Only Fools and Horses The Musical

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Only Fools and Horses
The Musical
Only Fools and Horses musical.jpg
Official West End poster
Music Paul Whitehouse
Jim Sullivan
John Sullivan (additional)
Chas Hodges (additional)
LyricsPaul Whitehouse
Jim Sullivan
John Sullivan (additional)
Chas Hodges (additional)
Book Paul Whitehouse
Jim Sullivan
Basis Only Fools and Horses
by John Sullivan
Premiere9 February 2019 (2019-02-09): Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
Productions2019 West End
2024 UK and Ireland tour

Only Fools and Horses The Musical is a 2019 British romantic comedy musical with book, music and lyrics by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, and additional music by Chas Hodges and John Sullivan. It is based on John Sullivan's BBC television sitcom of the same name which ran from 1981 to 2003.

Contents

The musical premiered at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in February 2019 and played for over 1,000 performances until the end of April 2023.

Plot

The story compresses 22 years and 64 episodes of the show into a two-hour tale in which Rodney and Cassandra are making wedding preparations, Boycie and Marlene are trying to conceive, and Del Boy goes to a dating agency looking for a "sort" and ends up with Raquel. [1]

It includes classic routines from the TV show such as Del Boy falling through the bar and Rodney trying to explain to Trigger that his name is not Dave.

Production history

World premiere: West End (2019–2023)

A musical adaptation of the popular sitcom Only Fools and Horses was initially announced to be coming to the West End on October 8, 2018 and would be produced by Phil McIntyre Entertainments and written by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan. The initial casting announced Paul Whitehouse playing the role of Grandad, Tom Bennett as Del Boy and Ryan Hutton as Rodney. The musical was announced to have its first preview on February 8, 2019.[ citation needed ]

The musical made its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 9 February 2019, before opening officially on February 19, 2019. The production was directed and choreographed by Caroline Jay Ranger, with musical supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Stuart Morely. Set and costume were designed by Liz Ascroft, with lighting design by Richard G Jones and Sound Design by Rory Madden.[ citation needed ]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom mandating the closure of all theatres, the production was forced to take a lengthy hiatus. It reopened on October 1, 2021. [2] The production closed on April 29, 2023 after over 1000 performances, making it the longest-running production in the Theatre Royal Haymarket's history. [3]

UK and Ireland tour (2024-25)

On October 27, 2023, it was announced that the musical would begin a UK and Ireland tour on September 23, 2024 at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, touring until July 5, 2025. It will also include a Christmas season at the Hammersmith Apollo from December 17, 2024 until January 5, 2025. Whitehouse will reprise his role as Grandad at certain venues, including the London season. [4] [5]

Musical numbers

Original West End Production

Original cast and characters

Character West End
2019
Grandad / Uncle Albert Paul Whitehouse*
Del Boy Tom Bennett
Rodney Ryan Hutton
Raquel Dianne Pilkington
Cassandra Pippa Duffy
Boycie Jeff Nicholson
Marlene Samantha Seager
Trigger Peter Baker
Denzil Adrian Irvine
Danny DriscollPete Gallagher
Tony DriscollAdam Venus
Mickey PearceChris Kiely
Dating AgentOscar Conlon-Morrey
Mrs Obooko/Wedding FitterMelanie Marshall
Mike the BarmanAndy Mace
Sid / Alternative Del BoyChris Bennett

Notable West End replacements

Critical reception

Peter Mason in the Morning Star newspaper described the production as "well conceived, well wrought and, above all, great fun", adding that "in general, the tenor of the stage interpretation is rather more emotional than the TV series, with more pathos and some darker moments." [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Only Fools and Horses</i> British TV sitcom (1981–2003)

Only Fools and Horses.... is a British television sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until the end of the show in 2003. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it stars David Jason as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger half-brother Rodney Trotter, alongside a supporting cast. The series follows the Trotters' highs and lows in life, in particular their attempts to get rich. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA, the National Television Awards, and the Royal Television Society, as well as winning individual accolades for both Sullivan and Jason. It was voted Britain's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Boy</span> Fictional character

Derek Edward Trotter, more commonly known as Del Boy, is a fictional character from the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its spinoff series, Rock & Chips. He was played by David Jason in the original series and was portrayed as a teenager by James Buckley in the prequel. Del Boy is often regarded as one of the greatest comedy characters in the history of British television, and is regarded as an iconic character in British culture. In a 2001 poll conducted by Channel 4 Del Boy was ranked fourth on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.

Trigger (<i>Only Fools and Horses</i>) Fictional character from Only Fools and Horses

Trigger, is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and its prequel Rock & Chips. He was played by Roger Lloyd-Pack in Only Fools and Horses and Lewis Osbourne in Rock & Chips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uncle Albert</span> Fictional character from Only Fools and Horses

Albert Gladstone Trotter, better known as Uncle Albert, is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, portrayed by Buster Merryfield. He was introduced during the fourth series as a replacement for the character of Grandad due to the sudden death of Lennard Pearce in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Trotter</span> Fictional character from Only Fools and Horses

Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the long running BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.

