The atmosphere felt more akin to a gig than musical theatre with all the band shirts and denim celebrating this much-loved story that first appeared in cinemas almost 20 years ago.
The torch is being passed to a new generation of kids who loved every moment of this euphoric slice of rock n’ roll theatre. It took “seven years of negotiation” for Andrew Lloyd Webber to gain the rights from Paramount Pictures and after doing so he assembled a crack team of creatives to bring School of Rock back to life.
Jake Sharp takes on the role of Dewey Finn who takes on the role of a substitute teacher at the Horace Green prep school after being kicked out of his band. The main character’s natural enthusiasm for rock history and music has lost none of its comedic power and drive. The image of Finn, legs akimbo while shredding a Gibson Les Paul slung around his neck and belting out his take on a New Wave of British Heavy Metal anthem has become as iconic as anything in the story.
What makes this production stand out is the awesome talent of the kids in the band, Daisy Hanna as Katie leads from the front head-banging and making an appropriate bass face while rocking along to You’re in the Band, In The End of Time and perhaps the stand-out classic Stick it to the Man. Harry Churchill as Zack had no problem handling a white Gibson Explorer while delivering ‘a face-melting solo’ as Dewey would suggest.
The two hours and 40 minutes including a break flew in, no doubt the audience would have stayed for more. During the final of Queen of the Night, the audience were on their feet, punching the air while whooping cheering amid power chords. It was a boon to see a production like this and its effect on people’s spirit after two years of Covid. The legend of Dewey Finn is alive and well, and if you’re reading, Jack Black, rock n’ roll is calling you for a much-needed sequel.
