The Donmar Warehouse’s world-premiere musical of Committee… (A New Musical), which is subtitled The Public Administration and Constitution Affairs Committee Take Oral Evidence on Whitehall’s Relationship with Kids Company, officially opened July 3.
Featuring music by Tom Deering and book and lyrics by Hadley Fraser and Donmar Artistic Director Josie Rourke, the musical is edited from the Parliamentary transcript of an inquiry into the collapse of the London-based charity Kids Company.
Directed by Adam Penford, Committee... (A New Musical) is scheduled through August 12.
Here’s what critics have to say. Check back for updates.
The Telegraph (Claire Allfree)
According to the Donmar, “What happens when something goes wrong? Who holds us accountable? On 15 October 2015, as part of an inquiry into ‘The collapse of Kids Company,’ Camila Batmanghelidjh and Alan Yentob gave evidence to The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee… This production has not been authorised by any participant or Parliament. We present it to you – the public – to consider how civic life in the U.K. is really governed. It is based on the Parliamentary transcript of the oral evidence session on 15 October 2015 and the words spoken by those participating in the Inquiry.”
Sandra Marvin plays Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh, with Omar Ebrahim as Alan Yentob, former chairman of the charity. The cast also features Alexander Hanson as Bernard Jenkin MP, Rosemary Ashe as Kate Hoey MP, Robert Hands as David Jones MP, Liz Robertson as Cheryl Gillan MP, and Anthony O’Donnell as Paul Flynn MP. They are joined by David Albury and Joanna Kirkland.
Committee… is designed by Robert Jones, with musical direction by Torquil Munro, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, orchestrations by Will Stuart, movement direction by Naomi Said, and video design by Duncan McLean.
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