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Stage review: Our House the musical at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford

It's arguably mad not to see 'Our House' - you'll be so glad you visited.

The musical featuring the hit songs of Madness opened this week at Dartford's Orchard Theatre. The show is so packed with talent, the bubbling atmosphere had the audience standing on their feet applauding and clapping to the music.

It's 24-strong cast has been drawn from across Kent - the first adult community show staged at the Orchard as part of its 30th birthday celebrations. And what value for money it is.

The cast of Our House on stage at the Orchard
The cast of Our House on stage at the Orchard

Our House sparkles throughout, flowing like vintage champagne, its young cast having the audience eating out of their hands, captivated by the vitality and richness of their acting, singing and dancing.

It's a credit to the skills of director Max Reynolds, choreographer Chloe James and musical director Melanie Crouch that in the space of a handful of months, they could have taken such raw talent, fashioned and shaped it, to produce such a highly entertaining, and uplifting show.

The plot focuses on the life and loves of Joe Casey a teenager living in Camden Town in the mid 1980s.

A word in your ear... Our House is at Dartford until Saturday
A word in your ear... Our House is at Dartford until Saturday

Our House is a contrasting story of the 'Good Joe' and the 'Bad Joe' played Ben Brooker who portrays both characters well with strong input from Grace Hilling and David Ames, all of them backed up by a golden vein of talent running through the supporting cast.

Joe's troubles start on the night of his 16th birthday which results in taking the girl his dreams out on their first date. In an effort to impress her he breaks into a building site to show her one of the new houses. But then the police turn up and Joe's life splits in two.

FACTFILE
Our House runs to Saturday, November 9 inclusive, starting at 7.30pm, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets at £12, £15 with groups of ten or more at £8, and schools at £6. Box office 01322 220 000

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