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3rd August 2022
By Shaun Tossell
The world premiere of Great British Bake Off – The Musical has opened in Cheltenham. Will this musical adaptation rise to the occasion or is it a recipe for disaster? To find out, read on…
Some people may scoff at the idea of turning The Great British Bake Off into a musical but Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary know better.
After previously adapting The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ into a stage musical to great critical acclaim, which led to a West End run, the composing team have taken on another beloved British institution to work their magic on.
Jake Brunger has written what feels like a love letter to the TV show, full of knowing gags and in-jokes, many a double entendre, replete with a cast of eccentric bakers to fall in love with. It’s beautifully heartfelt, with some truly touching moments, especially when dealing with the loss of a loved one.
It’s also deliciously silly, with the songs by Pippa Cleary producing the stand out moments from the show. Nearly every character is given their own number, full of clever lyrics, that never failed to raise a smile (or even in some cases elicit a tear).
The show features some absolutely hilarious performances from its super talented cast, of all ages.
We’re first introduced to Scott Paige and Jaye Jacobs as the presenters Jim and Kim, respectively. I’d happily watch them present the actual show, they seem like complete naturals, with Paige especially, displaying some excellent comic timing.
John Owen-Jones and Rosemary Ashe star as Phil Hollinghurst and Pam Lee, who are in no way based on the actual GBBO presenters Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. Owen-Jones and Ashe are a delightful double-pairing with their tongues both placed firmly in cheek. One minor criticism might be that we don’t get enough of them.
Now we come to our bunch of bakers, who are wonderfully brought to life, with each actor equally worthy of praise.
Stand-outs include Claire Moore as saucy Babs, with her solo number ‘Babs Lament’ being an absolute hoot, Simbi Akande as the prickly Izzy and a special mention of young actor Ariella Elkins-Green as Lily, excellently delivering quip after quip.
The beating heart of the show though, is Charlotte Wakefield as the shy, lonely Gemma, who blossoms throughout the show and showcasing her powerhouse vocals with her heartfelt solo number ‘Rise’.
Set, costume and cake designer Alice Power meticulously brings the world of Bake Off to life, especially with her superb recreation of the Bake Off tent, with stellar lighting design by Ben Cracknell.
The show is beautifully directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, aided by some brilliant prop-heavy choreography by Georgina Lamb. The fact that most of the action takes place in mainly one location but never feels boring, is a testament to their work.
Great British Bake Off – The Musical is hilarious, full of heart and much better than it has any right to be. All the ingredients come together to make a wonderful musical treat. No soggy bottoms here!
Great British Bake Off – The Musical is playing the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham until 6th August 2022.
Tickets & more info – https://bakeoffthemusical.com/
Photo credit – Manuel Harlan
