In 2004, Eyebrow produced the first Showtime Challenge – a performance of Sondheim's Into The Woods at the New Theatre in Oxford.
The 48 hours of the Showtime weekend were absolutely crazy and very little went according to plan. As the audience arrived, the set was still being built, the director and technical team had only just finished plotting the first act of the show, the sound crew had not seen or heard the production from start to finish and the orchestra was a bit wary having spent the weekend sleeping on the stone floor of a church. It doesn’t sound like the performance was much fun, in fact, it sounds like it was rubbish...
The reality was that the cast, crew orchestra and especially the audience had a fantastic evening. The performance was reviewed as ‘ beautifully delivered’ and the sense of teamwork was unlike anything we had experienced before. The combination of determination and energy overcame all obstacles, serious and otherwise, to produce a performance that everyone was proud of. To top it all off, we were pleased to raise thousands for the new Children’s hospital which opened in Oxford in 2007.
After the success of Into The Woods, Eyebrow was asked to reprise its 48 hour challenge and Cy Coleman’s hit musical, Sweet Charity was chosen for Showtime Challenge 2. Hundreds of people from all over the country applied to audition and volunteer to take part in the performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 10 December 2006.
All candidates had to go through a rigorous audition process which included acting, singing and dance auditions. The standard of the performers combined with far reaching and overwhelming support for all aspects of the production made it a great project for everyone involved. The show's host, Gail Porter, said the evening 'exceeded everyone’s expectations' and was a wonderful evening raising money and awareness for the British Heart Foundation.
Showtime supporter Dame Judi Dench said: ‘When I heard it was a musical in 48 hours, well a play would be difficult! But to get all the singing, acting and dancing is truly admirable. I wouldn’t make a habit of it. Maybe once every two years...’ So, two years later, we are delighted to be back in the West End, with a Showtime Challenge performance of Me and My Girl at the London Palladium on 26 October 2008.
This year’s profits will be donated to The Anthony Nolan Trust. We hope that the fantastic efforts of everyone involved in Showtime Challenge 3 will help their essential work in saving lives by recruiting donors to the UK’s most successful bone marrow register.
© 2004-2008 by Eyebrow Productions All Rights Reserved
Showtime supporter Dame Judi Dench said: ‘When I heard it was a musical in 48 hours, well a play would be difficult! But to get all the singing, acting and dancing is truly admirable. I wouldn’t make a habit of it. Maybe once every two years...’ So, two years later, we were delighted to be back in the West End, with a Showtime Challenge performance of Me and My Girl at the London Palladium on 26 October 2008.
The evening was hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Les Dennis with all proceeds being donated to the Anthony Nolan Trust, who do essential work in saving lives by recruiting donors to the UK’s most successful bone marrow register.
With the stakes raised once again, performing to a packed audience in perhaps the most famous theatre in London, the event was a huge success. The Evening Standard said: Such was the urgency, enthusiasm and talent that this production managed to inject new life into Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent’s 1984 revision of a 71-year-old warhorse.
Showtime Challenge 2009 - Crazy for You - coming to the London Palladium on Sunday 18th October 2009. For tickets, watch this space...