it as Casey Boulevard. Lewis strongly disagrees with Joe and leaves dinner, soon followed by Emmo, Billie and Angie. Joe looks to Sarah for support, but she also disagrees with him. Joe angrily leaves and Sarah laments on her feelings about Joe, remembering the night he ran away from the police. Meanwhile, Joe tells Mr Pressman he doesn't want to work on Casey Street anymore. Mr Pressman threatens him with an unsuccessful career and gives him Danny's phone number to help him. ("Sarah's Song")

On the right path, Joe looks for a lawyer to fight Mr Pressman, but he is constantly rejected. He eventually tries legal aid, where his case is given to the trainee lawyer, who is revealed to be Sarah. ("Embarrassment - Reprise (Law Firm)") Sarah is now engaged to Callum and they playfully flirt until they see Joe. Joe apologises to Callum and explains his situation to Sarah, who asks Callum to leave. Joe decides he should find a different lawyer, but says he hopes Sarah is happy before he leaves. Sarah is overcome with emotion, and realises she misses him and wants him back.

On the wrong path, Joe is waiting for Danny. He arrives, and Danny is revealed to be the first name of Reecey. Joe tells Reecey to break into 25 Casey Street while Kath is out on a limousine trip with Emmo and Lewis.

On the right path, Joe's dad begins to wonder if he's responsible for Joe's poor life, passing down his criminality. Sarah finds Joe sleeping in the now disheveled Morris Miner and asks him to tell her all about his case. As he does, she begins to think about how much she misses him. She presents him with the research she has been doing about his case and her findings, while Joe begins to miss her as well. She reveals that 25 Casey Street was gifted to the Casey family, information able to save the house. Joe praises her investigative skills, and they hug, more in love than ever ("It Must Be Love"). Joe announces his plans to show Kath Sarah's findings for her birthday. He asks Sarah about her marriage, to which she reveals she didn't get married. Joe pretends to be sad, but is secretly happy. He proclaims "I'm coming home mum!' before running home through Camden market. On the wrong path, Joe finds Lewis and Emmo at Camden Market. They tell him Kath didn't get in the limousine because she wanted to wait for Joe. Realising she'll still be home when Reecey breaks in, Joe runs home. ("The Sun and the Rain")

In both paths, Reecey sets fire to 25 Casey street, and both Joes arrive as the house is burning down. In the Good Joe path, Kath is safe, much to the relief of Joe- she reveals that Sarah told her where Joe was sleeping, and took her to the Morris Miner. On the wrong path, Kath died in the fire. At her funeral, Lewis blames Joe for her death and angrily leaves, followed by Emmo. Billie and Angie also leave, leaving Joe and Sarah alone. She asks him if he had anything to do with Kath's death. Joe indirectly admits and Sarah breaks down, leaving him. Joe is charged with arson and manslaughter after Reecey names him as an accomplice.

On the good path, Joe and Sarah get married. Joe talks with Kath, where he says he now understands his dad's situation better. He says he wishes he'd done things differently, to which his dad says that as long as he's with the people he loves, he's done the right thing. For a brief moment, Joe and Dad can finally hear each other. They share a touching moment as Dad leaves. Joe returns to the group for the wedding photo and the party ensues. ("Our House - Reprise")

Suddenly, Joe is thrust back to the night of the break in. However, instead of breaking into the building site, he kisses Sarah before taking her out dancing.

Original cast[]

Sources: Guide To Musical Theatre^[13] Tim Firth^[4]

Original production team[]

• Director – Matthew Warchus
• Set – Rob Howell
• Effects – Paul Kieve
• Lighting – Mark Henderson
• Sound – Rick Clarke
• Choreography – Peter Darling
• Orchestrations – Steve Sidwell
• Musical Director – Philip Bateman

Musical numbers (2002 West End production)[]

Musical numbers (2008 UK Tour)[]

‡ Song originally by Labi Siffre

Recording and video[]

The recorded original production was telecast on BBC Three in December 2003 and was released on DVD on 1 November 2004.^[14]

Awards and nominations[]

Original London production[]

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2003	Laurence Olivier Award	Best New Musical		Won
		Best Actor in a Musical	Michael Jibson	Nominated
		Best Theatre Choreographer	Peter Darling	Nominated

References[]

External links[]

• Our House at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
• SMP's June 2013 production at the Millfield Theatre, N18