The Little Big Things
A musical based on Henry Fraser’s best-selling memoir which tells the story of a promising young rugby player whose life is forever changed following a diving accident. Filmed live in the West End at @sohoplace.
Where to watch
The Little Big Things is currently available to view on NT @ Home.
theatrical history
Henry Fraser’s memoir The Little Big Things, which tells Fraser’s story of being a promising elite rugby player, becoming a tetraplegic following a diving accident and turning to art, was published in 2017 and became a Sunday Times best-seller.
The Little Big Things commenced previews in the West End at the @sohoplace on September 2, 2023 and held its press night on September 14, 2024. It was the first musical to open in the newly built theatre, the first new West End theatre in half a century.
Dramaturg and assistant director Nickie Miles-Wildin had previously worked on the Ramps on the Moon production of The Who’s Tommy which was live-streamed into adult social care homes in the UK from the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Ed Larkin, in the role of Henry Fraser post-accident, was billed as the first wheelchair user to be cast in a lead role in a musical in West End history, though Michael Flanders had starred in the West End revues At the Drop of a Hat and At the Drop of Another Hat in 1957 and 1963 respectively.
The musical received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with critics praising the show overall, the pop-influenced score, and the strong performances of the cast. Some critics felt that the musical tended toward being too rosey-eyed.
Alun Hood, writing for WhatsOnStage described the musical as “triumphant.” Hood praised Luke Sheppard’s “visionary, career-best” direction, and Mark Smith’s “astonishing choreography” for its “fusing muscular contemporary dance with sign language to inventive, theatrically potent effect, and including the wheelchair users in the company with a fluid, entrancing grace.”
The Guardian’s Kit Buchan described the musical as “a lavish celebration of pragmatism with a curiously intimate relationship at its heart.” Also writing for The Guardian, Arifa Akbar stated the music and lyrics were “strong and catchy” and praised the performances of the ensemble cast, though she felt the book was “too bright-eyed, with the schmaltz… lathered so thickly that it flattens things.” Despite her reservations, Akbar concluded “It is a lovable tearjerker nonetheless with a disarming sweetness and bearing all the signs of being an immense crowd-pleaser.”
In a glowing five-star review for All That Dazzles, Daz Gale stated The Little Big Things was “Completely heart-warming and life-affirming, this show really is everything I love about theatre and what I believe musicals should be.”
The musical was nominated for three Olivier Awards including Best Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer - Mark Smith, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Amy Trigg (winner).
The Little Big Things was slated to close in the West End on November 25, 2024. Due to audience demand, the show received an extension before closing on March 2, 2024.
The Little Big Things commenced previews in the West End at the @sohoplace on September 2, 2023 and held its press night on September 14, 2024. It was the first musical to open in the newly built theatre, the first new West End theatre in half a century.
Dramaturg and assistant director Nickie Miles-Wildin had previously worked on the Ramps on the Moon production of The Who’s Tommy which was live-streamed into adult social care homes in the UK from the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Ed Larkin, in the role of Henry Fraser post-accident, was billed as the first wheelchair user to be cast in a lead role in a musical in West End history, though Michael Flanders had starred in the West End revues At the Drop of a Hat and At the Drop of Another Hat in 1957 and 1963 respectively.
The musical received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with critics praising the show overall, the pop-influenced score, and the strong performances of the cast. Some critics felt that the musical tended toward being too rosey-eyed.
Alun Hood, writing for WhatsOnStage described the musical as “triumphant.” Hood praised Luke Sheppard’s “visionary, career-best” direction, and Mark Smith’s “astonishing choreography” for its “fusing muscular contemporary dance with sign language to inventive, theatrically potent effect, and including the wheelchair users in the company with a fluid, entrancing grace.”
The Guardian’s Kit Buchan described the musical as “a lavish celebration of pragmatism with a curiously intimate relationship at its heart.” Also writing for The Guardian, Arifa Akbar stated the music and lyrics were “strong and catchy” and praised the performances of the ensemble cast, though she felt the book was “too bright-eyed, with the schmaltz… lathered so thickly that it flattens things.” Despite her reservations, Akbar concluded “It is a lovable tearjerker nonetheless with a disarming sweetness and bearing all the signs of being an immense crowd-pleaser.”
In a glowing five-star review for All That Dazzles, Daz Gale stated The Little Big Things was “Completely heart-warming and life-affirming, this show really is everything I love about theatre and what I believe musicals should be.”
The musical was nominated for three Olivier Awards including Best Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer - Mark Smith, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Amy Trigg (winner).
The Little Big Things was slated to close in the West End on November 25, 2024. Due to audience demand, the show received an extension before closing on March 2, 2024.
Film history
As announced on Instagram, The Little Big Things was filmed live by the National Theatre at Home at @sohoplace in September 2023.
In April 2024, it was announced that The Little Big Things had been filmed by the National Theatre and would be released on the streaming platform NT @ Home.
The Little Big Things was released for on demand streaming on May 9, 2024. The stream is available with closed captioning, audio description and British Sign Language. The NT @ Home platform also provides a PDF of the cast list, and clips featuring interviews with the cast behind-the-scenes footage.
