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Our HouseOpening Date: Oct 28, 2002
Closing Date: Aug 16, 2003 Air date: April 16, 2004 Medium: television Where to watch: DVD (Region 2 only. As an affiliate, Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you) |
Stage Production Notes
Long before Matilda burst onto the London scene, director Matthew Warchus and choreographer Peter Darling lent their talents to the musical Our House. With a score featuring the songs of well-known British ska band Madness, Our House was a jukebox musical that told alternate stories of a Camden Irish lad named Joe Casey.
Our House opened at the Cambridge Theatre in London on October 28, 2002.
The production received abysmal reviews. The Guardian’s Michael Billington noted that despite moments of deft direction and clever choreography, Our House “groans under the burden of too much plot,” and was “hard work to watch.” Kate Bassett, writing for The Independent, observed that the set was “ugly, fussy, and inconsistent” and claimed the costumes “fudge the era irksomely.”
Despite the lackluster reviews, Our House won the Olivier for Best New Musical in 2003.
Real life Madness band member Suggs joined the production in May 2003, where he received less than flattering reviews for his performance as Joe’s Dad.
The production ran for 10 months before closing on August 16, 2003.
The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, along with the original creative team, staged a new production for a UK tour in 2008.
Our House toured again in 2015.
Our House was staged for a special one-night-only fundraiser in 2012 in honor of the Help the Heroes charity.
A UK tour has been announced for 2017.
Long before Matilda burst onto the London scene, director Matthew Warchus and choreographer Peter Darling lent their talents to the musical Our House. With a score featuring the songs of well-known British ska band Madness, Our House was a jukebox musical that told alternate stories of a Camden Irish lad named Joe Casey.
Our House opened at the Cambridge Theatre in London on October 28, 2002.
The production received abysmal reviews. The Guardian’s Michael Billington noted that despite moments of deft direction and clever choreography, Our House “groans under the burden of too much plot,” and was “hard work to watch.” Kate Bassett, writing for The Independent, observed that the set was “ugly, fussy, and inconsistent” and claimed the costumes “fudge the era irksomely.”
Despite the lackluster reviews, Our House won the Olivier for Best New Musical in 2003.
Real life Madness band member Suggs joined the production in May 2003, where he received less than flattering reviews for his performance as Joe’s Dad.
The production ran for 10 months before closing on August 16, 2003.
The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company, along with the original creative team, staged a new production for a UK tour in 2008.
Our House toured again in 2015.
Our House was staged for a special one-night-only fundraiser in 2012 in honor of the Help the Heroes charity.
A UK tour has been announced for 2017.
Filmed Production Notes
On August 16, 2003, the final night of the West End run was filmed by BBC and Tiger Aspect at the Cambridge Theatre.
BBC 3 aired Our House on television on December 24, 2003, and again on April 16, 2004.
Universal Pictures Video released Our House on DVD in November, 2004.
Our House is available on DVD (Region 2 only. As an affiliate, Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you).
On August 16, 2003, the final night of the West End run was filmed by BBC and Tiger Aspect at the Cambridge Theatre.
BBC 3 aired Our House on television on December 24, 2003, and again on April 16, 2004.
Universal Pictures Video released Our House on DVD in November, 2004.
Our House is available on DVD (Region 2 only. As an affiliate, Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you).
