CATCH ME – A NEW MUSICAL ABOUT MALE SUICIDE – AT ABOVE THE ARTS THEATRE
LONDON – Catch Me, a new musical about male suicide, is a hard-hitting show about a topic many people prefer to ignore. The friends of 32-year old Dean gather the evening before his funeral. As they laugh, cry and reminisce, one question keeps on their mind: why did Dean kill himself?
This brand new musical captures the range of emotions which engulf people affected by suicide. As the friends share their memories – some painful, some funny – it becomes clear that they didn’t know Dean as well as they imagined. Secrets revealed and truth emerges, relationships tested, and comfortable illusions destroyed.
In the second act, we see Dean’s side of the story – though the big question that haunts his friends (“Why would he do it?”) can never be answered. With an intriguing score, witty lyrics, and a taut story which entwines moments of warmth, humor and intense drama, Catch Me is a unique new musical that can’t be missed.
Featured in the cast of Catch Me are Neal Andrews (Blood Brothers, HMS Pinafore), Connor Arnold (Silent Witness, Jane Eyre), Reuben Beau Davies (Disturbed Monkey, Fourth Man), Matthew Munden (The Night of 1000 Stars, Dead Poets Society), Kathryn Pemberton (The Sopranos, Private Lives) and Jennifer Tilley (Musical of the Year).
Catch Me written by Londoners Arnoud Breitbarth and Christian Czornyj, two recent graduates of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts’ MA in Writing Musicals, the only fulltime education in Europe that focussed specifically on the craft of writing musicals. “We wanted to explore a topic that many wouldn’t associate with musical theatre.”
The show is directed by Jill Patterson (Life as a Naked House Cleaner, Welcome to the Vox Box), who is passionate about removing the stigma around mental health. The fact that on average 13 men a day take their lives in the UK shows that there is a ‘need for change’, she says. “In a light-hearted way, this show encourages the conversations to keep going.”
Music direction is by Rebecca Grant, who specialises in developing new musical theatre writing.
Catch Me, the new musical about the effects of male suicide, plays from 21 November – 3 December at the Arts Theatre (Above), with a press night on 23 November.
General info about Catch Me:
Dates:
Previews 21 & 22 November, 7.30 pm
Press Night 23 November, 7.30 pm
Main run 24 November – 3 December 7.30 pm
(no shows on Sunday 27 November)
Venue & Address:
Above the Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB
website: www.catchmemusical.com
Facebook: @catchmemusical
Twitter: @catchme_musical
Cast:
Neal Andrews
Connor Arnold
Reuben Beau Davies
Matthew Munden
Jennifer Tilley
Kathryn Pemberton
Creatives:
Book, Lyrics & Music by Arnoud Breitbarth & Christian Czornyj
Direction by Jill Patterson
Musical Direction by Rebecca Grant
Synopsis:
Five friends attempt to come to terms with the recent and unexpected death of Dean. Gathered on the eve of his funeral they cry, laugh and reminisce. Though one questions remains: why did he kill himself?
Catch Me is an intimate musical with a hard-hitting story that will make you smile, question and cry. With a cast of 6 and a live band, this is a uniquely different piece of musical theatre that you can’t afford to miss.
Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 45, which is why suicide is a focus point of the Movember movement. Catch Me tries to raise awareness and change perceptions of mental health issues.
The show is supported by various charities and NHS mental health trusts.
Carn's Theatre Passion 