Carrie: The Musical

Billy Nolan

Oxford Playhouse

Directed by Ellie Cooper

Musical Direction by Beth 'Fitz' Fitzpatrick

Stephen King is rarely the first thing that comes to mind when you think of musical theatre, but this unlikely crossover is one that works really, really well. Ironically, Carrie: the Musical has historically struggled financially, with the original Broadway production closing after just three performances. So, to be a part of this production with 6 near sell-out performances at the Oxford Playhouse was such a privilege.

The cast annihilates the audience with powerful voices, perfectly arranged harmonies, and impressive choreography.

~ Abigail Stevens, The Oxford Student

It's not often that you get the chance to play an irredeemable asshole onstage, and when I say that I loved every second, I mean every single moment. Billy Nolan is trapped in high school, forced to resit his final year and wishing he'd left years ago. A lot of this frustration is aimed at his peers, as he tries to maintain power by assuming dominance at the top of the school hierarchy. His relationship with his girlfriend, Chris, is tense and strained, brimming with angst and sexual chemistry. The two manipulate and aggress each other into the scheme that ultimately ends in destruction at the hands of Carrie. These power dynamics were especially interesting to explore, and pouring the bucket of blood over Carrie during the prom climax was a lot of fun. It took several hours of practice up ladders to get the volume of blood, consistency, aim and timing right, but it was worth the effort as all six blood pours turned out spectacularly!

Luke Nixon and Peter Todd were both amazing as the main male characters of the show: Sue’s kind boyfriend Tommy... and Chris’s delinquent boyfriend Billy.

~ Abigail Stevens, The Oxford Student

I think part of what made this production so special was the way that the creative team set up the rehearsal space. It was an extremely friendly and collaborative environment, with an emphasis on respect. The cast and crew were so well integrated into one unit, which is something that is often missing from student productions. I loved how cohesive and caring it felt, and I think that elevated every performance onstage as well. This way of working is something I hope to take forward into my future projects.