Details

Set on the harder side of the city where life is tough. The characters of Promises And Lies live on the fringes of society. There are the manipulators who control, and the ordinary people whose lives are in their hands. These are the people we don't see - or perhaps choose not to see. But desperate people have hope - and they will fight; not everyone chooses to be a statistic... not just a forgotten name on a list. Promises And Lies is the uplifting story of people battling against the odds to survive on the edge of our deceptively glossy modern cities. Featuring a host of classic and well-loved UB40 tracks, Promises And Lies also contains new songs from the band, specially composed for this show. Promises and Lies forms part of Birmingham's Urban Fusion - an explosion of creativity and events throughout 2005/6, bringing together more than 60 of the city's leading lights in arts and culture. Funded by the Arts Council and the Millennium Commission, the programme covers six key themes around music, poetry and literature, city regeneration, cultural diversity, visual arts and the celebration of talent. Further information of Urban Fusion can be found at www.urban-fusion.info

Cast/Performers

Clive Rowe, Tameka Empson, Julie-Alanah Brighten, David Burt, Anthony Cable, Paul Clarkson, Ryan Gage, Natasha Lewis, John Marquez, Martin Milnes, Sharon Wattis, Remi Wilson

Creatives/Company

Author: Jess Walters
Music: UB40
Director(s): Jonathan Church, Jeff Moore (music)
Design: Simon Higlett
Lighting: Chris Lewis
Sound: Alan Mathieson
Choreographer: Francesca James

Promises and Lies

Promises and Lies (Musical) production archive for QTIX code T0992213619. Details of all Promises and Lies archived productions can be found under the QTIX code: S02035990724

Archive Listings

20 Mar 06
to
15 Apr 06

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham, West Midlands
Performance Details => Venue archive

Reviews

UK Theatre Web: 29Mar06:
“Promises and Lies” Birmingham Rep, 28 March 2006 Music and Lyrics by UB40 Book by Jess Walters From an original idea by John Dixon This is very much a play with music and lyrics rather than an old fashioned musical. The action is set over a 2-day period in Birmingham. Although there are a number of key characters it principally follows the story of an 18-year-old girl called Rudie. She was abandoned by her mother as a baby and has been in and out of care and at the opening of the play is on the streets and angry. She does now however have a boyfriend although he is on drugs and a pretty mixed up character too. Rudie is played powerfully by Remi Wilson and her boyfriend Cuddles by Ryan Gage. Both portray the disillusionment and despair of being on the streets. Having contacted her mother and made arrangements to finally meet her Rudie is stood up but does not know that it was not her mother’s fault. Her mother an Irish woman called Breda is played by Julie-Alanah Brighten an actress with a strong singing voice reminiscent of one of the Nolan Sister’s. We see Breda outside a nightclub as part of a hen night. Her husband a jealous man is played with a certain amount of angst by Paul Clarkson. It was his fault that mother and daughter did not meet. He tries to put things right. David Burt plays a streetwise pimp called Marcus who appears to use everyone he comes into contact with and gains great satisfaction from enticing them into his world. Needless to say he gets his comeuppance and the audience liked that! The 2 nightclub bouncers are like chalk and cheese, George played by John Marquez is a confident ladies man and thug whereas Randall played by Clive Rowe is for the most part quiet, unlucky in love and a giant of a man. He shares a tender song entitled “Once Around” with Breda. Intertwined with the action is a lively score of musical numbers by UB40 with some strong individual performances but Act 1 needs to be sharper and more focused on the main characters. Act 2 was better paced and the sex scenes of domination portrayed by the Rope Man and Adult Baby were well handled and fitted into the storyline. By this time the characters were better established and there were touching moments like those between Rudie and her mother Breda and the song “Lost and Found”. The play is directed by Nick Bagnall and Jonathan Church and the urban set designed by the talented Simon Higlett. It was also good to see members of The Young Rep Company taking part in this production. The play continues at The Rep until 15 April. Clive Fuller

UK Theatre Web: 28Mar06:
I agree !

UK Theatre Web: 28Mar06:
DONT WASTE YOUR TIME AND CASH (AND MY TICKET WAS A NORTHFIELD NIGHTS SPECIAL £2.00) WOULD RATHER HAVE STAYED IN AND WATCHED A REPEAT OF THE BILL.

User Reviews

USER (29Mar06): “Promises and Lies” Birmingham Rep, 28 March 2006 Music and Lyrics by UB40 Book by Jess Walters From an original idea by John Dixon This is very much a play with music and lyrics rather than an old fashioned musical. The action is set over a 2-day period in Birmingham. Although there are a number of key characters it principally follows the story of an 18-year-old girl called Rudie. She was abandoned by her mother as a baby and has been in and out of care and at the opening of the play is on the streets and angry. She does now however have a boyfriend although he is on drugs and a pretty mixed up character too. Rudie is played powerfully by Remi Wilson and her boyfriend Cuddles by Ryan Gage. Both portray the disillusionment and despair of being on the streets. Having contacted her mother and made arrangements to finally meet her Rudie is stood up but does not know that it was not her mother’s fault. Her mother an Irish woman called Breda is played by Julie-Alanah Brighten an actress with a strong singing voice reminiscent of one of the Nolan Sister’s. We see Breda outside a nightclub as part of a hen night. Her husband a jealous man is played with a certain amount of angst by Paul Clarkson. It was his fault that mother and daughter did not meet. He tries to put things right. David Burt plays a streetwise pimp called Marcus who appears to use everyone he comes into contact with and gains great satisfaction from enticing them into his world. Needless to say he gets his comeuppance and the audience liked that! The 2 nightclub bouncers are like chalk and cheese, George played by John Marquez is a confident ladies man and thug whereas Randall played by Clive Rowe is for the most part quiet, unlucky in love and a giant of a man. He shares a tender song entitled “Once Around” with Breda. Intertwined with the action is a lively score of musical numbers by UB40 with some strong individual performances but Act 1 needs to be sharper and more focused on the main characters. Act 2 was better paced and the sex scenes of domination portrayed by the Rope Man and Adult Baby were well handled and fitted into the storyline. By this time the characters were better established and there were touching moments like those between Rudie and her mother Breda and the song “Lost and Found”. The play is directed by Nick Bagnall and Jonathan Church and the urban set designed by the talented Simon Higlett. It was also good to see members of The Young Rep Company taking part in this production. The play continues at The Rep until 15 April. Clive Fuller

USER (28Mar06): I agree !

USER (28Mar06): DONT WASTE YOUR TIME AND CASH (AND MY TICKET WAS A NORTHFIELD NIGHTS SPECIAL £2.00) WOULD RATHER HAVE STAYED IN AND WATCHED A REPEAT OF THE BILL.

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CORONAVIRUS: All venues in the UK were shut down on March 16, 2020, and the restrictions were finally lifted on July 19, 2021. It is important to mention that the UK Theatre Web archive listings (iUKTDb) from March 2020 to July 2021 might not be accurate due to the lack of information regarding rescheduled and cancelled shows.