Recently revived to acclaim on Broadway starring Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century is a screwball comedy with book and lyrics by the team behind Singing in the Rain and music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, Little Me, City of Angels). Set in the 1920s, it focuses on egomaniacal theatre producer Oscar Jaffee and his volatile personal and professional relationship with the arrogant film actress Lily Garland.

After four flops in a row, Jaffee is facing ruin. He books a suite on the luxury train the Twentieth Century Limited, heading from Chicago to New York City. Also on board are Garland and her new beau, narcissistic heartthrob Bruce Granit. Jaffee hopes he can lure Garland back to the stage and salvage his sinking career. She is just as determined to escape his charm and a battle of wits begins.

On the Twentieth Century is a show with a big, quasi-operatic sound, farcical comedy, and some classic choreography.

"Only a company like GEOIDS could bring a show with these production values to such a small venue ... This is an ambitious and active company, with four full-scale musicals and a panto to come in 2017, and GEOIDS fully deserve their reputation as one of London’s leading amateur musical theatre companies." - Sardines Magazine

Cast

Lily Garland - Rachel Benton
Oscar Jaffee - George Still
Oliver Webb - Kevin Murray
Owen O'Malley - Lewis Simington
Letitia Primrose - Grace Iglesias Fernandez
Bruce Granit - Dan Geller
Conductor Flannigan - Paul Brookland Williams
Max Jacobs - Sean Westwood
Congressman Lockwood - Ed Steward
Dr Johnson - Katy Robinson
Imelda Thornton - Romana Moss
Agnes - Kathryn Hyde

Ensemble

Ed Curry
Sebastiaan Douma
Daisy Fordham
Charlotte Green
Hannah Parker Smith
Franciscus Prins
Lorien Roberts
Yvette Shiel
Olivia Stearman
Becky Thomas
Vaughan Watts
Charlie Welch
Pippa Welch
Nichola Welch

Production team

Director: Matt Bentley
Musical Director: Jerome van den Berghe
Choreographer: Nichola Welch
Producer: Blake Klein
Set Designer & Scenic Artist: Roberta Volpe
Technical Consultant: John Winters
Costume Design: Lemington Ridley
Lighting Design: Chris Taylor & Graham Webb
Sound Design: Adrian Jeakins
Company Manager: Hannah Parker Smith
Stage Manager: Giles Burden
Props: Angela Hay
Poster Design: Michael Marsden
Programme Design/Publicity Photography: Daniel Penfold
Production Photography: Ruth Anthony
Headshot Photography: Kris Webb
Front of House: Daniel Paul, Siobhan Aarons & Ashley Ball

On the Twentieth Century is supported by Bishopsgate Institute.