Our House PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Cambridge Theatre, London
Producer: Tiger Aspect Productions, Rupert Lord, Andre Ptaszynski and Phil McIntyre in association with Madness, Ian Hamilton, BBC
Book: Tim Firth
Music: Madness
Director: Matthew Warchus, film: Ian Hamilton
Musical Director: Philip Bateman
Orchestrations: Steve Sidwell
Vocal Arrangements: Philip Bateman
Choreography: Peter Darling
Set and Costume Design: Rob Howell
Lighting Design: Mark Henderson
Sound Design: Rick Clarke
Cast:
Michael Jibson (Joe Casey), Richard Frame (Emmo), Oliver Jackson (Lewis), Hannah Tollman (Chemist/Policewoman/Harper), Julia Gay (Sarah), Tameka Empson (Billie), Andrea Francis: (Angie), Peter Caulfield (Chemist/Neighbour/Caribbean Clergyman/Stall Holder), Jay Beattie (Miss Clay/Joe's Solicitor/Toy Farm Interviewer/Jaguar Salesman), Stella Madden (Kath Casey), Paul Kemble (Priest/Mr Jesmond/Stall Holder/Clerk), Lynden O’Neill (Uncle/London Alarms Boss/Barrister/Stall Holder), Alison Forbes (Aunt/Guard/Mrs Pressman), Andrew Spillett (Grandad/Custody Officer/Barman Dave/Lawyer/Ray), Matt Cross (Reecey), Ian Reddington (Joe’s Dad), Deborah Bundy (Council Solicitor/Neighbour), Mark Hilton (Magistrate/Callum), Mary Doherty (Custody Officer/House of Waffles Interviewer/Massey), Dean Stobbart (Careers Officer/Weird Bloke), Mike Scott (Mr Pressman), Carryl Thomas (Heather/Smith), Ruth Brown (Julie/Stall Holder), Darren Smithers (Ensemble)
Theatre: Cambridge Theatre, London
Producer: Tiger Aspect Productions, Rupert Lord, Andre Ptaszynski and Phil McIntyre in association with Madness, Ian Hamilton, BBC
Book: Tim Firth
Music: Madness
Director: Matthew Warchus, film: Ian Hamilton
Musical Director: Philip Bateman
Orchestrations: Steve Sidwell
Vocal Arrangements: Philip Bateman
Choreography: Peter Darling
Set and Costume Design: Rob Howell
Lighting Design: Mark Henderson
Sound Design: Rick Clarke
Cast:
Michael Jibson (Joe Casey), Richard Frame (Emmo), Oliver Jackson (Lewis), Hannah Tollman (Chemist/Policewoman/Harper), Julia Gay (Sarah), Tameka Empson (Billie), Andrea Francis: (Angie), Peter Caulfield (Chemist/Neighbour/Caribbean Clergyman/Stall Holder), Jay Beattie (Miss Clay/Joe's Solicitor/Toy Farm Interviewer/Jaguar Salesman), Stella Madden (Kath Casey), Paul Kemble (Priest/Mr Jesmond/Stall Holder/Clerk), Lynden O’Neill (Uncle/London Alarms Boss/Barrister/Stall Holder), Alison Forbes (Aunt/Guard/Mrs Pressman), Andrew Spillett (Grandad/Custody Officer/Barman Dave/Lawyer/Ray), Matt Cross (Reecey), Ian Reddington (Joe’s Dad), Deborah Bundy (Council Solicitor/Neighbour), Mark Hilton (Magistrate/Callum), Mary Doherty (Custody Officer/House of Waffles Interviewer/Massey), Dean Stobbart (Careers Officer/Weird Bloke), Mike Scott (Mr Pressman), Carryl Thomas (Heather/Smith), Ruth Brown (Julie/Stall Holder), Darren Smithers (Ensemble)
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- John Reed, House of Fun: The Story of Madness, Omnibus Press (2014)
Articles
- Kate Bassett, “Our House, Cambridge Theatre, London; Home and Beauty, Lyric, Shaftesbury, London; The Price, Tricycle, London, Festen, Sadler's Wells, London,” The Independent (Nov 3, 2002)
- Michael Billington, “Our House,” The Guardian (Oct 29, 2002)
- Edward Seckerson, “Our House, Cambridge Theatre, London, **; My Fair Lady, Theatre Royal, Druary Lane, London, ****” The Independent (May 18, 2003)
- Mark Shenton, “Our House (Cambridge Theatre),” BBC London (March 18, 2003)
Websites
- BBC, “Entertainment: Our House - The Musical,” Accessed via: https://web.archive.org/web/20040414113709/http://www.bbc.co.uk:80/bbcthree/tv/our_house.shtml
- Tim Firth, “Theatre,” Accessed via: http://www.timfirth.com/ourhouse.html
- UK Theatre Web, “Our House,” Accessed via: http://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/musical/our-house/L01537153073/
Written by Luisa Lyons (June, 2017)