Made in Dagenham the Musical, Adelphi Theatre

Made in Dagenham the Musical, adapted from the hit film, has struck a slot on London's West End. Think a British version of The Pyjama Game but with more feminism and fewer nighties... 

The creatives 

The team behind the show are the current golden boys of London theatre. Director Rupert Goold has seen enormous success as Artistic Director at the Almeida with King Charles III currently storming the West End, whilst writer Richard Bean can seemingly do no wrong, with One Man Two Guvnors becoming one of the biggest shows of the last few years and phone hacking satire Great Britain proving huge hit for The National, soon to grace the West End. 

A new musical is, of course, not complete without a composer, and the Grammy award winning (and composer of, among numerous other things, the theme tune for Sherlock) David Arnold is certainly a fine one. Having scored the film of Made in Dagenham, he is the ideal choice to take it to the stage. There is a challenge involved in creating musical theatre out of a drama, but we’ve had a listen to some of the songs and the sound of the 1960s that forms such an integral backdrop to the film seems to be alive and well in this adaptation. And the guts and glory that shape the story are carried along in the wave of new music. 

Hollywood and stage star Gemma Arterton

The cast is headed by Bond girl beauty Gemma Arterton. Most recognisable for her film roles such as Tamara Drewe and St Trinian’s, Arterton is also no stranger to the stage, having most recently opened the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse with charming and absorbing role in Duchess of Malfi. She's proved herself on stage and screen, and, having worked her way up from a karaoke singer and showed of a sweet singing voice at the Wannamaker, we predict that Arterton's first shot at musical theatre will be a triumph. 

A united front

Described by composer David Arnold as ‘David and Goliath story except that there are loads of David’s’, Made in Dagenham is a tale of women’s liberation, politics and the power of a united front. The ability of a musical to use an ensemble to create a sense of unity and community is unrivalled, making the medium of musical theatre seem a natural one for Made in Dagenham.