The Little Big Things was released for on demand streaming on May 9, 2024. The stream is available with closed captioning, audio description and British Sign Language. The NT @ Home platform also provides a PDF of the cast list, and clips featuring interviews with the cast behind-the-scenes footage.
cast & creative credits
Theatre: @sohoplace, London
Stage Producer: Michael Harrison, Nica Burns
Film Producer: National Theatre, Michael Harrison, Nica Burns, Pandf Productions, Exposition Productions, Jake Hine, Nick Thomas, CJ Enm, Nicole Eisenberg
Book: Joe White
Music: Nick Butcher
Lyrics: Nick Butcher & Tom Ling
Director: Luke Sheppard
Dramaturg/Associate Director: Nickie Miles-Wilden
Managing Director, Digital: Emma Keith
Director, Digital: Sari Blom
Camera Directorv& Editor: Ollie Gardner
Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator, & Arranger: Matthew Brind
Musical Director: Laura Bangay
Choreography: Mark Smith
Scenic Design: Colin Richmond
Costume Design: Fay Fullerton
Lighting Design: Howard Hudson
Sound Design: Paul Gatehouse
Video Design: Luke Halls
Stage Manager: Matt Henry
Cast:
Ed Larkin (Man Henry Fraser)
Jonny Amies (Boy Henry Fraser)
Linzi Hateley (Fran Fraser)
Alasdair Harvey (Andrew Fraser)
Jordan Benjamin (Dom)
Rebecca Bowden (Surgeon)
Jamie Chatterton (Tom)
Tom Oliver (Marco)
Malinda Parris (Dr. Graham)
Cleve September (Will)
Amy Trigg (Agnes)
Additional Vocals
Stephen John Davis
Elena Pitsiaeli
George Salmon
Amy West
Joseph Wolff
Orchestra
Laura Bangay (Musical Director/Keyboards)
Catherine Benson (Assistant Musical Director/Keyboards)
Justin Quinn (Guitar)
Daniel Vildósola (Guitar)
Tamir Smith (Bass Guitar)
James Powell (Drums)
Amy Langley (Cello)
Stage Producer: Michael Harrison, Nica Burns
Film Producer: National Theatre, Michael Harrison, Nica Burns, Pandf Productions, Exposition Productions, Jake Hine, Nick Thomas, CJ Enm, Nicole Eisenberg
Book: Joe White
Music: Nick Butcher
Lyrics: Nick Butcher & Tom Ling
Director: Luke Sheppard
Dramaturg/Associate Director: Nickie Miles-Wilden
Managing Director, Digital: Emma Keith
Director, Digital: Sari Blom
Camera Directorv& Editor: Ollie Gardner
Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator, & Arranger: Matthew Brind
Musical Director: Laura Bangay
Choreography: Mark Smith
Scenic Design: Colin Richmond
Costume Design: Fay Fullerton
Lighting Design: Howard Hudson
Sound Design: Paul Gatehouse
Video Design: Luke Halls
Stage Manager: Matt Henry
Cast:
Ed Larkin (Man Henry Fraser)
Jonny Amies (Boy Henry Fraser)
Linzi Hateley (Fran Fraser)
Alasdair Harvey (Andrew Fraser)
Jordan Benjamin (Dom)
Rebecca Bowden (Surgeon)
Jamie Chatterton (Tom)
Tom Oliver (Marco)
Malinda Parris (Dr. Graham)
Cleve September (Will)
Amy Trigg (Agnes)
Additional Vocals
Stephen John Davis
Elena Pitsiaeli
George Salmon
Amy West
Joseph Wolff
Orchestra
Laura Bangay (Musical Director/Keyboards)
Catherine Benson (Assistant Musical Director/Keyboards)
Justin Quinn (Guitar)
Daniel Vildósola (Guitar)
Tamir Smith (Bass Guitar)
James Powell (Drums)
Amy Langley (Cello)
awards & nominations
2024 Olivier Awards
- Best Musical (nominee)
- Best Theatre Choreographer - Mark Smith (nominee)
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Amy Trigg (winner)
research sources
Sources
Articles
Websites
Articles
- Arita Akbar, “The Little Big Things review – big-hearted musical is a true-story tearjerker,” The Guardian (Sept 15, 2023)
- Kit Buchan, “The Little Big Things review – a remarkable tale of resilience,” The Guardian (Sept 17, 2023)
- Logan Culwell-Block, “Olivier-Nominated Musical The Little Big Things to Stream via National Theatre at Home,” Playbill (April 12, 2024)
- Daz Gale, “Review: The Little Big Things (@SohoPlace),” All That Dazzles (Septm14, 2023)
- Matthew Hemley, “Henry Fraser's The Little Big Things musical to open at @SohoPlace,” The Stage (June 2, 2023)
- Matthew Hemley, “Theatre's progress with accessibility is both remarkable and shameful,” The Stage (March 6, 2024)
- Alun Hood, “The Little Big Things at @sohoplace – review,” WhatsOnStage (Sept 15, 2023)
- Donald McRae, “Henry Fraser: ‘There were so many moments before my accident I took for granted’,” The Guardian (Oct 16, 2017)
- Sam Marlowe, “The Little Big Things review,” The Stage (Sept 1, 2023)
- Liam O’Dell, “‘The Little Big Things’ review – Disability musical’s soaring soundtrack doesn’t brush off its problematic pity porn,” LiamO’Dell.com (Sept 16, 2023)
- Cathy Reay, “‘There is a feeling of “why has it not happened before?”’: Actor Ed Larkin on becoming the first wheelchair user in 350 years to lead a West End musical,” The Independent (Sept 12, 2023)
- Alex Wood, “The Little Big Things musical to open in the West End,” WhatsOnStage (June 2, 2023)
- Alex Wood, “The Little Big Things musical extends West End run,” WhatsOnStage (Oct 9, 2023)
Websites
- @sohoplace, “The Little Big Things,” Accessed via: https://sohoplace.org/shows/the-little-big-things
- National Theatre, “The Little Big Things: A New Musical,” Accessed via: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/whats-on/the-little-big-things-a-new-musical/
- Instagram, “Exciting things happening at #TheLittleBigThings today… 👀Watch. This. Space.,” @TLBTMusical, Accessed via: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxGcFG5IaAr/
Written by Luisa Lyons (May 2024)