Standing at the Sky’s Edge: Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
10th April 2024
★★★★★
Winner of the Best New Musical at the 2023 Olivier Awards and many more awards, Standing at the Sky’s Edge is now playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre after successful runs at London’s National Theatre and Sheffield’s Crucible. This emotional British musical was originally written as a love letter to Sheffield, showing the hopes and dreams of three generations over the course of six decades, exploring universal themes of community, love, loss and survival.
The storytelling, managing to successfully interweave three different generations onstage at the same time, is exceptional. Each characters plot and personal circumstances are different and yet are crucially interlinked. The direction by Robert Hastie, is superbly used to bring all of the characters to life and manages to chronicle their lives, eventually revealing the links between them. The audience is kept guessing throughout and there is that definite moment in the second act where everything falls together like pieces of a puzzle.
Whilst for many Standing at the Sky’s Edge is more of a play with music than a traditional musical, it works extremely well. The music by Richard Hawley is emotional, thought provoking and completely fitting for the action taking place onstage. This isn’t a happy clapping along musical and nor does it try to be. It feels real and gritty, and the songs match that completely.
The simple, muted set by Ben Stones works brilliantly. In an age where a lot of productions rely on fancy projections and moving set pieces, the fact that the set remains constant works extremely well – highlighting that whilst the people and circumstances have changed Park Hill Estate has remained that one constant in the sky line for many in Sheffield. Lighting by Mark Henderson is also very clever, making the most of the muted yellows and greys of a working Sheffield.
The large cast are excellent. From the clever ensemble transitions to the main scenes, the talented cast are always in character and even the choreographed sections (Lynne Page) feel natural and fitting for the decade. Mel Lowe is brilliant acting as the narrator for the show and then as Connie. The relationship between Joel Harper-Jackson and Rachael Wooding is electric to watch and as the landscape of Sheffield alters due to the miners strikes and eventual decline their relationship becomes heart breaking to watch. Joel Harper-Jackson is outstanding during the latter of the production showing the devastating impact the mine closures has – an affect felt by many in mining towns such as Sheffield. Laura Pitt-Pulford is charismatic as Poppy in the 2000’s moving into the newly renovated estate. She manages to add humour and yet still display real emotion.
Regardless of where you come from, this production has a universal story – home is more than just bricks, it is the people you surround yourself with. Standing at the Sky’s Edge is a fantastic new British musical and highlights the talent that the UK has to offer. Telling a British story in such a clever way that it can be enjoyed by so many, this is storytelling at its finest and is unlike anything else currently playing in the West End. Make sure not to miss it during its limited run.
Standing at the Sky’s Edge plays at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until August 3rd 2024. For information and tickets click here.
Photo Credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg Featuring the I Love You Bridge, © Jason Lowe, 2001
Musical Manda 
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