<i>The Green Green Grass</i> British TV sitcom (2005–2009)

The Green Green Grass is a BBC television sitcom, created and initially written by John Sullivan, and produced by BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Shazam Productions for the BBC. It is a sequel/spin-off of the long-running sitcom Only Fools and Horses and stars John Challis, Sue Holderness, and Jack Doolan. Four series and three Christmas specials were originally broadcast on BBC One between 2005 and 2009.

Gwyneth Strong is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Cassandra, the love interest and, later, wife of Rodney, in Only Fools and Horses (1989-2003), and for playing Geraldine Clough in seven episodes of EastEnders in 2016. She has also appeared in Shadows (1975), Angels (1976), Crown Court and Z-Cars, Play for Today (1980-1984) and Silent Witness (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Touch of Glass</span> 7th episode of the 2nd series of Only Fools and Horses

"A Touch of Glass" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 2 December 1982 as the final episode of series 2. It was the first episode of the show to attract over 10 million viewers.

"Little Problems" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the final episode of series 6, and was first screened on 12 February 1989.

"Time on Our Hands" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. First screened on 29 December 1996, it was the final episode of that year's Christmas trilogy and the fifteenth Christmas special overall. It attracted a television audience of 24.3 million, a record for a British sitcom. In the episode, the Trotters finally become millionaires. It had initially been intended to be the series finale, but creator John Sullivan wrote three more specials that were screened annually between 2001 and 2003, starting with "If They Could See Us Now".

"Sleepless in Peckham...!" is the final episode of BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was first screened on 25 December 2003 as the third and final part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy, and as the eighteenth and final Christmas special. It was the last Only Fools and Horses-related episode until the Sport Relief special in March 2014.

"A Slow Bus to Chingford" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the fifth episode of series 1, and was first broadcast on 6 October 1981. In the episode, Del acquires an old double decker bus and decides to give tours around London.

"The Sky's the Limit" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the first episode of series 7, and first broadcast on 30 December 1990. In the episode, Del acquires a satellite dish for Boycie, unaware that it has been stolen from Gatwick Airport.

"The Chance of a Lunchtime" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of series 7 and first broadcast on 6 January 1991. In the episode, Raquel auditions for a role in a Shakespeare play. Elsewhere, Del tries to sell musical national anthem doorbells.

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the fifth episode of series 7, and was first broadcast on 27 January 1991. In the episode, Uncle Albert comes home claiming to have been mugged and, thinking he has become a burden, decides to leave Nelson Mandela House.

"Three Men, a Woman and a Baby" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the final episode of series 7 and was first broadcast on 3 February 1991. This is the last episode of the last regular series, although Christmas specials were broadcast intermittently until 2003. In this episode, the birth of Del and Raquel's baby is imminent. Damien Trotter appears in the show for the first time in the episode's finale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Done It My Way</span> 7th episode of the 4th series of The Green Green Grass

"I Done It My Way" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, The Green Green Grass. It aired on 19 February 2009, as the seventh episode of the fourth series. This episode acted as a 'clip show' for both Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass. In total, the episode contained around forty clips, some of which were made specially for this episode. When series 4 was released on DVD, both separately, as well as part of a box set, the episode was left out, because of the archive clips. Even digital comedy channel Gold refuse to show the episode because of this, and is not available to watch on any catch-up services, including BBC iPlayer.

<i>Rock & Chips</i> British television miniseries

Rock & Chips is a British television comedy-drama miniseries and a prequel to the sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The show is set in Peckham, southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Freddie Robdal and Joan and Reg Trotter. Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney in Only Fools and Horses, plays Robdal alongside James Buckley, Kellie Bright (Joan), Shaun Dingwall (Reg) and Phil Daniels (Grandad). The Shazam and BBC Studios Comedy Drama co-production was written by Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan, directed by Dewi Humphreys and produced by Gareth Gwenlan.

James Sullivan, is a British television screenwriter. He is best known for writing seven episodes of The Green Green Grass.

References

  1. "Will Gompertz reviews: Only Fools and Horses The Musical ★★☆☆☆". BBC News. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  2. "Only Fools and Horses the Musical". London Box Office. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  3. "Only Fools and Horses to close in the West End with UK tour planned". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  4. Guide, British Comedy (27 October 2023). "Only Fools And Horses The Musical announces 2024 & 2025 tour dates". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. "Only Fools and Horses musical announces tour and London return". 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. "Only Fools and Horses the Musical |". www.onlyfoolsmusical.com/. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  7. "Only Fools and Horses the Musical". www.onlyfoolsmusical.com. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  8. Peter Mason. Review of Only Fools and Horses The Musical. Morning Star , 2019. Web. Retrieved on 29 September 2019.