AN44

12 April 2017 Abingdon Drama London Road is centred around the events in Ipswich in 2006 when the bodies of five women were discovered. The show is a highly unusual and immensely challenging piece based on recordings of interviews Alecky Blythe conducted with the real residents of London Road. The interviews were transcribed and set to music by composer Adam Cork. Audiences at the production in the Amey Theatre were transfixed by the performances of the 28-strong joint cast and 14-strong band, as well as the superb lighting and staging. Just some of the comments the production received: What a phenomenal, boundary-pushing, fresh-air-breathing ride that was!...proper, exciting, heart-wrenching theatre. It was the most interesting, creative piece I’ve seen in a long time. I arrived feeling a bit jaded and wondering if 2½ hours would be too long. Well, I needn’t have worried, I was spell bound. I thought the production was truly exceptional. I don’t think I’ve seen anything as surprising and thought provoking as tonight’s performance of London Road for a long time. London Road Much Ado launches a dramatic week Talented teenagers from Abingdon and St Helen’s launched the drama departments’ flagship week in the school calendar with two productions from the senior students. A contemporary performance of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing was followed by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork’s modern classic London Road . Both productions played to packed houses and received huge acclaim. Alecky Blythe texted with her own message, she said, “It looks fantastic! I’m delighted to hear they climbed the mountain and reached the summit! Congratulations to you all.” “ ”