The Great British Bake Off Musical

The Great British Bake Off Musical
Official artwork for West End production
Music	Pippa Cleary
Lyrics	Jake Brunger Pippa Cleary
Book	Jake Brunger
Basis	The Great British Bake Off
Premiere	22 July 2022: Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Productions	2022 Cheltenham 2023 West End

The Great British Bake Off Musical is a musical with book and lyrics by Jake Brunger and music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary, based on the British television baking competition of the same name.

Production history

World premiere: Cheltenham (2022)

The musical had its world premiere at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham on 23 July running until 6 August 2022. The production was directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, designed by Alice Power, produced by Mark Goucher, executive produced by Richard McKerrow in association with Love Productions.[1][2][3] On 1 April 2022, casting was announced including John Owen-Jones and Rosemary Ashe.[4]

West End (2023)

On the 18th of October 2022, it was announced that the production will transfer to London's West End the following year, running from the 25 February for a 12 week limited run at the Noël Coward Theatre, featuring some members of the original Cheltenham cast reprising their roles.[5] Full casting was announced on 1 December 2022.[6] The Original London Cast Recording was released on 28 April 2023.

Musical numbers

Act I "Prologue" – Company "The Bake Off Tent" – Jim, Kim & The Bakers "Obviously" – Izzy & The Bakers "Somewhere In The Dough" – Gemma "Slap It Like That" – Phil & Company "Bring on the Scone" – Jim, Kim, Pam & Phil "Grow" – Francesca "The Handshake Song" – The Bakers "My Dad" – Lily & Ben "All the Way" – Company

Act II "Keep On Keeping On" – Pam and Company "The Perfect Petit Fours" – Gemma & Ben "Don't Send Me Home" – Company "I'd Never Be Me Without You" – Phil & Pam "The Semi-Final" – Semi-finalists, Jim, Kim, Pam & Phil "Babs' Lament" - Babs "Rise" - Gemma "Finale " - Company

Cast and characters

Character	Cheltenham	West End
	2022	2023
Izzy	Simbi Akande	Grace Mouat
Pam	Rosemary Ashe	Haydn Gwynne
Kim	Jaye Jacobs	Zoe Birkett
Russell	Michael Cahill
Babs	Claire Moore
Jim	Scott Paige
Phil	John Owen-Jones
Ben	Damian Humbley
Hassan	Aharon Rayner
Dezza	Jay Saighal
Francesca	Catrina Sandison
Gemma	Charlotte Wakefield
Lily	Ariella Elkins-Green Tessy Hawksfield Elizabeth McPherson	Aanya Shah Amelie Rouse Maisy Mein
Understudies	David Haydn Louis Gaudencio Gabriella Stylianou Annette Yeo	Jamil Abbasi Louis Gaudencio Stuart Hickey Gabriella Stylianou Georgie Westall Annette Yeo

Critical reception

The production received mixed to positive reviews from both critics and audiences.[7][8][9]

References

1. Wiegand, Chris (21 January 2022). "Songs of glaze: Great British Bake Off musical to hit the stage this summer". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
2. Wood, Alex (21 January 2022). "Great British Bake Off musical to premiere this summer". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
3. Sanderson, David (21 January 2022). "Buns on seats for a Bake Off musical". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
4. Wood, Alex (1 April 2022). "Great British Bake Off – the Musical announces cast for world premiere". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
5. Wood, Alex (18 October 2022). "Cast for The Great British Bake Off Musical in the West End announced". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
6. "Full cast for The Great British Bake Off Musical in the West End announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
7. Hood, Alun (4 August 2022). "Great British Bake Off: The Musical review – all the ingredients for a theatre treat". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
8. Davis, Clive (4 August 2022). "Great British Bake Off: The Musical review — a sugar-and-spice recipe with no soggy bottoms". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
9. Gillinson, Miriam (3 August 2022). "Great British Bake Off: The Musical review – sweet treat with a soggy bottom". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2022.

External links

• Official website