If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, you’re missing the best musical in East Anglia!
Written by the brilliant Vikki Stone, Caroline is a high-octane love letter to our coastline and the rebellious spirit of the 1960s. For those who don’t know the history, the musical takes us back to 1964, a time when the BBC was ‘square’ and the youth were hungry for something louder. That itch was scratched by Radio Caroline, the legendary pirate radio station that broadcasted rock ‘n’ roll from a ship anchored right off the Essex coast.
Set in 1964 Clacton-on-Sea, the story follows Caroline (Claire Lee Shenfield), a young woman whose life is defined by the mundane routine of shelf-stacking and the restrictive ‘Housewives’ Choice’ broadcasts of the BBC. Her boyfriend, Robbie (Jake Halsey-Jones), the young, charismatic wannabe DJ provides the catalyst for change when he joins Radio Caroline.
This show successfully captures the moment when the British public decided on what music they wanted to hear. While it leans into the joy of the 60s, it never loses sight of the social friction that made the era revolutionary. It captures the magic of the first time listening to great music through the radio, the excitement which trickled through the nation but also portrays the great lengths the government went to ban pirate radio stations, and make it a criminal offence to even supply food to the ships. However, the actions, passions and desires from a few people who believed in the importance of bringing popular music to the masses did achieve what they set out to do, even when it cost them everything.
What sets this production apart from your standard musical is the sheer talent on stage. This isn’t a show where the band is hidden in a pit. The actors are the band. One minute, a performer is delivering a heart-wrenching monologue; the next, they’ve picked up a bass guitar or jumped behind a drum kit to belt out a classic hit.
The soundtrack is a non-stop parade of 60s gold, The Kinks, The Animals, and The Rolling Stones, all performed with a raw, live energy that makes the theatre feel more like a rock concert. You’ll find it impossible to keep your feet still.
The cast are amazing, they capture the energy and excitement, plus the worry of this revolutionary time, in a way that is mesmerising, practically transporting the audience back to this time. I felt I had lived through it (I am slightly too young) however, there were people in the audience who were reminiscing, as they did live through it, and the joy on their faces as they were remembering their youth through this show, was delightful.
Caroline is more than just a musical; it’s a celebration of East Anglian history. It’s a reminder that once upon a time, the most exciting thing in the world was happening just a few miles out at sea, right here on our doorstep.
Whether you lived through the pirate radio era or you just love a good story with an incredible soundtrack, this show is for you. It’s funny, it’s poignant, and it’s loud in all the right ways.
Premiering at the New Wolsey Theatre before embarking on a regional tour, the production serves as both a vibrant piece of entertainment and a landmark achievement for the newly formed East Anglian Touring Consortium.
For more information: https://carolineanewmusical.com/
Photo Credit: Will Green
