Berkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-rocking-up-in-berks">It&#8217;s rocking up in Berks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire band singing on stage" class="wp-image-52299" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/2-3-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Following a record-breaking run in London&#8217;s West End, <a href="https://thecommitmentsontour.co.uk/"><em>The Commitments</em></a> is back on stage and it’s coming to Berkshire! There’s no need to trek into the Big Smoke, this award-winning show will be rocking up to The Hexagon in Reading from Tue 13 to Sat 17 June. Critics love it, it&#8217;s packed with 20 soul classics and is pretty much an unforgettable night out. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-was-almost-a-reject">It was almost a reject</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire men and women drinking beer from bottles" class="wp-image-52291" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/7-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Written by Booker prize winner Roddy Doyle and brought to the stage by director Andrew Linnie, it’s the 1980s story of Jimmy Rabitte, a working class Dublin boy, that’s the beating heart of this show. Jimmy manages a band called, you’ve guessed it, The Commitments, and the story is about their journey. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire men and women " class="wp-image-52289" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/9-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Doyle wrote the story during a summer holiday, but no one wanted to publish the novel. In the end, he took out a bank loan and self-published a run of 4,000 copies, <em>The Commitments</em> initially received a few frosty reviews its success was nailed on when Elvis Costello expressed his love for the book.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52285" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/13-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Roddy later adapted his tale for cinema &#8211; the movie was directed by Alan Parker in 1991 and won four BAFTAs and received an Oscar nomination &#8211; and the stage. And, if you want to know what happened next, Roddy revisits Jimmy in <em>The Guts</em>, his novel published in 2013. They rest, as they say, is history.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-x-factor-blueprint">The X Factor blueprint</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire MAN playing sax on back of moped" class="wp-image-52288" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/10-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Music takes centre stage in this show and the uplifting soul classics &#8211; think <em>River Deep, Mountain High, Mustang Sally, I heard it through the Grapevine</em> and <em>Knock on Wood</em> (can you hear them in your head or is that just me?) &#8211; are guaranteed to have you tapping your feet and singing along. It’s quite literally impossible not to!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire playing guitars on stage" class="wp-image-52293" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/5-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>But did you know the audition process for <em>The Commitments</em> film has been likened to an early <em>X Factor</em>. Around 3,0000 aspiring musicians lined the streets of Dublin to audition for the roles – and were chosen mostly on personality and musical skill. The starring role of Deco Cuffe went to Andrew Strong, a 16-year-old who happened to be on set one day (His dad was the production&#8217;s vocal coach, belted out a perfect rendition of <em>Mustang Sally</em>. Only stage actor Johnny Murphy, couldn’t actually play any instrument. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-launched-careers">It launched careers</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire backstage in dressing room mirror and lights" class="wp-image-52286" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/12-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Go wild in the aisles, because two best-selling albums don&#8217;t lie. The music is central to the storyline, and is as crowd pleasing as it comes. The first album spent 67 weeks in the UK Top 40 and 78 weeks in the US Billboard chart. A second album was released within the year, but didn&#8217;t chart as well. The music execs were laughing all the way to the bank and lead vocalist Niamh Kavanagh laughed all the way to 1993&#8217;s Eurovision Song Contest. She was chosen to represent Ireland following her performance on the soundtrack – and she won. <em>Douze pointe</em> to Niamh who is now considered a National Treasure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-see-a-corrie-legend">See a Corrie legend</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2.jpg" alt="The Commitments musical The Hexagon Theatre Reading Berkshire man slumped under stairs" class="wp-image-52292" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/6-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Actor Nigel Pivaro – otherwise known as <em>Coronation Street</em> legend/baddie Terry Duckworth, son of Jack and Vera – takes the role of Jimmy’s Da. Nigel first joined the long running soap in 1983 and clocked up some 400 appearances. He later became a journalist before being enticed back into the world of acting. His performance in <em>The Commitments</em> marks 20 years since he last appeared on stage! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52295" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/3-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p><em>BOOK NOW: <a href="https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/commitments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Commitments</a> at The Hexagon Theatre runs from 13-17 June, <a href="https://whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/whats-on/commitments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickets from £29.50 to £47.50</a>. </em></p>


5 things you didn’t know about The Commitments!

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