“Grace The Lighthouse Girl” by Open Road Productions
Guildhall Theatre, Derby.

The story of Grace Darling is brought to the stage thanks to the pen of William Varnam with the songs being penned by Phil Baggaley, who makes this show three in a row after the incredible success of “The Same Sky” and “Silver Darling”, both musicals I personally rate highly.

Grace was a hardworking girl from Northumberland whose life was changed because of her brave involvement in a sea rescue.

In the early hours of 7 September 1838, Darling, looking from an upstairs window, spotted the wreck and survivors of the Forfarshire on Big Harcar, a nearby low rocky island. The Forfarshire had foundered on the rocks and broken in half: one of the halves had sunk during the night.

She and her father William took a rowing boat across to the survivors, taking a long route that kept to the sheltered side of the islands, a distance of nearly a mile.

Darling kept the boat steady in the water while her father helped four men and the lone surviving woman, Mrs. Dawson, into the boat.

Hailed, along with her father, a local hero, her fame spread far and wide, but we discover that fame was too much for her.

Rachel Bird played several roles with several different accents, all well executed and with lovely physicality that distinguished the various characters.

Mica Loveridge played Grace from birth to her passing. Not only is Mica an excellent actor she has the voice of an angel and these songs suit her tone so well

William Varnam played William Darling, and being the writer, he even managed to write in a classic line like "who's going to write a play about you, Grace?", with a knowing look out to the audience.

Aaron Belcher and Andrew Buxton, apart from playing several other roles played the two characters which reminded me of a cross between Emcee from "Cabaret" and, especially with Aaron, Freddie Mercury in his comedy/dramatic phase.

Great comedy pairing which really kept the comedy going throughout the play. Similar as well to the French mime artists, their faces expressing all their emotions. These two characters were borne from several varied comedy characters stretching back to the old silent movies era. All we needed was that strobe light effect to make the set look like an old black and white movie.

And that is one thing that I really didn't expect. A brave but tragic tale of a young hero who died under possible suspicious circumstances, and it being portrayed like a cabaret show from the 1920s, but you know what.it really worked.

This is a wonderful way to bring history to life using the best kind of entertainment; what a way to educate the kids about historical events.

Directed by Daniel Ellis, he has brought the rime line forward from the 1800s, when the event happened, and created a more modern, almost "play within a play" feeling about it. Fast moving but balancing the pathos with comedy perfectly.

The set, also designed by Daniel Ellis encompasses everything the cast need without straying to far off set. There's a watery feel to the set which matches the wonderfully fluid feel of the piece

The wonderful 12 piece band brought to life the gorgeous songs written by Phil Baggaley. I love this style of music used in these productions. Part folk, part Irish traditional but infuriatingly catchy. Songs that will rattle around your head for long after you leave the theatre.

The costumes and make up go a long way to creating that "cabaret/circus" feel to the show, making this a visual spectacle.

This musical has just about everything that spells success, and that includes some lovely choreographed pieces, as catchy as the music. Rachel Bird has done a brilliant job with the infectious dance sections.

Open Road Productions are like a beacon, shining bright where local writing and drama is concerned, and that is very exciting, especially for someone like myself who is privileged to be able to see so much theatre on a local and touring basis.

“Grace The Lighthouse Girl” is at The Guildhall Theatre, Derby until Saturday 30 June 2018.