Standing at the Sky's Edge (musical)

Standing at the Sky's Edge
West End production poster
Music	Richard Hawley
Lyrics	Richard Hawley
Book	Chris Bush
Basis	Three families in Park Hill estate
Premiere	14 March 2019 (2019-03-14): Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Productions	2019 Sheffield 2022 Sheffield 2023 London 2024 West End
Awards	UK Theatre Awards South Bank Sky Arts Award Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical Laurence Olivier Award for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations

Standing at the Sky's Edge is an Olivier Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Richard Hawley and a book by Chris Bush.

The musical (named after Hawley's 2012 album of the same name) begins in 1961 and tells the story of three families over sixty years living in Park Hill, a council housing estate in Sheffield and features both new and existing songs by Hawley.

Production history

Sheffield (2019)

The musical had its world premiere at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, previewing from 14 March (with a press night on 20 March) and running until 6 April 2019. The production was directed by artistic director Robert Hastie, designed by Ben Stones and choreographed by Lynne Page. The cast featured Darragh Cowley, Nicole Deon, Louis Gaunt, Adam Hugill, Robert Lonsdale, Fela Lufadeju, Maimuna Memon, Johanne Murdock, Damian Myerscough, Alastair Natkiel, Faith Omole, Deborah Tracey, Rachael Wooding and Alex Young. ^[1]

Sheffield revival (2022-23) and National Theatre, London (2023)

Following the success of the 2019 production, the musical was revived at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, from 10 December 2022 to 21 January 2023, before transferring to the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre, London from 9 February to 25 March 2023. ^[2] The revival had been due to take place in 2020-21 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^{[3] [4]}

The National Theatre co-production with Sheffield Theatres opened at the Olivier Theatre, London, on 9 February 2023 to favourable critical reaction. ^[5]

West End (2024)

The musical transferred to London's West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from 8 February 2024 for an initial six-month season. ^[6] In November 2023, some casting was announced. Returning to the show are Samuel Jordan as Jimmy, Baker Mukasa as George, Alastair Natkiel as Marcus, Rachael Wooding as Rose. Elizabeth Ayodele, Joel Harper-Jackson, Sharlene Hector, Mel Lowe, Laura Pitt-Pulford, and Lauryn Redding join the West End cast. ^[7]

Roles and principal casts

Character	Sheffield [8]	Sheffield Revival [9]	National Theatre [10]	West End [11]
	2019	2022	2023	2024
Harry	Robert Lonsdale			Joel Harper-Jackson
Rose	Rachael Wooding
Joy	Faith Omole			Elizabeth Ayodele
Jimmy	Adam Hugill	Samuel Jordan
Poppy	Alex Young			Laura Pitt-Pulford
Nikki	Maimuna Memon			Lauryn Redding
Connie	Nicole Deon	Bobbie Little		Mel Lowe
Grace / Alice	Deborah Tracey			Sharlene Hector
George	Fela Lufadeju	Baker Mukasa

Musical numbers

Act I "As The Dawn Breaks" "Time Is" "Naked in Pitsmoor" "I’m Looking for Someone to Find Me" "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" "Open Up Your Door" "My Little Treasures" "Coles Corner" "There’s a Storm A-Comin’"

Act II "Standing at the Sky’s Edge" "Our Darkness" "Midnight Train" "For Your Lover Give Some Time" "There’s a Storm A-Comin’ (Reprise)" "After the Rain" "Don’t Get Hung Up in Your Soul" "As the Dawn Breaks (Reprise)"

Awards and nominations

2019 Sheffield production

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2019	UK Theatre Awards [12]	Best Musical Production		Won
2020	South Bank Sky Arts Award [13]	Theatre		Won

2023 London production

The show received eight nominations for the 2023 Olivier Awards, making it the most nominated musical of the season. ^[14]

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2023	Laurence Olivier Awards [14]	Best New Musical		Won
		Best Director	Robert Hastie	Nominated
		Best Actress in a Musical	Faith Omole	Nominated
		Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical	Maimuna Memon	Nominated
		Best Theatre Choreographer	Lynne Page	Nominated
		Best Set Design	Ben Stones	Nominated
		Best Sound Design	Bobby Aitken	Nominated
		Best Original Score or New Orchestrations	Richard Hawley and Tom Deering	Won

Cast recording

The Original Live Cast Recording was recorded over three evenings in December 2022 during the Sheffield revival and mixed at the Arch Studios, Sheffield. The recording was released on 13 February 2023 and features 17 songs. ^[15]

Adaptations

In February 2023 it was announced that the show would be adapted by StudioCanal's RED Production Company into a four-part television series. ^[16]

References

1. Wild, Stephi (28 January 2019). "Full Casts Announced For Sheffield Theatres' Hang and Standing at the Sky's Edge". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
2. "Sheffield Theatres Announce 50th Anniversary Season". Sheffield Theatres. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
3. "Standing at the Sky's Edge Returns to the Crucible Stage". Sheffield Theatres. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
4. Underwood, Kitty (19 February 2020). "National Theatre announces 9 new productions for 2020/2021". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
5. Akbar, Arifa (14 February 2023). "Richard Hawley pulls on the heartstrings in his Sheffield opus". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 March 2023.
6. "Olivier Award-Winner 'Standing At The Sky's Edge' Reveals West End Transfer". Deadline Hollywood . 3 April 2023. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023.
7. "Standing at the Sky's Edge announce West End cast". LW Theatres. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
8. https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/Full-Casts-Announced-For-Sheffield-Theatres-HANG-And-STANDING-AT-THE-SKYS-EDGE-20190128
9. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/news/cast-announced-for-standing-at-the-skys-edge
10. "Standing at the Sky's Edge 2022 - National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
11. "Cast & Creative - Standing At The Sky's Edge | London". www.skysedgemusical.com/. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
12. https://uktheatre.org/training-events/uk-theatre-awards/uk-theatre-awards-2019/
13. https://www.skygroup.sky/article/winners-announced-for-the-2020-south-bank-sky-arts-awards
14. Millward, Tom (28 February 2023). "My Neighbour Totoro and Standing at the Sky's Edge receive most nominations at 2023 Olivier Awards". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
15. https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/standing-at-the-skys-edge-cast-recording
16. Bamigboye, Baz (23 February 2023). "Breaking Baz: Barbara Broccoli Is Perplexed About 'Till' And Oscars; Richard Hawley Musical Hit Heads To TV; David Hockney Lights Up London". Deadline. Retrieved 28 February 2023.